4
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN. PORTLAND, OCTOBER 1, 1905.
MM ASHQRE
NEAR GDLDEN GATE
Oceanic Steamship Suddenly
Enveloped in Fog on
Way to Sea.
ALL TAKEN OFF SAFELY
Cool Demeanor of Ship's Officers
Prevents Parties Among .the Pas
sengers, When the Vessel
Piles "Up on Hocks.
SAX FRANCISCO, Sept 30. (Spe
cial.) Feeling' jier way In the wnlte
gloom of .a iog at the harbor entrance,
the Oceanic eteamship Alameda, primed
for the long run to Honolulu and load
ed "with passengers and freight for
that port, crashed upon Fort Point reef
just before noon today, and hangs
there at the mercy of -wind and weath
er. After the first wild panic aboard
the passengers showed remarkable
courage, and not one life was lost when
they took to the boats and were trans
ferred to the Government tug Golden
Gate, whioh responded to the Ill-fated
steamer's distresg signals. "Within two
minutes of the time she struck the fog
lifted, and the fort loomed before her,
not oO yards from her bow.
The Alameda left her berth at the
Pacific-street wharf for the regular
trip to Honolulu, In command of Cap
tain Thomas Dowdcll about 11 o'clock.
Pilot C. B. Johnson took command of
the vessel for the passage outside the
Heads. The weather was clear as a
bell when she started down the bay,
and Is was a merry crowd aboard,
whose faces were soon to pale with
fear of sudden death In the treacherous
swirl of the tide.
As the ship neared Alcatraz a dense
cloud of vapor dropped across the en
trance to the harbor like a curtain;
she was swallowed In its billowy folds,
slowed down hesitatingly, was caught
In the swift cross-currents and lured
to her doom. For it Is the general
opinion that the Alameda will never
leave the reef where she struck until
she breaks up and goes to Join the ill
starred Rio, which stink within a few
yards of where the Alameda Is held
fast on the rocks.
Like Wreck of New York.
Her position la much like that of the
City of New York after she struck near
Lime Point 12 years ago. The New
York, which, by a strange coincidence,
was in charge of a brother of pilot C.
B. Johnson, hung on the reef until the
sea rose and swept her Into deep wa
ter, where sne went down like lead.
Only a miraculous continuance of calm
weather can save the Alameda-frora a
like fate. .
Conflicting stories are told of the cir
cumstances of the wreck. When seen
aboard the vessel, the captain and pilot
refused to give out any explanation of
the disaster, stating that their report
would be made to the proper authorities.
Third Officer Jordan, however, who was
on the bridge with Pilot Johnson at the
time the vessel struck, said that the ship
was steaming slowly through the fog and
bearing off to the south as Johnson was
under the Impression that he was near
Lime Point.
Jordan said that there was no fog sig
nals of any kind and that when the ship
went upon the rocks It was Impossible to
see the fort, which stood under her very
bows. In the matter of the fog signals,
he is contradicted by some of the pas
sengers. JVIIHam Bray, of Honolulu, who
is at the St Francis, and was with his
wife aboard the ship, said that fog sig
nals were blowing on both sides of the
ship after the fog closed down. Mr.
Bray said:
When the Ship Struck.
"I was standing with . T. W. Hobron
near the bow on the starboard side when
we went Into the fog and we discussed
the possibility of trouble in getting
through the Golden Gate. There was a
line of breakers off to the north and I
noticed them from time to time. Finally
I said to Hobron: 'Those breakers are
getting a long way off; it seems to me
we are way out of our course."
"As I was saying the words there came
& long grinding scrape and then a. shock
that nearly threw us off our feet 'We
are on the rocks.' I cried, and hurried to
find my wife. There was a good deal of
shouting and crying for a few minutes,
then the officers quieted the passengers
and began to get the boats launched.
The steward's assistants went about
laughingly announcing lunch, and the
other officers made light of the accident
so that the panic was soon under con
trol. "From where I was standing on the
deck, foghorns could be plainly heard on
both sides. They had not blown many
times when we struck, but I could not
be mistaken about hearing them. The
ladles aboard must be given credit for
great courage. It was a trying ordeal for
them to go over the side, but they
climbed down the ladder without flinch
ing." Fog Rises From the Bay. .
As soon as the vessel struck she be
gan blowing signals of distress. As the
fog raised the ship was seen and recog
nized from the shore. The life-saving
stations In the vicinity were at once no
tified and their crews put off to the
rescue. Other messages sped to the
Oceanic Company's offices and desperate
efforts were made to .get tugs to the
pcene of the disaster. Unrortunately there
were none immediately available.
