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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 1906)
l5 mm 48 PAGES PAGES 1 TO 12 TOLr. XXT-NO. 8. FOBTIiAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 25, 1906. PRICE FIYE CENTS. WEST VIRGINIA CRIES FOR HELP State in Grasp of Rail- road Trust. GOVERNOR CALLS FOR AID Small Coal Shippers Are Throt tled by Magnates. SENATORS IN THE COMBINE .Lincoln Slcffcn6 Asks Whether State That Sends Elkins to the United States Senate Really 'Deserves Sympathy. Copyright. 1900. by J. L. Stcftens.) WASHINGTON', Feb. 24. A United Slates Senator roso In the United States Senate on February S and read a letter from the Gownor of-one of the States of the United States; and this Is the de scription that Governor gave In that let ter of the condition of his-state: "West Virginia today is In the grasp of a railroad trust which practically says what part of the state shall be developed and what shall not be developed; how much coal shall be shipped out of the state, to what point or parts It shall be shipped, and when it shall be shipped." Ts this true? It is typical. Other states arc in the "grasp" of a railroad or some other business "trust." They differ In the degree of their political and industrial subjection to their business rulers, but so many of our sovereign states are 'in the same general condition as West Vir ginia that the President Is urging Con gress to provide relief by some sort of regulation of railroad rates. Tet this description of West Virginia was aston ishing; two Senators exclaimed that It was disgraceful. And it is. For West Virginia is a. coal state; her principal business 'Is mining and marketing- coah and that staiiijiiv jfcatement is a charge of nothing less than tyranny bv a rmvtrJ fll" JblLSinC of the hllKtnnfcq nf that ototAl . . HW1HIUC VI And it Is signed, "William W. W. Dawffilead: son, Governor:" It is official. Is 11 true? Governor Dawson cited a icase. which- Is -a matter of record. Sidetrack Facilities Denied. The List Coal Company owned some 4300 acres of coal land in what 1s known as the Fairmont District of West Vir ginia The West Virginia & Pittsburg Railroad la the common carrier of that district; at least it was chartered as a common carrier. But many of our rail road men have come to look upon their public utilities as their own personal business. They are insisting here now npon their sacred right to a "fairly rea sonable rate," and our representatives have written into the, rate bill an ac knowledgment that railroads are entitled to make a "reasonable profit" on their Investment. But when the List Coal Company applied to the West Virginia & Pittsburg Railroad for sidetrack fa cilities to ship their coal, their applica tion was denied. The railroad wouldn't let those mincowncrs make any profit. The coal company might hive mar keted their coal in wagons. But wagons are slow and expensive. The coal com pany might have appealed to the courts to compel their common carrier to carry their coal; but litigation Is as slow and expensive as wagons. Besides, this "West Virginia company may have known something about the West Virginia law. Anyhow they quit. They weren't fight ers, and they let their railroad chartered by their slate deny them a fairly re munerative profit on their coal business. The. List Coal Company sold out, cheap, lo the ttcd Rock Fuel Company. Bullitt Is a Fighter. The president of the Red Rock Fuel Company is one Logan M. Bullitt, of Pennsylvania, whose last name describes approximately his character. He 1b a. fighter. There was no misrepresentation to him of the character of his purchase. He was buying a fight, and he knew It He has more humor than moral indigna tion, and it suits his humor to think that he may make his fight a "big fight. It was he, by the way, who Inspired the resolutions offered by Representative Gillespie in the House a few weeks ago, and by Senator Tillman in the Senate, calling for an investigation of the Pennsylvania-Baltimore & Ohio railroad merger. For the B. & O. runs the "West Virginia. & Pittsburg Railway, and the B. & O. and "the Penn" are merged. Air. Bullitt was simply screaming at a Bull's.eyc. When the Red Rock got hold of the "List coal lands, Mrj Bullitt and his as sociates began industriously to develop a coal mine. He didn't fuss around with tho West Virginia & Pittsburg; ho