VOL. LXI-XO. 19,380
Entered at Portland (Oregon)
Postoffice as Second-class Hatter.
PORTLAND. OREGON. SATURDAY, DECE3IBER 30, 1922
PRICE FIVE CENTS
OUTLINES
SENATORS INDORSE
ATLANTIC GALES
MORE OIL PUMPED
FATTY'S COME-BACK
NOW HELD ASSURED
MEM
UNCLE JOE CANNON
AGAIN QUITS SMOKING
FOR HOW LONG, EX-SPEAKER
JUDGE COKE'S CHOICE
FROM MARION WELL
WRECK VESSELS
TO PASSU
TO BE DRAFTED
MARSHFIELD MAX IS BACKED
SOME OP 500 SPECTATORS
CONVINCED, OTHERS NOT.
COMEDIAN TO HEAD NEW
PICTURE COMPANY. -
FOR U. S. ATTORNEY.
REFUSES TO SAY.
HUGHES
OL
TRAFFIC
REFORM
01
i'J
independent Commis
sion Is Suggestion.
iJ. S. ARBITRATION OPPOSED
Success of World Parley Is
( Doubted by Secretary.
INVITATION NOT GIVEN
flrhal German Reparations Lies at
Root of Economic Trouble
of Today Is Realized.
' NEW HAVEN. Conn., Deo. 29. A
Suggestion that an independent com
mission of men competent in finan
cial affairs could accomplish more
than a general international con
ference toward solution of the Euro
pean reparations tangle was put
forward by Secretary Hughes here
tonight in the first public pro
nouncement on the economic crisis
to come from responsible officials
of the administration at Washington.
The secretary, who spoke before
the American Historical association,
added that he had "no doubt" that
distinguished Americans would be
willing to serve on such a commis
sion, which, he said, might well be
kept free from any responsibility
to foreign offices or .ny duty to
obey political instructions. Once ad
vantage bad been taken of the op
portunities thus . afforded, he said,
"the avenues of American helpful
ness cannot fail to open hopefully."
V. S. Arbitration Not Asked.
Referring to suggestions that the
United States assume the role of
arbiter in the reparations dispute,
Mr. Hughes said a sufficient answer
to that was the fact "that we have
not been asked." He went on to say
he did not believe this government
should take such a burden of
responsibility.
Throughout his discussion the
secretary recognized that the ques
tion of German reparations lay at
the root of any economic settle
ment. The problems abroad, he
eaid, are world problems, and could
not be disposed of "by calling them
European." He declared the United
Btates would "view with disfavor
measures which instead of produc
ing reparations would threaten dis
aster," and said no one could fore
eee the "serious consequences'
which might ensue if forcible means
were adopted to obtain reparations
from Germany.
"The crux of the European situa
Ition lies in the settlement of repara
tions," said Mr. Hughes. "There
will be no adjustment of other
(needs, however pressing, until a
definite and accepted basis for the
discharge of reparations claims has
fceen fixed. It is futile to attempt
to erect any economic structure in
Europe until the foundation is laid.
, ' Reparations Not Sought.
"How can the United States help
In this matter? We are not seeking
reparations. We are indeed asking
for the reimbursement of the costs
ef our army of occupation; and, with
good reason, for we have maintained
cur army in Europe at thej-equest
of the allies and of Germany and
tinder an agreement that its costs
'With like army costs should be a
first charge upon the amounts paid
jjy Germany. Others have been paid
end we have not been paid. But we
ere not seeking general reparations.
We are bearing our own burden and
through our loans a large part of
Europe's burden in addition. No
demands of ours stand in the way
of a proper settlement of the repara
tions question.
"Of course, we hold the obligations
of European governments and there
has been much discussion abroad
end here with respect to them. There
has been a persistent attempt ever
einee the armistice to link up the
debts owing to our government with
reparations or with projects of can
cellation. This attempt was resisted
In a determined manner under the
former administration and under
the present administration.
Matter la Plain Enough.