In the meantlmo the news of the
wreck was spreading and messages be
gan to pour in from the friends and
families of those aboard the ship. The
officers of the company endeavored to
reassure them, but the confirmation of
the rumor of the wreck caused intense
excitement Wild reports were set afloat
on the streets and soon many were hur
rying toward Fort Point to learn the
truth and to witness the scene of the
disaster.
The crowds on the breakwater had the
unique opportunity of watching the rescue
of a shipwrecked company so near shore
that their conversation could be plainly
heard. Soldiers from the Presidio, anx
ious friends and relatives of the passen
gers coming In carriages and automobiles
and the curious In general crowded the
level space near "the fort and watched the
transfer of the passengers and the futile
efforts cf the tugs that finally arrived to
drag the liner from the rocks.
Loaded Lifeboat In Peril.
The Sea Rover was first to get a line
aboard. As she was taking in the slack
of her hawser there was a shriek from
one of the heavily laden lifeboats and a
gasp went up from the crowd on shore,
as it was seen the boat had been careless
ly steered across the big rope and was
jiearly capsized as the cable shot up from
the water.
The boat righted itself and was again
almost Overturned as the hawser rebound
ed and struck athwart her" gunwales. For
five minutes' the boat's crew struggled to
free her from the cable. They were at
test, successful, and the passcnf?ers were
taken to the Golden Gate without further
mishap.
The tugs Sea Queen and Sea Lark came
up and began pulling on a hawser that
soon parted under the strain. Both set
out for heavier cables. Tho Defiance com
ing in from sea was unable to assist the
stranded ship for lack of a hawser. By
this time the tide had turned, end the
chanco to. pull the ship off at the flood
was gone. After two hours unavailing
work by the tugs and the steamer's own
engine, the task was abandoned until the
next high tide.
Lighters were brought alongside and the
work of getting out as much of the cargo
as possible began. It was hoped that by
midnight enough might be lightered
ashore to enable the ship to float But In
doing this there is danger that she will
pound herself to pieces oil the reef.
Perfect Order Is Observed.
All the passengers commend the conduct
of the officers and crew during the excite
ment following the shock of striking. The
boats were cleared as soon as possible,
and the captain ordered the women and
children to be taken off first Not a man
either among the crew or passengers de
murred to this or showed the slightest
inclination to rush the boats. When It
came to men who were with their fam
ilies the captain directed that they should
go together. Some of the men refused to
avail themselves of this permission.
The whole affair was a splendid example
of discipline and chivalry on the part of
the men and of bravery in the face of
danger on the part ot wives and daugh
ters, who were hurried from luxurious
cabins and staterooms to face the trip In
open boats.
The Alameda Is a twin-screw steamer
3158 tons. She was built In 1SS3 by W.
Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia. Her length
is 314 feet, breadth 41 feet depth 17.3 feet
MINERAL LANDS ARE DEFINED
Government "Wins Case for Timber
Cut in Idaho.
BOISE. Idaho. Sept 30. (Special.) To-
PROMINENT MEN AT WILLAMETTE VALLEY DEVELOPMENT
T. Graham, of Salrm. Who Re
ported on Work of tho League.
day In the Federal Court a Jury returned
a verdict in favor of the Government
against Baker & Anderson, sawmill men,
for $5102, for timber cut from Government
lands in the vicinity or the mining camp
of Pine, in Elmore County. The case hffs
aroused great Interest because of the In
structions given tho Jury as to what con
stitutes mineral land within the meaning
of the statute authorizing the cutting of
timber on such lands for domestic pur
poses. Baker & Anderson alleged they were on
mineral land.- There have been numerous
cases of this kind here, the Government
being uniformly beaten. In one of the
first of these, some years ago. Judge
Beatty Instructed the jury that "the law
includes as mineral lands, not only those
tracts In which mineral has actually been
discovered, and what has been or can be
legally located as mining locations, but
also all other lands lying in reasonably
close proxlmlnty to, or In the genoral
neighborhood of such tracts, and all such
neighboring lands as have the general
characteristics of mining lands, even If
mineral has not been actually discovered
thereon."
The Government appealed that case, al
leging that this opened the doors far too
wide. The Circuit Court of Appeals Indi
rectly, but not specifically, upheld that
Instruction. Ten days ago It was given
In a similar case, and the Government
was defeated, notice being given of ap
peal for the purpose of getting a specific
ruling.
In the Baker & Anderson case. Judge
Beatty repeated the Instruction, but in
further talk with the Jury, lie advised
them the language meant that lands must
be In the Immediate neighborhood of
mines that were being worked to be en
titled .to be considered as mineral lands.
He also Indicated he thought these were
not mineral lands. It is a point of tho
very highest importance in all mining
sections, and the case will be carried o
the Court of Appeals.
VOTE AGAINST FRANCHISE
OREGON CITY ELECTION IS A. VERY
LIVELY ONE.