went to the third, vice-president of tho B. & O. for permission to do business in this great, free country of ours. AH he need ed was a sidetrack. Ho. offered to comply with any terms the railroad might see fit to impose, but it was no use. His ap plication -was denied. Protects Largo Shippers. The railroad's answer was that It ivouid "never permit a siding until forced to do so by Jaw, and that if Bullitt won his case the next man -who applied would receive the same treatment." Why do railroads raa to court so readily? They Invite litigation as ordinary cHJxess avoid Jt. But why did the B. &. O. decHae to mlneowner to develop his mine? The third vice-president of the B. &. O- told Mr. Bullitt that the road wasn't "going to have a Jot of little shippers on the "line who would ship coal when prices were high and then shut up shop and go homo and let tho large shippers have the lean years?" The road proposed to "pro tect its large shippers." Mark the reason. It shows how trusts aro made; it shows how "Jarge shippers" are protected by the common carriers of the country and how "little shippers" are killed off today. The Red Rock Com pany was organized in the last month ot ISM, and Its fight is still in the fight ing. But other reasons were given later by the B. &. O. For Logan M. Bullitt wasn't killed off. The little shippers went on developing their mine. They spent 50.000 on it and they planned confidently the expenditure of forty or fifty thousand -more. They bought railroad ties and 70-pound rails; they bought a right of way and procured authority to "construct, operate and maintain" a railroad 0990 feet long; and they graded their road up to D00 feet of the common carrier's tracks. Moreover, they mined some coal and Mr. Bullitt, sold it. B. & O. Man Writes Letter. In February or March, IMG, Mr. Bul litt went to Baltimore to interview the president of the B. &. O. The president wasn't certain that he could see Mr. Bul litt that day, aad he advised blm to call on the first vice-president. Mr. Bullitt took his advice. The flrsf vice-president, could Eive him no encouragement, how ever, so Mr. Bullitt sat down and cheer fully wrote a letter to the president, and he got an answer; and also he got an other reason. Here is the letter: "Mr. Logan M. BuiltL "Dear Sir The present coal develop ment on the rOad is to a considerable extent beyond the ability of the operators to market the product, or the railroad to promptly and fully furnish transporta tion facilities to move it. Therefore, the company cannot reasonably encourage the expansion of the situation. The com mercial obligation thus imposed' prevents going beyond what is the company's strict duty under law in the matter. -It is believed that you will appreciate the propriety of this position. "Yours very truly, "OSCAR G. OrlURIvAT." Bullitt Makes Complaint. This was what the cheerul Mr. Bullitt was after a letter and he went with It. not to court, but to the Interstate Com merce Commission. He filed his com plaint on April 29, 1905. The Commission had hearings and In its "findings of fact" remarks upon the two different reasons previously given, for refusing to comply with Mr. Bullitt's request for a siding and it considers them. "But," the commis sion says, ' 'at the-fcearing other matters were advanced , , . all practically In cluded in 'the additional expense.' ' Then the Commission proceeds In .dry compli cated, legal terms to show that the said defendant, the B. fe tijTlallroad, is a liar. ' Nevertheless the -Cemzhlssion considers j .ihe He very solemnly, and "finds' that. "Defendant's, claim of' justification. based upon, the statement that Its coal- carrying equipment is already overtaxed, would apply equally to any kind of traffic at a particular point. If it's (the rail road's) position Is correct, it may refuse to grant transportation facilities to any village or town which may herestlter be built adjacent to its line of railway." And that is what Governor Dawson said the "railroad trust," as he calls It, does do now. It decides, he says, "what part of the state shall be developed and what part shall not be developed." And the Commission bears him out, for it "finds" that "the circumstances in this case jus tify a conclusion that the discrimination is not pnly wrongful as between com plainant and other more favored ship pers, but amounts to undue