"The matter is plain enough from
our standpoint The capacity of
Germany to pay is not at all affect
ed by any indebtedness of any of the
allies to us. That indebtedness does
jiot diminish Germany's capacity
and its removal would not increase
Jier capacity. For example, if
' France had been able to finance her
part in the war without borrowing
at all from us, that is, by taxation
end Internal loans, the problem of
what Germany could pay would be
exactly the same. Moreover, so far
as the debtors to the United States
are concerned, they, have unsettled
credit balances, and their condition
and capacity to pay cannot be prop
erly determined until the amount
that can be realized on these credits
for reparations has been deter
mined. .
"The administration must also
consider the difficulty arising from
the fact that the question of these
ebligations which we hold, and what
shall be done with them, is not a
question within the province of the
executive. Not only may congress
.(Concluded a ?g. t, Column i.1
Walter Tooze Sr. of Salem Con
sidered for Register of Land
Office in Portland.
THE OREGONTAN NEWS BUREAU,
Washington, D. C, Dec. 29. Judge
John S. Coke of Marshfield was
jointly recommended today by Sen
ators McNary and Stanfield for ap
pointment as United States attor
ney, district of Oregon.
Walter Tooze Sr. of Salem, Or.,
It is understood, is being considered
for the office of register of the land
office at Portland to succeed Alex
ander Sweek, who. is expected to be
transferred to a state job at an
early date by appointment of Governor-elect
Pierce.
Selection of Judge. Coke as the
successor to Lester W. Humphreys
as United States district attorney
for Oregon does not come as a sur
prise. There were many applicants
for this appointment, but when it
was learned that Judge Coke would
be willing to resign from the cir
cuit bench to accept the federal po
sition he was viewed as the logical
winner.
Provided the confirmation of the
appointment is made next week,
Judge Coke can resign and his suc
cessor can be named by Governor
Olcott. If the confirmation goes
beyond next week then Mr. Pierce
will have the naming of a judge to
fill the vacancy.
Governor Olcott will be asked to
select John C. Kendall or J. T.
Brand for udge Coke's place. Each
of these attorneys has a strong
backing. Mr. Kendall Is president
of the chamber of commerce at
Marshfield and Mr. Brand is city
attorney.
Peculiarly enough, Mr. Brand is a
law partner of Arthur K. Peck, who
himself will expect..the appointment
to succeed Judge Coke if the ap
pointment is within the power of
Mr. Pierce. Mr. Peck was one of
the advisers of Charles Hall when
the latter opposed Governor Olcott
for the republican nomination in the
primaries, and Mr. Peck was active
In collecting the charges of fraud
on which Mr, Hall based his recount,
and which failed to be substantiated
when the contest was tried.
Judge Coke is a republican -who
served in the state Benate and was
originally appointed to the bench
by Governor Chamberlain. He has
since been elected twice and was
elected again for six years last
month.
Alex Sweek, register of the land
office and well-known democrat,
said last night that he has heard
nothing from Washington from the
senators and it was news to him
that he was about to resign. Mr.
Sweek's commission does not expire
until next August and it is known
that the senators have no intention
of disturbing him before that time.
There have been rumors that Mr.
Sweek would be appointed to some
thing by Mr. Pierce when the latter
becomes governor, but the same
kind of rumors have circulated with
respect to all the prominent demo
crats.
OWNERS OF AUTOS LAG
Applications for State Licenses
Come in Slowly.
Applications for automobile li
censes received yesterday and
Thursday at the Portland branch of
the state motor license department
in the courthouse came in at the
rate of 1500 a day. It is estimated
that there are many thousands of
owners who must yet obtain license
plates who cannot be accommodated
between now and January 1. There
were lines of waiting' applicants at
two or three periods yesterday and
the jam is expected to be greatly
increased today.
W. L. Campbell, in charge of the
office, announced yesterday that he
will keep the place open until 8
o'clock tonight and during ordinary
business hours on Sunday and New
Year's day from 9 to 5.
LIGHTNER BEGINS TERM
Portland Convict and Five Others
"""at McNeil Island.
TACOMA, Wash., Dec. 29. Dave
Lightner, sentenced to three and a
half years in Portland for violation
of the federal narcotic laws, was
taken to the McNeil's Island pen!
tentiary today to begin serving his
term. He spent the night in the
county jail.