OrrcoB Water Power Company Asked
for Freight Right for Tklrty
Flve Yearn.
OREGON CITT.' Or., Sept. SO. (Spe
cial.) By a vote of 193 for to 312
against, the legal "voters of Oregon
City today expressed their sentiment
as positively opposed to the -proposed
granting by the city -Council of a 30
year freight franchise to Alain street
to the Oregon Water Power & Hallway
Company.
The contest was a lively one, rivaling1
In interest any recent municipal elec
tion, and while today's referendum
vote Is not final as determining the
fato of the franchise, it is generally
considered to have disposed of tho
measure In its present objectionable
form. While a majority of the mem
bers of the Council and the Mayor fa
vor the franchise ordinance as it is
now pending- before that body, to
como up for final passage next
Wednesday evening-. It is understood
that the expression of the voters today
will govern the members of the city's
legislative body In flnafly'dlspofllng of
the matter.
Any attempt bjr the Council to en
act the franchise' ordinance as it" is
now; constructed will be resisted by
the anti-franchise workers, who, if
necessary, may rejort to Injunction
proceedings.
Try Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and
Diarrhoea Hemedy, and you will never
wish to be without it in your home. It
has saved many lives. . For sale by all
druggists.
S
BILL TO BE HE
League Committee Reports on
Assessments.
TAX DECLARED UNEQUAL
Object or the 3rcasure Will Be to
Put a Fair Sliare of the Bur
den on Corporations
In Oregon.
ASSESSMENT LAW RECOMMENDED
First Fixed rate of valuation per
mile upon railroad, based upon earn
ings and population.
Second Telephone and telegraph
companies to be assessed upon their
gross earnings.
Third Railroads to be classified aa
first, second, third or fourth-class,
and a corresponding value fixed.
Fourth First-class railroads to be
assessed at not less than 110.000 a
mile and other classes at lesser sums.
EUGENE. Or., Sept 30. (Special.) In
an extended report by the Willamette
Development League's special committee
on assessment the above recommenda
tions are made. The report was not ex
pressly adopted, but the committee was
Instructed to prepare a bill embodying Its
E. Hofcr, of Salem, Prasldeift.
recommendations and to. submit the same
at the next meeting, which will be hold
at Albany about three months hence. In
its report, the committee says that the
corporations have not borne their propor
tion of the tak burden, that there has
been a lack or uniformity in assessment,
and that Oregon has been easier upon
railroad, telephone, telegraph and express
companies than have other states.
In Its original report the committee de
clared that one means by which leniency
had been secured by corporations was the
Issuance of passes and franking privileges
to public officials charged with the duty
of making assessments and levying taxes,
but tals assertion was stricken out of the
report before It was submitted. The com
mittee Is composed of John A. Carson,
of Salem: G. A. Hurley, of Independence;
G. W. Griffin, of Eugene: J. A. Aupperle,
of Jefferson, and B. F. Jones, of Toledo.
The report follows:
Report of Committee on Tax Lawn.
J. A. Carson, of Salem, nubmltted the fol
lowing report from tae committee on tax lawo.
of -which he It chairman:
The subject of taxation Is always one f
difficult? and rrabarraBf snent. particularly
when the property under consideration l used
for railroad, telegraph or telephone purposes.
Such property has not a ready market; It Is
soldom sold. The ownership of such prop
erty Is .changed more frequently by reorgan
ization of the corporation owing the s&rae
than by outrjrht sale.
t this subject with a desire to do absolute Jus-
1 iuu w vuiu anj- imputation ox radical
1 action anil thrnnrlutiii in-ti..n..
ducted by us vse believe that this 5lrit has
controlled ue.
Corporations Aehed Lightlx.
It cannot be successfully denied that cor
porations operating railroad, telegraph, tele
phone and exprerw lines have not borne their
Just proportion of the public burdens in the
way of taxation. Without desiring to cast re
flection upon any Individual or official. It
appears beyond question that this class of
property has successfully evaded the payment
of Its Just proportion of the public taxea
It la not neceujary to stop here to enumerate
the mean by which this has been accom
plished. We realize that it would not do to
assess this clam of property upon Us cost
of construction. The earning capacity of the
property ought to be considered and really
ahould be the controlling feature In fixing its
assessable value, but unfortunately Oregon has
no law requiring reports of earnings to be
made.
The through or trunk lines of railroads are
assessed variously. In some counties, Uma
tilla, for instance, the railway Is ansesfed at
the rate of $12,000 per mile. Upon appeal to
the Supreme Court of Oregon, the regularity
of this aMeancnt was sustained. (See O R.
& X. Co. vs. Umatilla County, decided July
3. 1005, and reported In vol. SL page 352.
Pacific Reporter.)