and unrea sonable preference . . . and that an or der should issue." And an order did Is sue; and the order may be upheld in the courts. Logan M. Bullitt and the Rod Rock Fuel Company may. In the course of time, win their case on appeal, but "the next man who applies will receive the same treatment." Cases of Railroad Tyranny. So Governor Dawson is right as to this case of tyranny. Is the general state of things true as he describes It? I know of several cases Just like this, and West Vir ginians tell me they are typical. And Governor A. B. White, Governor Daw son's' predecessor, said they were typical in his time. But the motive of the rail roads may show whether their sense of "commercial obligation" is a matter of policy. Why should a railroad want to say what part of a state shall not be de veloped? Or, to get a little closer to the case, why should the B. & O. wish to pre vent the development of a mine 39S0 feet from its lines? Railroads want to make money, don't they? The Governor of West Virginia makes a guess at the truth in his letter. He says: "I think an investigation would show that the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Is Interested in the production ot coal not directly, perhaps, but Indirectly and sub stantially. "It makes little difference as to the ef fect upon our people whether the cor poration Itself Is directly interested In .the production of coal in competition with other purchasers of coal, or whether offi cers and directors or controlling stock holders are so interested Tho result is the same." Great Railroad Grafts No. It might make no difference as to the result. But It would make a differ ence as to the policy of the railroads. If the directors or controlling stockholders or operating officers ot the railroad "were personally interested in the coal business, that would explain why they ran the road not to develop all the resources of the state, but to "kill off" little shippers and protect "large shippers." If the rail road men happened to be partners of the "large shippers," we know they -would willingly .see the railroad make less money if they could make more. How do we know that? By the evidence of the life Insurance Investigations of New York, The directors of these companies are the same sort of men that run our railroads; seaae of them are the very jMune me that rue our railroads. We knew how they raa the life litHwance "ui BATE BILL WILL NOT LOSE TEETR ill Pass WithoutCourt Review-Feature- RAILROAD FORCES BEATEH Their Own Action. Destroys Hopes -in .Senate. ALDRICH MAY BE DEPOSED His Action Creates Opportunity for Xcw Leader to ArlHS -Tillman Wants' Bill Stlffcncd-on .Several Points. v RECONCILE ROOSEVELT AND TILLJCAX. - WASHINGTON. Feb. 2. IBpe dal.) Plan for a reconcillatalon be tween President Roosevelt and Sen ator Tillman are oa foot. The Presi dent baa declared that he respected the South Carolinian because he was an honest American and a good fighter, as he had cause to know. Senator Tillman, who recently deliv ered the most abusive personal speech ever heard In the Senate and directed against the President, has ungrudgingly announced that he did not hale the President, but that he despised his negro poller. Friends of the administration are arranging to bring the two men to gether, believing that, if existing per sonal difference can be adjusted, the power, and personality of the two men will rout the conservatives In the Senate and bring about rate legisla tion with a hurrah.. OREGOKIAK NEWS BUREAU. Wash ington. Feb. 24. As -a result or yester day's trickery on the part of five Repub lican Senc tors on the .interstate com merce committee, the Hepburn railroad rate bill will pass the' Senate without the amendment so much desired by-those rep resentatives of railroad corporations the amendment authorizing review by the courts and suspending the rate fixed by the Commission pending decision on appeal. This outcome seems absolutely certain. If the opinions of many Senators of both parties expressed today are to be relied upon; indeed. Senator Elkins,' chairman of the interstate commerce committee and one of the most persistent railroad Sena tors, admits that this amendment cannot be attached to the bill In the light of what transpired yesterday. That the bill may be amended in some other particu lar is quite possible; it may be amended, as demanded by