Five other prisoners entered the
penitentiary along with Lightner.
They were Ivan E. Claeys. former
Portland policeman, convicted of
making a fake raid on a Japanese
steamer; D. M. Lynch, Anchorage,
Alaska, convicted of attempted mur
der; Antone Golchuck, Alaska. In
dian, sentenced to a life term for
murder; and two Portland Japanese,
convicted of smuggling Japanese
laborers into this country.
TYPIST SETS NEW MARK
Stenographer Writes 700 Words!
In Two Minutes.
NEW YORK, Dec. 29 Writing 700
words in two minutes with only
three errors, Nathan Behrin, a state
Bupreme court stenographer, has
broken his own world's record for
stenographic notation, it was an
nounced today at the New York
state shorthand reporters' conven
tion. '
Behren's previous record was 277 I
words a minute for five minutes
Willi tlnee erjjrs. ,
Few Smaller Craft Are
Driven Ashore.
FEAR HELD FOR FREIGHTERS
S. 0. S. Sent Out December
6 by Heinrich Kayser. .
MUNMOTOR CALLS AID
Later Message Says Bad List Is
Partly Overcome; Bretonia
Out Since December 1 3. -
NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-Gales to
day continued to whip the north At
lantic into mountains and canyons,
arousing fears for at least two ves
sels, delaying scores and sending a
few smaller craft crashing into the
shore.
The chief anxiety was felt for the
freighter Bretonia, which sailed for
this port from St. Pierre on Decern
ber 13, and the German freighter
Heinrich Kayser, which last report
ed when she sent out an S. O. S. 500
miles off Cape May on December 6.
In addition a flutter ran through
marine circles when the shipping
board motorship Munmotor, bound
for Norfalk from Boston, radioed for
help oVf Five Fathom bank light.
Munmotor Has Bad List.
The Munmotor, with a crew of i
aboard, reported a bad list to star
board, but a later message stated
she had righted a little. Meanwhile
the coast guard cutter Klckapoo put
out to her assistance from Cape
May. v
The" most important wreck report
ed was that of the schooner Annie
L. Spindler, out of Yarmouth, N; S.,
which struck near Provincetown,
Mass., sending her crew of six ashore
in a breeches buoy. An unconfirmed
report had it that she was carrying
a cargo of liquor.
Shipping officers in New York,
Halifax and other ports, were bom
barded with wireless messages from
liners reporting delays caused by
mid-winter storms.
Berengarla Is Held Up.
The Berengaria, bearing Ambassa
dor Harvey back to Washington
from London, was one of the vessels
held up. Due here today, she report
ed that she was still 817 miles of!
this port and did not expect to reach
quarantine until Sunday morning.
Waves also were lashing the sides
of the gtant Majestic, carrying the
British finance mission to the United
States, and Emile Coue, proponent
of auto-suggestion, bound here for
a lecture tour.
Nearly 25 steamers which crept
into port today showed the effects
of the battering they had received.
Three on Manchuria Injured.
The Manchuria reported three of
her crew in the Bick bay with in
juries received when smitten by a
(Concluded on Face T, Column 1.)
"UNEASY
1 "' -.. '
Flow Limited to Three or Four
Gallons; Experts Say More .
Drilling Is Needed.
SALEM, Or., Dec. 29. (Special.)
With more than 500 persons from
different sections of western Oregon
gathered about the pumphouse,
directors of the Willamette Valley
Oil & Gas company today proved to
the satisfaction of many of the
visitors that oil has been found on
their property near the little town
of St. Paul in Marion county. Others
shook their heads and, despite the
limited flow . of oil, declared that
they were from Missouri and would
have to be shown.
Today's operations followed the
announcement two weeks ago that
oil had been discovered. The ini
tial flow aggregated three gallons.
Operations at the well then were
suspended temporarily.
Today's flow of oil, which was
limited to three or four gallons,
was raised from a depth of approxi
mately 1007 feet. The original
strike was at a depth of 1010 feet.
This would indicate, some experts
said, that the "drills have reached
the oil sand, but that it will be
necessary to sink the well some
distance to obtain the product in
substantial quantities.