In the earlier case (O. & C R. R. Co. va
Jackson County, decided June 24. 1MI. and
reported in vol. ZS. page DOS. Oregon Reports),
the SuDreme Court Mid that an Axsesser In
dttermlntngthe aefeesment of a railway oogbt
to consider:
(a) The cost of construction.
(b) The cost of replacement.
(c) Its connections with other road and ad
vantages in a commercial way for command
ing tho carrylnr trade.
d) Its rental value.
(e) Its net earnings, and
(f) The market value of its stock ana
bonds.
In the iame case the court held that the
value of a railroad for the purpose of aswss
roent and taxation may be determined by com
paring the net Varnlnga per roll for a series
of years, and capitalising it from those earn
ings at the rate of Interest paid on lu bonded
Indebtedness.
Rule Is Xot Practical.
But a this state ha no laws reoulrlnc
railroad corporations to furnish this informa
tion, upon which, under the rule of the Su
preme Court, the assessor alone could arrive
at any reasonably accurate Umate t the
valuation, the rule Is or no practical value
Wo doubt whether a single anersor or
County Board of equalisation In Oreron has
ever sought to get the Information on which
to base a correct valuation of there properties.
In the absence of a State Board of Equaliza
tion or any law regulating valuation, arbl
. trary and unjurt asnesamenta are the rule.
In eome counties a dlrpoMtlon to harraes
railroad corporations by unfair assessment
Is manifested, but in most counties they are
asecsiied at rldlculouoly low values.
Telegraph and Telephone Linen.
Tour committee considers the preeent plan
of assessing telegraph and telephone lines on
the valuation of pole and wire per mile i
separate Itemn. inequitable and unjurt. It
makes no allowance for the value of the
franchise earnings or right of way of such
corporations. .
More Uniform System Needed.
Kow, in order to have a uniform ystera of
taxation of such property as that under eon
Klderatlon, It seems to us that, it would' oaly
be proper for a law to be enacted whereby-a
minimum rate per mile should be prescribed
That minimum rate. It seems to us, aaould
not be under $10,000 for railroad, classified
as hereinafter stated. In tae jrertaent cou-a-
ties or California, Ulce Slafcljou. It appears
that the O. i C. R. H. was taxed In 1S81-
1633 at the rate ot f 17.00 per alle. but Ob
jected streauoorfr at an assessment of SlO.Wu
per mile In Or son. If, therefore, the people
of Oregon should declare that no railroad of
the first claM should be assessed at less than
910.000 per mile It could not. In the opinion
of your committee, be successfully argued that
the people of Oregon were arbitrary In their
treatment of railroad corporations.
In this connection, we wish to call attention
to the fact that Oregon has treated railroads
more llbera.Hr than any other state. In the
year I&0Z railroad In Oregon paid 5153 taxes
per mile on their lines, while in Washington
they paid 215 per mile, and in Idaho $244 per
mile, and la California $247 per mile, while
the valuation or assessment in Oregon was nn
quite half the valuation made "Washington, and
scarcely one-third of that made in Califor
nia. Why there should be that great disparity
in astcssment and taxation of thta class of
property in contiguous Kates Is not apparent; .
and we believe it will not be said that Oregon
and her citizens have profited by this ex
tremely considerate treatment of the owners ,
of this olaia of property. We do not bellevo
the ordinary traveler would say that tlx rail
road facilities and accommodations In Oregon
are today equal to those in the sister states :
Of Washington and California.
Then. too. In the matter of the development :
of the country and the del Ire to accommodate j
the citizens of this state, we bellere It will
be adntltted by railroad managers themselves :
that Oregon, her people and rrr-rurces have I
tee long txen neglected. It seem to us as I
Indicated above that H would be proper and
fair for the r-eonle of Oreron to say that all J
railroads should be assessed at least $10,000
per mile, and in tho more populous dUtrlcts
that rate ought to be In all Justice very con
siderably Increased.
In order that the Increase should be uni
form, it seems to you.- committee that the
incrtaied areerment ovir the minimum here
i-sggested could be fixed by reference to the
population of the dlffcrert counties. We think
that the state census rould be relied upon.
Certainly any one woul admit that a rail
road la Multnomah or Marlon County, on
account of the greater population, trade and
traffic. Is a much more valuable asset than
a railroad In Jackfon Courier.
Telegraph aad Telephone lines.
Turning to telephone, telegraph and express
companies, a different feature roust be con
sidered. It appears to your committee that
It would be highly proper to compel telegraph,
telephone and exprww companies to pay a cer
tain amount upon their grots receipts. Of
course, in this connection. It would not be ex
pected that thoie companies would pay any
taxed upon moneys deposited with them for
the purpose of transmission only. To be
more explicit we refer In this connection di
rectly to su.cn transactions as the purchase
of money orders or orders commonly known
as telegraphic and cxpret orders. However.