some Democratic Sena tors, to provide specifically for review by the courts whenever the rate fixed by the Commission is deemed unfair, but, it any such amendment Is adopted, due precau tion will be exercised to see that the Commission's rate remains In force until set aside by the court. Tillman Cautious of Amendment. Senator Tillman, who is to manage the rate bill In the Senate, is afraid of this review amendment, fearing that through the machinations of railroad Senators it may be bo worded as to defeat the entire purpose of the bill and before he consents the adoption of such an amendment will be absolutely certain that it is ONE OF TIIE PRINCIPAL MEM BERS OF TUB "HOG COMBINE." Senator Stephen B. Elklas, ef West YbrtaU. Stephen B, Elkins, whom Lincoln Stiffens describes as one of the prin cipal members of the "Hog Com bine -of West Virginia and also as tbe Senator who Is named to tlx the Hepburn bill, has represented, the State of "West Virginia, la the United States Senate since ISM. He was born in Ohio, went to Missouri la childhood, studied law, then went to New Mexico, where he served a Ter rltorial District Attorney. Attorney- General aad United States. District Attorney. He reneved te Wt VI r giala, where he Bfcame largely l tereited Is railroads aad ! sleec He Is vtee-ra44ejt t tb "Wert Vlrgiata. Ofttral 4k PiUfcWfx'JUUwy not "loaded." Mr. TJHmaa, however, will Insist upo aad y sfcirt the adoption of. -atC amendment abwiptely prohibiting the oVnstjaip ad oBtroT by puMtc car riers o-f articles te be skipped ever their lines to the exclBaiew ef private owners, hb object belag te drive railroads out of the coal business. While Tillman will bo nominal man ager of the bill ia the Seriate, sev eral. Republicans are hetiBd to be closely identified with the fight in support ot honest rate legislation, among them Sen ators Dolliver and Clapp. Opportunity for Xcw Leader. Tbe new sitviuiea creates an opportun ity for some new Republican leader to' develop, some one wbe can lead a move ment among the Republican Senators to overthrow Mr. AM rich and his followers aad iastall a new; regime that will not bear the brand of corporate interests. Never since Mr. Aid rich became Repub lican boss In the Senate has he occupied so precartoBs a position as today, by rea son of his cofoasal blunder of yesterday, and It Is safe to assert that the Senator who successfully leads a fight among Re publican Senators te overthrow hSa and his followers will be accorded recognition la- the future as the true Republican Sen ate leader. But for his limited service, Mr. Dolliver wouM be the maa. It is possible that he may yet win this distinction, but this is et probable. Senator Allison, Mr. Dot liver's cetleague. "who Is today recognized as thfl nioet influential Senator save Mr. (Continued on Page 3.) , CONTENTS TODAYS PAPER The WesUfeer. TESTJSRDATS Maximum temperature. 4.1 deg.: minimum, 42. Precipitation. O.S2 of an tech. TODAVS Occasional rain. Southwesterly winds. Foreign. Failure of Moroccan conference expected, but war may not result. Page 13. All parties in Russia attack "Wl tie's cabinet. Page -. v Chilean diplomat murders sioclata and takes refuge in consulate. Page 18. British government strengthens fleet off China. Page 3. Loubet Jeered .by 'mob of excited Catholics la Paris. Page IB. National. Rate bill wilt pass Senate without court re view amendment. Page 1. . Tillman proposes to strengthen rate bill. Page 1. Move to reconcile Roosevelt and Tillman. Pag l. Senate leaders arranging programme of legislation. Page- 2. Delay in settling claims fcr Adams, stolen gold- Page 3. P4MIcal. Kansas City Republicans nominate municipal gas man for Mayor. Page -. First direct primary election In Chicago. Page Z. Cincinnati bankers make excuse for bribing officials. Page IS. Lincoln Strffens on "West -Virginia," cry for . help. Page L '. Demet!c. Vanderbllt mobbed and arrested In Italy for running down boy with auto. Page 3. Coat operators offer compromise to miners. Page. 2. Former leader I Miners' Federation rtveai secrets Ipiv Circle. Paga I. Hut wavftbsafdf-'CuB-ard Line- Campania, severely Injuring eight at passengers and crew. Page 3. Louisiana meb riddles negro with bullets and burn body; more trouble brewing. Page 13. ' Minnesota authorities arret alleged insur ance policy swindler. Page . Three boys burned to death and nine