Operations will be resumed at
once, It was"" said tonight. It may
be several weeks, it was declared,
before the owners of the well learn
definitely if they are to obtain oil
in paying quantities.
The company invaded the St. Paul
vicinity several months ago.
Among those at the well today
were T. B. Handley, state corpora
tion commissioner, and G. B. Geb
hart, examiner of the state corpora
tion department, but neither would
issue a statement.
WORLD PARLEYS URGED
Jane Addams Says Women Favor
t
Conferences for Peace.
LONDON, Dec. 29. Miss Jane
Addams of Chicago, who will begin
in January a tour of the world to
sound out opinion regarding means
for bringing about economic recon
struction and peace, pointed out to
Interviewers today that the Women's
International League for Peace and
Freedom; over whose recent con
vention at The Hague she has pre
sided, had advocated having the
league of nations call economic con
ferences. At such conferences, she urged,
existing treaties could be wiped out
and others created if such action
were neceesary to assure future sta
bility. .
HUSBAND AND SELF SHOT
Woman Kills Spouse and Then
Attempts Suicide.
' OAKLAND, Cal., Dec. 29. Mrs. Fan
nie Hunt, 50 years of age, shot and
killed her husband, Frederick K.
Hunt, a retired naval ensign, aged
54, today and then Bhot herself,
possibly fatally, according to a
statement to which police eaid she
swore.
Mrs. Hunt said illness had caused
her to suffer from insomnia for
several months and she was afraid
her husband would go insane be
cause of his constant attendance
upon her. -
UES THE HEAD THAT WEARS
Gavin McNab, Defender at Trials,
Said to Have- Organized
Film Corporation.
LOS ANGELES. Cal., Dec. 29.
Gavin McNab, San Francisco attor
ney, who defended Roscoe C.
("Fatty") Arbuckle in his three
trials in the northern city for man
slaughter in connection ' with the
death of Miss Virginia Rappe, screen
actress, has organized a company to
star the motion picture comedian in
the "come-back" which he plans, it
was announced here tonight by Jo
seph M. Schenck, producer, jwho pre
viously " said he would re-employ
Arbuckle. -
According to SJhenck, McNab has
interested a group of San Francisco
financiers In the plan and they have
organized a motion picture produc.
ing corporation- to be capitalized at
$100,000.
It is understood the new company
will seek' a producing site in Los
Angeles and that McNab will direct
its affairs, but that it will be known
as Arbuckle's company and that the
comedian will be its active head.
"I had a long talk today with Ros
coe." Schenck was quoted. "He re
cently returned from San Francisco,
where he conferred with McNab and
the San Francisco capitalists inter
ested. Roscoe said McNab, had or
ganized a company which would
produce his future pictures.
"Roscoe is already working on his
first picture. The production will
start immediately. I understand
negotiations are in progress for
studio space."
. SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 29, Gavin
McNab, counsel for Roscoe C. Ar
buckle, said tonight at his home
here that he was "dojng the legal
work incident to the organization of
a motion picture company in which
Arbuckle will appear, but I am not
going into the motion picture busi
ness." Mr. McNab added that he
had assured the new company he
would "protect all Its rights against
any contemplated attack against Mr.
Arbuckle by those outside the mo
tion picture industry."
800 FILM EXTRAS FIGHT
"Audience" in Prizefight Scene
Wreck Arena in Battle.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 29. A motion-picture
director at Universal
City, near here, hired 800 extras
today to be-used as the "audience"
in the filming of a prizefight scene.
In the excitement of the make
believe pugilistic fiesta, two of the
hired spectators forgot themselves
and came to blows. The fight quick
ly spread to the other 798 members
of the "audience," and after the
dust settled and a hurriedly sum
moned squadron of police had herd
ed the combatants, into the street,
It was found that the arena was
wrecked.
TURK EX-SULTAN TO SAIL
Mohammed VI to Leave for Mecca
on British Warship.
MALTA, Dec 29. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) Ex-Sultan Moham
med VI of Turkey, it is understood,
will leave for Mecca Monday aboard
a British warship.