.EAGUE CONVENTION
X
J. C. Carson, of Salem. Chairraaa of
Committee oh Tax Laws.
upon the gross earnings of telegraph, tele
phone and exprrw lines a tax could be very
readily collected.
Those corporations pay such a tax In such
wealthy states ae New York. Why they es
cape In this state is a matter of astonishment
to your committee: We think that these
eompnnlrs could very well afford to pay as
much tax in OregGn as in New York. In Xew
York even corporation engaged in this kind
of butlnetti pays .3 of I per rent upon Its
gross earnings within the state. Such a law
would be valid, too. No corporation could
escape It or dodge 1L The Supreme Court of
the United States has declared that the Xew
York tax law. referred to Is valid. Before we
leave this subject, we shall anticipate and
answer an objection that may doubtltfls be
raited by many, and point out a way by
which the taxes can be readily collected and
the provisions of such a law a we have sug
gested readily and easily enforced.
At the outset, many rxople will say that
ich a law could not be enforced, becauie
there would be no mean of ascertaining the
grots earnings of any of thce corporations.
The law could very easily make It the duty
of every agent In charge or control of any
office ot these corporations to make monthly
or quirterly reports under oath, one to be
nled with the County Clerk, one to be filed
with the County Aa-efor. and a third to be
filed with the Secretary of State, ana In the
event of his failure or refusal to make such
report, a term of Imprisonment in the coun
ty Jail could be Inflicted. It would be useless
to prescribe a fine, becaure the fine would
btr paid by the corporation and the law be thus
evaded, but a corporation would have some
difficulty in inducing - Its employes to go to
the county Jail In order to shield It from
paying Its Just proportion of the pubno bur
den. Cry of the Corporation.
In conclusion, we desire to answer In ad
vance any objection that may be urged by
the officers and employes of the corporations
now under eonMderatlon. We expect that It
will be vehemently asserted throughout the
public press that this class of property, viz..
rati roads, telegraph, telephone and express
line are being unjustly treated, and rooro
highly asirned than other property-owners.
nd we rball hear it stated that the stock
holders In these corporation, infrequently re
ceive any dividend, and then only of a small
amount. Here and now we state an unswer
that cannot be controverted.
The Interstate Commerce Commlitslon In Its
last report put the capitalization ot all rail
roads in thla country, on June 30. 1903. at
twelve and one-half billions. This Includes
stock, common and preferred and funded In
debtedness. The commercial value of the
tame was found to be only eleven and one
fourth bJUkma. The difference between these
amounts Is a billion and a quarter, and that
only represent water. In every state ex
cept Connecticut, railroads are assessed for
lera than their commercial value. Even in
Kansas railroad are aesessed I era thaa 10
per cent of their commercial value, while
Iowa places an asrersment at IS per cent, but
In Illinois the asrr.ment Is about Gt ,per
cent, and in Michigan 70 per cent.
Tax on Gross Earnings.
Under the law of Oregon, aa It now exists,
all property Is required to be assessed at Its
actual value. If this were done, as the law
clearly Intends the ordinary taxpayer would
not be required, as he now 1. to pay an un
due proportion of the public taxes. If all
property were assessed as the law now re
quires. It should be. It goes without saying
that tho rate ot taxation would be very small
Indeed, and the development of the state ma
terially increased. We cannot have good
roads and bridges without paying for them.
Other public utilities cannot be had no mat
ter how desirable they may be. without the
taxpayers providing the fund.
It 1 almot ImpoMlble to calculate accur
ately the value of railroad, telegraph, tele
phone and express companies' property. The
reasons are obvious, but In the opinion of
your committee, a law providing for a mini
mum auvrameni at the figures above stat
ed, and al?o providing for a small percentage
Of the grew earnings would be fair and
equitable and with all exceedingly conserva
tive towards the owners of such property.
- Recommends Simple Reform,
In the preparation of this report, much tima
has been epent In investigating the subject
of taxation of corporate property and the
law governing the earn a. but we are happy
to say In conclusion that we feel ccnSdcnt
a simple law prescribing a minimum rate of
taxation per mile for railroad and requiring
telegraph, telephone and exprers companies to
pay a tax on tnelr grow earnings would be de
clared valid and Constitutional by any court
to which the eame might be referred, and we
believe, too. that it would afford relief to the
taxpayers of thla state and come nearer en
forcing the requirements of the statutes and
Constitution or Oregon In the matter of uni
form assessment and taxation.
Afsnwroest Law Recommended.
After conelderlng all the features of the sit
uation peculiar to this state, your commit
tee has come to the conclusion that a new
law should be enacted governing the assess
ment of what may be termed properties ex
tending across the state, or acrota one or
more counties. The committee has not been
able .to secure all the data required to draft
a bill in statutory language, but It should
embody the following provisions:
First That railroad should be euereed at
a -fixed rate per mile, based unon earnings and
population, the minimum rate to be uniform
for the entire length of aav one otooartr. and
Copyright 1905 by
Hart ScbafFncr & Marx
SAM'L ROSENBLATT & CO.