injjired in fire at Kenyon Military Academy, Gambler, O. Page 2. New Tork police arrest union Ironworkers and foil alleged dynamite plot. Page 13. Spert. . ' Jimmy Britt dtnles Cans' story ot fake fight. Page 17. Eddie Hanlon may be matched to fight Britt. Page 17. Gossip of the baseball fans. Page 17. Seattle will leave Pacific Coast- League In 1M7. Page 16. Handball as a sport. Page IS. Athletic dabs take up aquatic sports. Page 18. Jack O'Brien anxious to fight Barns In Cali fornia next July; astonished at Hart's defeat. Page 18. Secretary Taft defends football at Tale Club banquet. Pago 1C. Pacific Coast Grand jury in Steunenberg case is impaneled at Caldwell, Idaho. Page 4. Seattle committee prepares for reception of Chinese envoys. Page 5. Clew to disappearance of John Stinson at San Francisco. Page A. Lan County Democrats glre platform and nominate entire ticket. Page 3. Toung actor confesses bigamy at Seattle. Page 4. Angry negro slashes three men In a Los Angeles street-car. Page 3. OeBamerckd and Marine. Oregon apples bring high prices in Liver pool market. Page 35. California Ralslngrowers Company goes to pieces. Page 35. Fear of money stringency checks stock speculation. Page 35. New Tork bank statement shows cash loss Instead ot expected gain. Page 33. Weather reports weaken wheat at Chicago. Page 35. Officers of barkentine Koko Head bellev bark Drumcralg went down in storm oft mouth of Columbia River. Page IS. Steamer 3. M. Hannarord meets disaster on Upper Columbia Rfver. Page, IS. Lower Alblna ferry gets tangled up with anchor cable and loses rudder. Page 13. Oriental liner Numantla and San Francisco steamer Senator mix up In harbor. Page IS. , Steamer Chas. R. Spencer to rimi opera tions between Portland and The Dalles soon. Page 15. Port of Portland will discuss bridge question Mondsy afternoon. Page 15. rertlaad and Vicinity. Case against Urn Gas Company stated in detau. Psge 1. Wholesale Lienor Desires' Association seeks warrants for Superintendent Rader. Rev. Clarence True Wilson and Detective Day for Inducing a boy to visit a disorderly house and drink. Page 8. Realty for the weeV past reaches its maxi mum In sales. Page 30. M alley la the race against TCord for Demo cratic nomination for Sheriff. Page 10. Henry Rasnnan. whose testimony convicted Tattoo" Kelly of murder, afraid he will be shipped to sea before the mast. Page 10. Bissell Thomas, forger, sent to Insane Asy lum. Page 36. Portland merchants will welcome Chinese commissioners on their arrival at Se attle. Page 14. ' Police work on theory that vacant hous wjth floor and clothes blood-stained may be scene ot murder. Page 10. FewtBre and Departments. Editorial. Page 6. Church aaeoun cements. Psge 31. Classified advertisements. Pages 1S-33. Curing consumption here at heme. Page 3S. James Gordon Bennett, newspaper maker. Page 48. Grover Cleveland at the age at M. Page 39. Recollection ot Judge Williams. Page 39. How kitchen utensils are made. Page 4L Matter in the Mgater vein. Page 45. Book reviews. Page 34. Household and fashions. Pages 42-43. Dr. Hulls' strrnss. Page 37. High prices for freaks, aad relic. Page 44. Frederick. J. "Hasksa's letter; Fag 44. . The "RoweU 'Xesxx." f Pa f e --C. Miss Tiaglrc ekla- lease. Pag IX Ses4X Ps 3-7. Dramatic Pae 2S. Musical. Page JO. ' . BUSE AGAINST ' BUS COMPANY High Price Charged and Poor Quality. DISREGARDIFOR COMPLAINTS Arbitrary Meter Readings Are Common. NO OVERCHARGE REBATED Rnin of Streets, Interminable T'ran- Li 3 . chisc, Discrimination 'in Meter Deposits, Excessive Penalty for Delinquent; Payment-, COMTLAINTS AGAINST PORTLAND GAS COMPANY. High price of gas. Poor quality of ga. Disregard of complaints of con sumer?. . Arbitrary mster readings. Refusal to rebate overcharges . Excessive p'enalty for delinquent payments. Discrimination In meter deposits. Ruin of streets In laying pipes. Free use ot streets. Interminable franchise. Exclusive monopoly. - Low taxes. "When The Oregonlan began exposing the practices of tbe Portland Gas Company, nearly two months ago. It bespoke the widespread complaint of consumers that they were charged a higher price for wa ter gas than ia other important cities on tbe Pacific. Coast and higher than In tbe principal cities of the United States, though the gas here Is of poor quality, deficient In lighting- and heating proper ties. . But tbe price and tbe quality