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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