Reliable Clothiers
telegraph, telephone and express companies
shoull be assessed upon their grora earnings.
Second Thia state should follow the cus
tom of other states In classifying rsrllroadrt as
first, second, third or fourth class, with a
corresponding valuation fixed by law for each
clar. and not subject to the caprice of local
assessment official?.
Third First-clafa railways should be as
sewed their entire length at a minimum value
cf at least 510.000 per mile, and .the other
clas uniformly their entire lengtS at lesser
sums.
The committee Is satisfied that a carefully
drawn bill along these lines would reeult In
more Justice and equality than the present
napharard system and materially increase the
revenues of the state, counties, cities and
school districts remove the temptation of coun
ty officials to unjustly hold up corporation. 1m
sen litigation and establish uniformity.
JOHX A- CARSON.
Chairman.
G. A. HURLEY.
G. W. GRIFFIX.
J. A. AUPPERLE.
B. F. JOXES.
Committee on Tax Laws.
I,ITTI.E C1IIXESK GIRL, RESCUED
FROM DIVE IX BAY CITY.
Found After I,onjc Search Wrapped la
Roll of Slattlntr nt Bottom ,
of 'Hole.
SAX FRANCISCO. Sept. 30. fSp
clal.) Wonff Ho, a pretty little Chinese
girl of 14 years, has' had a variety of
excising experiences since she left her
native land several weeks ago. According-
to her story, shef was smuggled
ashore at this port In a trunk from the
steamer China when that vessel was
here In Ausust. and her adventures
culminated In "her rescue from a Chi
nese house of 111 repute Thursday aft
ernoon. The rescue was effected by Miss Do
naldlna M. Cameron, matron of the
Presbyterian Chinese Home, at 920 Sac
ramento street, assisted by Miss J. Car
ruthers and Policemen M. T. Arey and
Logan, of the Chinatown sqund. Word
was received at the mission Wednesday
that WTongr Ho was a slave girl, and
that the sum of $3000 had been paid for
her. It was learned that she was In
the slave dive at 1114 Stockton street,
and the assistance of tho Chinatown
squad was asked for to help in the
tflrl's rescue.
Ah Sou, the female keepor of the
place, denied that the girl was there,
and a Ions search yesterday morning
failed to disclose her. Matron Cameron
went to the roof and discovered that
there was a skylight connecting with
111C Stockton' street. Admission to the
place was refused, and a search war
rant was obtained. Policemen M. T.
Arey and Ixgan, of the squad, were
detailed to serve It, and were forced
to break down the doors of the place
before they could gain admittance. '
Arey noticed a hidden door, and, after
breaking it open, another door was
found leading- to a dark closet. In the
closet was a well-like place, at the
bottom df which the slave girl was
found hidden under a quantity of rice
mat? and boxes. She was tightly rolled
up in one of the mats, and had been
In that position for over five hours.
Tho slave girl was delivered to the
mission, and as soon as she gained con
fidence told a strange story of having
been kidnaped In China and taken
aboard tho steamer. When at this port
she stated that clothing- was taken out
of n. trunk and thrown overboard, and
that she wa3 placed In the trunk and
taken Jo a house on Jackson street.
The Federal authorities have been
notified, and at attempt will be made
to And the man who came with her. Ho
Is known as Chung Lum, and is said to
be In the country at present. The girl
will probably be deported, as she en
tered the country fraudulently.
Mead Tarries at Walla "Walla.
WALLA WALLA, Wash., Sept. 30. (Spe
cial.) Governor Mead has decided to re
main In Walla Walla until Monday morn
ing and go down to Portland on the ex
cursion that leaves here for Walla Walla
day at the Fair. Other than the state
ment yesterday that a public hcarinff
would be held some time during the latter
part of October In connection with tHe
charges made against Warden Kees, the
Governor has refused to discuss the peni
tentiary matter.
The Gjovernor spent the day at various
places around the city, and wax out at
the races for a while during the after
noon. In company with tho Warden. He
also made a visit to the penitentiary, but
would not discuss the nature of his busi
ness there.
Banquet to "Mother' Jacobs.
WALLA WALLA. Wash.. Sept- 30. Spe
cial.) Several Whitman College students
gave a banquet tonight at Billings Hall
In honor of Mrs. X. A. Jacobs, ex-matron
of the dormitory. When she came Into
the dining-room every boy rose to his feet
and cheered "Mother" Jacobs and gave
the college yell. Mrs. Jacobs Is one of the
survivors of the Whitman massacre.