were not tbajifllj subjects of ccnqplatnt; the com pany was charged by countless persons with arbitrary reading of meters, refusal to. make restitution for overcharging, dis regard ot llfe"'and safety of consumer? in making gas connections and arrogant treatment of pro-teats. Matters 'to Investigate. All these matters are to be Investigated by a special Council committee, which will hold its second session next Wednes day night in the City Hall, the first hav ing' been held last Tuesday afternoon. Tbe gas company will endeavor to show that the hostile criticism of its service has come not from consumers, but from The Oregonlan; that It Is without causa or reason; that the price is a. low and the quality is as, satisfactory as the people of Portland can reasonably expect from the company; thai Its dealings with con sumers at all times have been fair, and that The Oregonlan's attack is inspired by spiteful motives. President Adams, of the company, first mado the preposterous statement that The Oregonlan was trying to "get even" be cause its free gas had been shut off. though he knew that The Oregonlan had always paid full rates for its gas, then he spitefully declared the reason to be that the company had refused to advertise In The Oregonlan, when he had reason to know that even when the company was advertising-, this paper was preparing- to voice the public complaint. But The Oregonlan docs not have to de fend itself against these absurd charges; the truth is that the gas is Impoverished of light and heat, properties, and thou- AMERICAN CHORCS GIRL EDU CATED FOR PEER. WHO MAR RIED HER IN PARIS. Ladr Asaburtoa (Prance Bebneat). Frances Belmont, former American Plorodora girl, who was quietly mar ried to Lord Ashburton In Paris last week, was one of the Maggie Doolans who scrubbed the floor in "Miladl" when Lord Ashburton first saw her. Later she was one ot the "Ploradora sextet. When she became engaged ' to Lord Ashburton a year and a bait ago lie took her oS the stage and placed her in a convent near Paris, where she has been educated for the part of the wife ot a. SritUfe Peer. Lord Ashburtoa'ls th ewxar of' W, e4 aere of land in Great Britain, and has a London house and a esiia . try residence." sands of consumers know it. and that an exorbitant charge Is exacted. 4 Complaint Goes Further. The complaint goes much 'further to the interminable and monopolistic fran chise of the company, granted by tho Ter ritorial Legislature nearly 50 years ago, which allows the city and the people no power to regulate the monopoly, neither as to efficiency ot service, quality of gas nor price; permits the company to lay pipes and tear up streets wherever it chooses to go. regardless ot Improve ments paid for by property-owners; suf fers the 'company to maintain In the heart ot the city and on the inflammable water front a dangerous plant, stored full of oil. a fire menace to the safety of 'surrounding property, causing insurance rates round about to be 25 per cent higher than they would otherwise be in short, giving the city over to the mercy of the company, with scarcely any restraint, whatever, nor requiring the company to pay a single dime for its immense privi leges, until this year, when it will have to payr for the first time In Its history. J17G0 franchise tax. yet will continue to have free use of the streets. Hundreds or Complaints. The Oregonlan could "have printed hun dreds on hundreds ot complaints, but has contented itself with about 50. many ot them from prominent persons. It re frained from opening its columns wide to such matter because It did not wish to weary Its readers with needless repeti tion. In the'coralng Investigation, enough witnesses will be summoned to show up the graft and greed and overbearing man ner of what has been called "Portland's Greased Gas Gratt." This will not be done to vindicate The Oregonlan but the public protest, and thouga the gas com pany, through J. 2s. Teal, Its counsel, has declared that the whole Issue in the trial is the making- good ot The ""Oregonlan's charges, this paper maintains that the real issue Is to make clear that the com plaints of the public are warranted by tbe facts. Council Investigating: Committee. The Council committee consists ot six members, Bennett. Kellaher. Masters, Menefee, Rushlight and Vaughn, the sev enth, John Annand, having -withdrawn. xThe