He presumably will be landed at
Jeddah, the port of Mecca on the
Red sea.
A CROWN."
Some Smoke and Drink,
While Others Don't.
EZRA MEEKER HAS PARTY
Younger Guests Are Left in
Doubt on Longevity.
VARIED THEORIES HEARD
One Thinks War Either at Home
or Abroad Has Little to -Do
With Question.
NEW YORK, Dec. 29. (Special.)
ine men, more than 90 years old,
told how they had reached that age
at Ezra Meeker's birthday dinner
tonight, and yet, when they were
through, the younger guests present
still seemed a bit uncertain as to
just how to go about it. The testi
mony was as follows:
John Armstrong, 95, 263 West Six
teenth street:
"I never drank or smoked."
J. R. Silliman, 91, No. 9008 Queens
road, Queens, L. I. I started smok
ing when I was 7 years old and
still do. I drink whenever I feel
like it and can get it, "Don't worry,"
Is my advice.
William R. Curtis, 91, Milford,
111. I have never touched whisky,
beer or tobacco. I never went to
war and did very little fighting at
home.
One Give Up Smoking:.
Thomas Lingle, 90, No. 23 Mar
ket street, Perth Amboy, N. J.
"I was all through the civil war
on the gunboat Naugatuck. I used
to smoke, but gave it up finally. I
never take a drink except cocktails.
I like them."
Daniel Kennard, 94, 1105 Cortel
you road, Brooklyn-"-No tobacco or
liquor. I drink two cups of strong
coffee after each meal.
Louis Maurer, 91, 404 West Forty
third street I have no harmful
habits. I have kept outdoors and
avoided strenuous labor as much as
possible.
Charles P. Benedict. 90, No. 271
A Monroe street, Brooklyn I am a
vegetarian. I 'have avoided liquor
or tobacco.
Liquor Used All of Life,
George Isaacs, 93, One Hundred
and Fifty-fifth street and Amster
dam avenue I have used liquor all
my life, rye, scotch and- wine. On
doctor's order I used to drink two
fbottles a day to .cure blood poison
ing. Had blood poisoning three
times and never died once.
Then Mr. Meeker, who was 92 last
night, cast his vote for hard work
and temperance.
The dinner was' held at Child's
Holland house restaurant, Thirteenth
street and Fifth avenue. Mr. Meeker
is one of the first settlers of the
state of Washington. He plans to
collect the testimonials into a
pamphlet. It should prove popular
with all.
ITALIAN TOWNS SHAKEN
Quake Felt at Several Points, but
No Damage Done.
ROME, Dec. 29. (By the Asso
elated Press.) An earthquake was
felt at Avezzano, in the province of
Aquila, at 1:35 o'clock this after
noon, according to a message re
ceived here. No damage was re
ported- The population was panic
stricken, fearing a repetition of the
disaster of 1915, when a violent
quake razed the town, killing ap
proximately 8000 persons.
Today's temblor also was felt at
Capistrello, In the same province.
No victims have thus far been re
ported. The shock was very slight
in Rome.
BERNHARDT IS IMPROVED
Recent Collapse Held Due Only
to Overexertion. ,
PARIS, Dec. 29. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) Madame Sarah Bern
hardt was distinctly, better today.
She was able to leave her bed and
had luncheon with the members of
her household.
The physicians, it was announced
today, have found no evidence of
organic disease or chronio illness
and have come to the conclusion
that the recent collapse of the fa
mous actress was due only to over
exertion and strain.
IRISH REBELS EXECUTED
Two Men Put to Death as Ene
mies of Free State
DUBLIN, Dec. 29. (By the Assso
ciated Press.) Two more men were
put to death today as enemies of the
Irish free state. Their names were
given in the official account of the
executions, which took place at Kil
kenny, as Phelln and Murphy.
The official report said they were
arrested December IS and were
found guilty of possessing arms
and ammunition,
Reform Societies Find Little
Comfort, For Leader Quits
EveryXov and Then.
WASHINGTON, D. C, Dec. 30.
Uncle Joe Cannon has quit smoking
again. Societies for suppression
of smoking among men and women
may find little comfort, however. In
this announcement, for Uncle Joe
quits every now and then.