The Denver & Rio Grande has estab
lished through Pullman standard sleeping
car service between Portland and Denver
leaving Portland at S:15 P. M., spending
seven hours in Salt Lake City second day
and arriving in Denver afternoon ot fol
lowing day. For reservations sail at 221
Third street.
"PORTLAND DAY
Has gone into history, but there
will be a good many
TOPCOAT DAYS
Chilly days when the short, dressy
Topcoat will be worn with com
fort. But if your taste differs
we'll fit you to other Overcoats,
Suits, whatever you please. Go
anywhere, you
good
Topcoat, Suit, Overcoat
$12.50
N FAVOR OF PUSSES
League Is Opposed to Reduced
Passenger Rates.
FREIGHT BILL NOT READY
Debate on the Maximum Passenger
Rates 'Resolution Is Short and
Sharp Before Its De
feat at Eugene. , .
An effort to instruct the taxation
committee of the Willamette Develop
ment League to prepare a bill to be
proposed by Initiative, fixing maxi
mum passenger rates at 2H cents a
mile, making tickets good until used,
with unlimited stop-over privilege,
failed ,of adoption. This resolution
also carftad a provision against
passes. The' resolution was referred
to the committee on ratss without
recommendation.
EUGENE, Or.. Sept. 30. Special.) In
tho last half hour of the Willamette Val
ley Development League Convention tiere
was sprung a resolution which had been
expected from the first, proposing a law
fixing maximum passenger rates In Ore
gon. The light on the resolution was
short and sharp-, and resulted In a defeat
of the measure. Whether .the defeat may
be taken as an Indication that the con
vention was opposed to such a measure or
was merely opposed to the manner In
which It was brought up Is uncertain. The
matter was referred to the committee on
freight rates without recommendation.
The bill, to be proposed by Initiative,
fixing maximum freight rates, was not
submitted as expected, but the committee
reported progress and asked further time,
which was granted- The freight-rate bill
will come up at the meeting of the league
at Albany, probably in December or Jan-
f uary- Had this measure ome up at this
meeting It would have met strong opposi
tion, for thesp were many members of the
convention who are opposed to initiative
laws of that kind at this time, and others
who. though not opposed to such meas
ures, would object to the Indorsement of a
bill which the convention had not been
given time to consider at length.
The resolution upon the subject of pas
senger rates and passes was introduced by
L. R. Stlnson, of Salem, who moved Its
adoption. The resolution was presented
just before final adjournment. It reads as
follows:
"Resolved, That, the committee to draft
a rate law be Instructed to prepare a max
imum freight-rate law to apply to rail
road and transportation lines In this state
which shall- be equitable to the railroads
and transportation lines and the people
alike: also, that the committee be in
structed to prepare a law fixing the pas
senger fare on all railroad and transpor
tation lines in this state, the same to em
brace the following Items: .
"First Fare not to exceed 2& cents per
mile on main lines (the price now charged
commercial travelers for 3000-mile tickets)
and 3 cents per mile on branch lines.
"Second Prohibiting the issuing of free
passes to any one.
"Third Prohibiting the printing of any
contract on any ticket for transportation,
except a time limit on tickets sold at a
less rate than allowed by law. -
"Fourth Making all railroad and trans
portation tickets good until used by whom
soever presented, and allowing stop over
privileges at any station between points
of departure and destination on tickets
which have paid the full tariff rate."
H. B. Thlelsen, of Salem, Immediately
took the floor In opposition. He said that
Oregon Is now urging the building of new
railroads In Origon. and Is trying to bring
Eastern capital here for that purpose. To
adopt a resolution such as this would keep
capital away.
"When you. are setting- nets to catch
birds, don't throw stones at them," ex
claimed Mr. Thlelsen.
Stlnson came to the defense of his reso
lution, saying that the railroads should
give the farmers the same passenger rates
they do commercial travelers, and that
they could do this If they abolished the
practice of issuing passes. With a show
of feeling he denounced the Legislatures,
from whom he sold the people could not
get fair representation, and urged that
resort be had to the Initiative.
He said this was not an attack upon
the railroads, for the resolution express
ly Instructs the committee to prepare an
equitable bin.
W. S. McFadden. of Coryallls: Frank
Miller, of Albany, and Sam Garland, of
Brownsville, opposed the resolution be
cause It first Instructs the committee
to prepare an equitable bill and then pro
ceeds to tell them what that bill shall
contain. They urged that if the matter
Is to go to the committee at all. the de
tails of the bill should be left to the Judg
ment of the committee after full Investi
gation and subject to the- future action of
the league.