gas company Is represented by J. X. jTeal and C. K. S. Wood, and the city by t. a. -MOiary. uity Attorney, and Henry E. McGinn. The same kind of Investiga tion has, been made In many other cities and Is now In progress in San Francisco. Wherever' the probe has been applied It Is found that the public inter est has been ignored by gas com panies, the people's rights hav e been abused, the price of gas has been too high and the quality has been poor Just the same as now In Portland. Gas companies all over the United States have this in caramon they are greedy, grasping and haughty, making big- pronts. and their prosperity has no better evidence than that gas stocks and bonds are considered among the bestr securities In -the-Unltedi States. . ' Hfgli Priee Charged. Portland's gas prlcels 20 cents higher a taeuand cubic feet than that of Los An geles, and 15 cents a thousand higher than in San Franiisco and Seattle. This means that the 1.0CO.000 feet a day used In Port land costs, consumers J300O a month or 4106.SGO a year more in Portland" than Jlhe same amount ot gas in Los Angeles, and 44.000 more than In San Francisco or Seattle. The gas in all three cities is made out of California crude oil. which costs, for 1C0O feet of gas, about 3 cents more In Portland than, in Los Angeles and should cost no more than in Seattle. The price of oil In Los Angeles Is 50 cents a barrel of 42 gallons; In Portland 65 cents. Between eight and ten gallons are used for each 1C0O feet of gas. It will be seen that Portland's high price of gas, 'compared with that of Los Angeles, is out of proportion with the price of oil here and there. But though the San Francisco price is 15 cents lower than the Portland rate, the people ot San Francisco are demanding- a still lower rate than $1. which is now charged there, and a reduction will un doubtedly be made, perhaps to 85 cents, though there is an effort to pull it down to 75 cents. Add to this the application in Portland for a gas franchise made by a company which promises a 65-cent rate and offers to put up a 550.000 bond to carry out its terms of the contract, and it will be seen that the reason which prompts officers of the Portland Gas Company to say that $1.15 Is as low as they can afford to go has some mysterious greed logic be hind it. Prices of Gas. The prices of gas in the leading Pacific Coast cities follow; Per 1000. Portland .-. HJ5 Seattle 1.00 San Francisco i.oo Sacramento LOO Ips Angeles S3 The rates In Tacoma. Salt Lake. Butto and Helena are higher than In Portland, because gas in those pities (3 made from coal, which is a more expensive process" than manufacture from oil. In Eastern Cities. In other cities the rates -are: Per 1000. 50.85 SO Chicago. Lowe process Akron, coal Cincinnati, coal" and water Cleveland, coal Dayton, O., coal and Lowe Detroit, coal and Lowe Duluth. Lowe Fort Wayne. Ind.. coal and Low Grand Rapids, coal and Lowe... Hamilton. O., coal and oil Indianapolis, coal and Lowe Kansas City. Lowe Louisville. Lowe and coal Milwaukee, coal and Lowe St. Louis, coal and Lowe.. ..I.... Scranton. Pa.. Lowe South Bend. Ind.. coal and Lowe. Terre Haute, coal and Lowe Toledo. O.. coal and Lowe Toronto, Can., coal and Lowe.... S3 .50 SO e.... 1.00 J30 80 JM 1.00 1.00 SO 1.00 ... .0O-.95 1.00 .75 95 ..... .SO Terms of Franchise. By means of a franchise granted by the Territorial Legislature in 1S53. the Gas Company maintains its grasp, not only In the limits of the original Portland but also In all additions that have been made since, and by the terms of the franchise the hold extends automatically into all territory that may, be annexed to the city in the future. This grant may be altered or terminated by the Legislature, but until revoked by that body it is In terminable. The Gas Company paid noth ing for the grant, pays nothing to the city, for the use of the streets and makes whatever price for gas It pleases. This year, for the first time, it will pay a fran- ltd CIRCLES SECRETS TOLD How Dynamiters Con trol Federation. MONEY IS THEIR REAL OBJECT When Trouble BeginsfSub ssrjptions-Bour Irr. ' ; TWELVE MEN RULE ORDER Former .Leader Who Seceded Reveals Inner Workings of- Terrorists Who Have Seized Control of Miners' Federation. DENVER. Colo.. Feb. 24. (Special.) A, man closely associated with the Western Federation of Miners fqr years, who held executive positions and