"Don't you think you ought to
give up those cigars?" the doctor
said the other day, meeting the ex
speaker of the house.
"Sure," said Uncle Joe, and he did.
But for how long? Not even he will
predict.
Mr. Cannon's cigars are not long
and black, all cartoonists to the
contrary notwithstanding. He uses
the mildest the market affords.
"Uncle Joe stopped smoking?" said
one of his friends, repeating the
question, today. "Certainly. He
often switches from cigars to plug
tobacco. And, at that, I guess, he
smokes less than the average wom
an of voting age."
WINE STILL IS FLOWING
Consumption Declared as Great
as Before Prohibition.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., Dec. 29.
Wine is being manufactured and
consumed in the United States under
the guise of a'home product, in fully
as great quantity as before prohi
bition became effective, R. L, Nou
garet, agriculturist of the state de
partment of agriculture, said today.
"The vast tonnage of grapes for.
merly consumed industrially is eas
ily absorbed through quasi-lawful
channels of disposal," he said.
"Fresh grapes now require ship
ping facilities during the vintage
season, a period of three to four
months, equal to the facilities used
over an entire year's time to trans
port the manufactured grape prod
ucts. Thus Is brought about an
unavoidable car shortage."
STEAMER LOSES CARGO
Storm Off Oregon Coast Sweeps
Lumber From Deck.
SAN PEDRO, Cal., Dec. 29. Two
hundred and fifty thousand feet of
her deckload of lumber was miss
ing when the steamer Crlckett came
Into port today from Grays Harbor,
Wash. Gales which approached the
violence of a hurricane battered the
Vessel for two days off the Oregon
coast, according to Captain John E.
Herman, and swept away the deck
cargo about 14 miles off Cape
Mears.
Two other lumber carriers, the
wooden barkentine Thomas P. En
right and the four-masted schooner
Alvena, several days overdue, have
not yet been sighted.
NAVY MACHINIST KILLED
Explosion of Acetylene Plant at
Mare Island Fatal.
VALLEJO, Cal., Dec. 29. Arthur
E. Perkiss, machinist, first class,
was killed today in the explosion
of an acetylene plant at the Mare
island navy-yard.
Perkiss was working alone at the
scene of the explosion.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
IKSTERDAY'S Maximum temperature.
44 degrees; minimum temperature, 41
degrees.
TODAY'S Fair; southerly winds.
Foreign.
United States not expected to take any
part in coming premiers' conference.
' Page 4.
National.
Borah withdrawsconference plea. Page 3.
Senators recommend Judge Coke for
United States attorney. Page I.
Uorah's fight for international confer
ence recalls drive of 2 years ago.
Page C.
Uncle Joe Cannon again quits shaking.
Page 1.
Domestic.
ller Rouge ex-mayor says return south
would imperil his life. Page 2.
Gales on. Atlantic wreck small vessels.
Page 1.
Hughes suggests private commission to
aid Europe. Page 1.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle criticises Scien
tific American's offer of reward for
proof of spiritualism. Page 18.
Old men differ on how to live iong.
Page 1.
Boys found responsible for Chicago's
great mystery of missing dogs.
Page 1.
Pacific Northwest.
Killer relates hunt for victim. Page 4.
More oil pumped from Marion well.
Page 1.
I'ower for state treasurer to borrow
money to pay warrants recommended.
Page T.
Sports. -
State grid title games are barred.
. Page 16.
Sott high squad from Toledo, O., arrives
in Portland en route to Corvallis.
Page 16.
Stanford and Pittsburg ready for grid
battle today. Page 18.
Football coaches are men of honor, says
Fullerton. Page 17.
Villa outfights Terry Martin In 15 rounds.
Page 17.
Commercial and Marine.
Buying by exporters holds wheat market
steady. Page 22.
Eords strong and higher at Nutt York.
Page 23.
Albert Jeffrees to be first of daepwater
men to dock at Longview wita sup
plies. Page 14.
Continued pressure forces wheat pices
down in Chicago market. Page 11.
Stocks and bonds climb rapidly cut of
Thursday's slump. Page 23.