Stlnson explained - that the resolution
won't find
clothes -
so
to $35j
Cor. 3d and Morrison Streets
was not entirely his own, but had been
prepared by the board of directors of the
league, composed of Charles Grissen. of
McMlnnviUe; W." H. Hollls. of Forest
Grove; W. P. Elmore, of Brownsvlll;
L. R. Stlnson. of Salem, and L. J. Simp
son, of North Bend.
Upon motion of Thlelsen. the resolution
was referred to tne committee on freight
rate legislation, composed of T. K. Camp
bell, of Eugene: J. G. Graham, of Salom.
and S. A. Lowell, of Pendleton.
This latter committee had already made
Its report of progress on the freight-rate
bill, as follows:
"The committee on rate laws have met
several times and had before them tho
rate. laws' of a number of states. Th
laws of Wisconsin. Washington. Iowa and
Texas, and the commission bill before the
last Legislature, have been considered in
detail, and all have some provisions that
would be of practical value, but many
foatures that we are not prepared to rec
ommend for adoption at this time in this
state.
"Owing- to the physical conditions of our
state and the problems of development
involved, the legislation of no other state
on this question is wholly adapted to Ore
gon's needs. Oregon does not stand alone,
however. In demanding the protection of
the lawmaking powers vested In the peo
ple. We find universal interest In this
subject. It will be the vital Issuo before
the next Congress. States like Wisconsin
and Washington are vigorously putting In
operation comprehensive measures taking
the control of ratemattlng out of the
hands of railroad managers, and these
communities are not suffering from par
alysis of. business or stagnation of Indus
tries. "The committee begs leave to report
progress, and asks further time to con
sider and completo Its report, which will
be submitted at the-next meeting of the
league, and to the people at as early a
day as possible.
I "THOMAS K. CAMPBELL. Chairman
"J.' G. GRAHAM.
"STEPHEN A. LOWELL."
The committer wns Hvn tVi TiniiAn
I of time desired.
Old Calendar Cleaned Up.
OLYMPIA. Wash.. Sept. 20. (Special.)
The Supreme Court of this state Ja up
with Its work, with the exception of filing
a few opinions that are- already written,
and will start on the October term with
the old calendar clean. This condition has
not been attained before for a number of
years, and has been brought about by the
Increase In the number of Justices author.
Ized by the last Legislature.
The docket for the October term, com
pleted today, contains 167 cases, the great
eat number ever presented to the court
during one term. The previous record
was 151, attained last October.
Robber Bell Is Transferred.
TACOMA. Wash.. Sept, 30. It has Just
j become known that September 17 Albert
j E. Bell, the notorious mallpouch robber.
I was transferred from the Federal prison
j at McNeil's Island to the United States
j Penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Bell had but one month to serve on a
1 two years' sentence. The order for. trans
. fer came from the United States Attorney-
General, and It Is understood Bell Is to be
I tried for robbing the malls In Iowa and
j Pennsylvania, where he got away with
I J200.COO In securities, many of which ho
I succeeded In cashing.
THE VALUE OP CHARCOAL.
revr People Know Ifow Useful It In In Pre
serving Health and Beauty.
Nearly everybody knows that char
coal is the safest and most efficient dis
infectant and purifier in nature, but
few realize Its value when taken Into
the human system for the same cleans
ing purpose.
Charcoal Is a remedy that the more
you take of It the better; it Is not a
drug at all, but simply absorbs the
gases and Impurities always present
in the stomach and intestines and car
ries them out of the system.
Charcoal sweetens the breath after
smoking-, drinking- or after eating- on
ions and other odorous vegetables.
Charcoal effectually clears and Im
proves the complexion; It whitens the
teeth and further acts as a natural and
eminently safe cathartic.
It absorbs the injurious gases -which
collect In the stomach and bowels; It
disinfects the mouth and throat from
the poison ot catarrh.
All druggists sell charcoal In one
form or another, but probably the best
charcoal and the most for the money
Is In Stuart's Charcoal Lozenges; they
are composed of the finest powdered
willow charcoal and oth,er harmless
antiseptics In tablet form, or rather In
the form of large, pleasant-tasting-lozenges,
the charcoal being- mixed
with honey.
The dally use of these lozenges will
soon tell In a much improved condition
of the general health, better complex
ion, sweeter breath and purer blood,
and the beauty of It Is that no possible
harm can result from their continued
use, but on the contrary, great benefit.
A Buffalo physician, in speaking- if
the benefits of charcoal, says: "I ad
vise Stuart's Charcoal Lozenges to all
patients suffering from gas In stom
ach and bowels, and to clear the com
plexion and purify the breath, mouth
and throat; I also believe the liver Is
greatly benefited by the dally use of
them; they c"ost but 25 cents a
box at drugstores, and, although
In some sertse a patent prepara
tion, yet I believe I get more and
better charcoal in Stuart's Charcoal
Lozenges than In any of the ) dlnary
charcoal tablets."