was close to the Inner workings, so much so that ho re tired in dlsguiS and loathing-, tonight gave the history or the "Inner circle" from its foundation until recent times. He said: "It- was In klay, 1S99, that the 'inner circle" ot the Federation was formed. Wo were holding tfie annual convention of the Federation that year In Salt Lake City. A short time before that the Bunker Hlll Sulllvan mill at Wardner. Idaho, was blown up. The authorities were after the Federation pretty hard, and some thing had to be done. The convenon was too big to handle. Most of the dele gates were, union men, and they were op posed to violence. Of course the average miner Is not squeamish, but ho will not stand for murder. But the cry among the leaders even- that far back was for force. They ridiculed the conservatives like myself, who were opposed to force and wanted to build up the unlon3 by dlfferent means. First Aid to Dynamiters. remember'the first thing: that con vention did w'as to vote 430CO as a re tainer to Patrick Reddy,. the San Fran olsco lawyer, to defend theIdaho men and to hide "the- books of the Fedorajliqnj in preparation, -for a. raid. "V? 'Hugh Boyle,, who blew up thfCXoaSSf ., Hill-Sullivan "mine, was in hldrngttft Lake at thaj time,' and; he took quite aa active part In' forming the Inner circle. George A. PettlboneXwho had just been released from the penitentiary1 after serv ing seVerolofears- for throwing dynamUeV down a flume In the coeur a Aienes. was another, and Dan 5fcGinty, the-, 'hero ot Bull Hill," as we called him, -was the third. Ritual Is Blood-Curdllng-. "A ritual prepared by Dr. Carr. of Hill City, S. D., was. used.- This man was a crank on this kind of work. He is still forming societies with huge rituals. But he had nothing whatever to do with the Inner circle outside of framing a ritual used by the order. It was Improved on afterward. But even at the beginning- It was one ot the richest I have known of. The oaths to be taken would make th ordinary Individual shiver, and you know the men wanted for tho inner circle were of the superstitious kind anyway. It took a member several days to get over the initiation, and some men that I know never got over it. Inner Circle Runs Federation. "As long as Ed Bpyce was president, the inner circle was kept In the back ground. It used to do things then, but It did not run the- Federation as It has done for years. About a dozen men run the Inner circle, and this runs the exec utive committee and the Federation. "Since Haywood got hold, the Inner circle has run the whole organization with Its 90,000 members and Its Income of $00,000 to $500,000 a year. Poor Moyer was not such a bad fellow. He was easily led and fond of trouble, but I do not think he would have done, the thing? charged against him If he could have avoided them. Haywood and Pcttibone the Brains. "Haywood and Pcttibone are tho brains of tho inner circle. And do you know that Pettlbone swore that he would kill Hay wood on sight and got ready to do It for something that Is often justified by the public, but the inner circle jumped in and said: 'We cannot have any scandal. Quit.' And I gue'ss they did. "The inner circle has had charge of the funds of the Federation for several years. Wait until an investigating committee from the outside goes after these books. If Moyer and Haywood are convicted, then you will hear something drop. Men who very Ukelj had nothing to do with any ot the deels of violence, but who were aware of What was going on, wll be seeking otherKclImates. . Money 3Ijde by Strikes. i. "It the true storry could be told, the enormous income of"the Federation In the last few years would' be at the bottom of much of the crimes committed. The more trouble, the more money: the more perse cution, the bigger the subscriptions from outside unions. Tbe only way to get the money to come in was to have trouble with the authorities and arrests. The Cripple Creek and Telluride affairs meant half a million dollars to the Inner circle. If anyone can get at the books they will show that I am within the mark. But I don't believe the books now in the head quarters will show anything. "I know what I am talking- about when I say that for the last -four years thn executive committee and the auditing- St. 'I . u JQwi0tii4ads a ada tjfrttth', jtf)rtec ,fcgvsV gZoacfuAed ob. sage- ? i-Coatlnued on Pago 2