Terminal facilities inspected by dock
commission. Page 14.
Portland and Vicinity.
Atheltlcs in schools held essential Pace 9.
H'ghway commission lops 1170,000 from
expenses. Page 9.
Chicago rector to wed Portland girl
today. Page 14.
Bananas and lettuce scarce on market.
Page 15.
Traffic reforms to be drafted. Page 1.
Oregon State Teachers' association ends
its annual convention. Page 6.
One-Way Plan May Get
60 Days' Trial.
ORDINANCE TO BE DRAWN
f"
City Council Prefers Change
Made Step by Step.
CAMPAIGN WILL START
Extra Men to Be Hired for Strict
Enforcement of Present Code;
Sofutlon Is Imperative.
Adoption of traffic reforms, in
cluding one-way traffic,, step by
step, each new plan to be given a
60-day trial, was favored by mem
bers of the city council and as a
result Mayor Baker yesterday in
structed the special traffic com
mittee to prepare an ordinance
along this line for consideration.
The step-by-step plan was sug
gested by officials of the Portland
Railway, Light and Power company,
who maintained that it was mani
festly unfair for the city to require
the company to expend one-third of
a million dollars on an untried plan
which might not prove satisfactory.
Traffic Suggestions Made.
As a substitute for the general
one-way traffic scheme as outlined
by the special traffic committee, the
railway officials made the follow
ing suggestions.
"Prohibition of all parking on
streets with street cars in the con
gested district during the rush
hours of the day, so that four lines
of traffic might utilize these
streets.
"The same prohibition of traffic
on streets parallel to those having
street car tracks, such thorough
fares to be utilized for through traf
fic and such traffic diverted to such
through streets."
OO-Day Trial Urged.
These suggestions are urged for
a 60-day trial and If no relief is
gaiped then the suggestion for one
way traffic on all streets between
Jefferson and Hoyt streets and from
the river to Tenth street, on which
there are no double street car
tracks, is to be put In effect for 60
days.
The next suggestion offered by
the railway company is tha. con
struction of three-rail track on
Yamhill street from Second to, First
streets, a loop which will divert
considerable number of cars from
crossing Morrison street, more loops
to follow if further relief seems
necessary. "
It developed at the traffic hear
ing yesterday that city officials,
while considering one-way traffic
and other reforms, are planning to
make an earnest effort to relieve
traffic congestion by enforcing the
present traffic code.
More. Officers to Be Hired.
The council yesterday granted
Chief of Police Jenkins authority to
employ 20 extra men for use for 30
days, so that additional men might
be placed on traffic duty, without
Interfering with the force that is
coping with crime and vice.
This campaign begins January 2
and 40,000 circulars with instruc
tions to motorists, together with a
map of the congested area, will be
placed by policemen in cars parked
in the congested district in the next
few days.
Persons assembled at the hearing
pointed to the opening of the draws
on bridges during rush hours of the
day as one of the principal reasons
for traffic congestion. Because the
nl no l n or nt vrfricroc, tn otonmnra dur
ing rush hours is in the hands of
government officials, Mayor Baker
was requested and agreed to take
up the matter with officials in
Washington.
Petitions to Be Circulated.
In the meantime petitions will be
circulated among the people and
prediction was made that these peti
tions would be signed by more than
60,000 wno are anxious to nave tne
bridges open to traffic during the ';'
rush hours.
City Engineer Laurgaard, a mem
ber of the special traffic commit
tee, said the committee and officials
of the railway company had dis
cussed the traffic situation repeat
edly. Some of the suggestions of
fered by the company he declared
to be meritorious but he pointed out
that he felt the company did not
wish to change its tracks because
of the-outlay of money required.
Mr. Laurgaard did not object to
the 60-day trial periods, saying that
such periods would have to be
adopted regardless of what plan was
decided upon.
City Attorney Grant told the
council that It possessed only such
rights as are consistent with the
franchise held by the company and
that the question of whether police
power held by the council super
sedes the franchise rights must b
determined on the merits of each in
dividual case.
That Portland is facing a problem
that must be solved was the position
(Concluded on Page 3, Column 5.)