8
THE SFXDAT OREGON IAX, PORTLAND, JUNE 16, 1907.
SCBSCRTFTaOIf KATES.
INVARIA3T.Y IN ADVANCE.
(B Mail. I
Dally, Sunday Included, on year $8.00
Dally, Sunday Included, six months.... 25
Dally, Sunday Included, three months.. 2.23
Daily, Sunday Included, one month - .76
Dally, without Sunday, one year 6.00
Dally, without Sunday, six. months.... S-5
Dally, without Sunday, three monthe. . 1.75
Dally, without Sunday, on month 60
Sunday, one year - 2. BO
Weekly, one year (Issued Thursday).... 1-&0
Sunday and Weekly, one year 8-50
BY CARRIER.
Dally, Sunday Included, on year s.00
Dally, Sunday included, one month TJ
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order, express order or personal check on
your looal bank. Stamps? coin or currency
are at the sender's risk. Glva postortice so
dress In full. Including county and state.
POSTAGE BATES.
Entered at Portland, Oregon. Fostofflcs
as Second-Class Matter.
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16 to 33 Pages 2 cents
80 to 44 Pages 8 cents
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Foreign postage, double ratea
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PORTLAND, SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 11)67.
THE SCHOOL BOOKS.
A few persons have criticised the
work of the State Textbook Commis
sion, alleging that in making; changes
and selections It was indifferent to the
public Interests and was controlled
largely by publishers, some forty of
whom offered books and urged their
adoption. The following Is from the
Dallas Itemizer:
The people of the United States are sup
posed to have laws on the statute books of
the Federal Government and the several
states for the benefit of the masses and not
for a favored few, who have been able by
combination of vast money powers to control
and regulate the prices of any given article.
That they do so is a fact becoming mora ap
parent to every business man. These trusts
will tell you what they will sell you an
article for and what you must sell it at.
We have a number of trusts now doing busi
ness In this way, among which might be
mentioned the small matter of textbooks for
our public schools. They set the price both
ways, and by influents) brought to bear upon
t fool etate textbook commission change
the books whenever desired, bringing In an
entirely new lot of books all handled by
tbe same parties and who derive the profits
and the people simply have to pay for no
better books, but give an added per cent on
old books exchanged for the new.
A similar article is noted in the Salem
Journal. It is surprising how much those
persons who have given a subject no
examination may assume to know
about it. Yet, perhaps, the people of
Oregon may incline to give this '"fool
textbou rommisslon" credit for aver
ago Intelligence, a common derree of
disinterestedness, and a fair measure
of patriotic' desire to serve the public
and the public schools. Their work was
a laborious, and to them a profitless,
task; It took the time of the members
during many weeks; it was virtually a
gratuitous service which ' was ' well
enough, since it was such a service as
money could not hire. Persons who are
competent to Judge and have a right
to an opinion, believe that the work
was well done; and, moreover, they
know there was no lack of consicen
tlous endeavor to get best possible re
sults. .
There were many publishers, between
all of whom there was exceedingly
sharp competition the furthest thing
possible from any combination. Prices
all round were lower than formerly,
though better books, and books better
made, were offered, and cost of mate
rials and workmanship had much in
creased. The members of the commts-,
sion soon became convinced that, if
our school books were to be kept up
with the progress of the times, certain
changes would be necessary; and this
fact grew upon their minds daily, as
they made further examination. If the
old books were to be kept, new editions
were necessary; most of the texts in
use had undergone revision, and to
adopt the revised old books would have
been no economy, since exchange of the
old for the new,1 with payment of the
exchange price would have followed;
hence It was Just as cheap to take oth
er books. This threw open to selec
tion the whole mass of books offered
for examination. The schools were en
titled to the best that the judgment of
the commission could give; and the
schools will get the best. The wide dis
tribution of the books among different
publishers should show how thorough
the examination was, and the members
of the commission in every case de
cided on their own Judgment, without
regard to the representations of pub
lishers or their agents. What degree of
credit to their own intelligence and
fairness is due to those who say that
the selections were made "through in
fluence brought to bear upon a fool
textbook commission," may be left to
the Judgment of those who know the
quality of school books, and to the ap
proval of the people of Oregon, as the
results shall appear in the progress
made by their children In the schools.
Ignorance, like that quoted above,
straining its efforts at criticism
through hard-bound brains, may be
expected to continue its work; but It
matters Httle. The people of the state
and their school; have been served dis
interestedly, conscientiously and, with
such ability as the commission pos
sessed; the members of which will,
pea-haps, make a shift to" do without tie
approval of incompetent criticism fed
at a perennial fountain of uncandid
dulness.
H ARRIMAN WONDERS.
The Union Pacific has. caused to be
sent out through its publicity bureau a
statement as to the remarkable devel
opment of the Union Pacific and South
ern Pacific properties in the seven
years of Harrlman management- In
. that time, according to this veracious
circular, the sum of 1110,000,000 has been
spent by the Union Pacific on improve
ments la roadway, new equipment, new
lines', : terminal .properties and other
betterments. In 1899 the Union Pacific
moved 7,726,599 tons of freight; in 1906,
13.048,346: In 1899 the Union Pacific car
ried 2.R47.892 passengers; in 1906. 4.803,
094. The statement shows an increase
In freight business of more than- 66 per
cent, and in passenger business of more
than 88 per cent. The circular con
tinues: - ' .
Taking a period of four years for compari
son, the two systems (the Union Pacific and
the Southern' Pacific) have increased their
oars IS per cent: their double main track 214
per cent, and have added 1100 miles of yard
track and siding. In these four years the
car mileage has increased IS per cent and
the train mileage 12 per cent-
These statistics, designed to show the
wonders Mr. HarTiman has performed,
accomplish that purpose fairly well.
But the wonders he has not performed
and should have performed, if described
by xhis paid publicity agent, would
make vastly more interesting reading
to the Padific Northwest. How many
miles of new railroad has Mr. Harrl
man built in these seven years? How
much new territory has he opened up?
How 'many promises that he would
build branch lines into tributary coun
try has he kept? The record would not
be creditable to Mr. Harrlman. He Is
building a line from Portland to Puget
Sound, where it is not needed, in his.
petty game of retaliation against
James J. Hill, and neglects the great
interior of Oregon, where a railroad is
needed, and where his first obligation
lies. He wastes millions of dollars in
a vain effort to keep . Mr. Hill out of
Oregon, and does nothing, or next to
nothing, to occupy the field with new
lines of his own. Some day it may be
hoped there will be a reckoning be
tween Mr. Harrlman and the State of
Oregon, and we shall find out then just
how far he is justified in taking mil
lions from the pockets of Oregon ship
pers and using; them In his great game
of buccaneer finance on Wail street.
PERHAPS.
There are indications that a parcels
post is almost In sight. The most en
couraging sign of its early arrival is
the order which the express companies
have sent out to their servants, agents
and lawyers to oppose it. The people
who pay the taxes of the country and
who therefore meet the bills of the
Postal Department have long desired a
parcels post. The farmers are partic
ularly eager for it, since they well know
that it would do as much as the rural
delivery system to ameliorate the con
ditions of country life.
The opposition to the parcels post
has come from two sources. The first
Is the narrow-minded enmity of postal
officials, who wish, to save themselves
trouble and to make a showing of econ
omy. The United States has seldom
enjoyed the services of a Postmaster
General who appreciated the opportu
nlties of his office and understood the
vast benefits which It might render to
the country; while a most Inveterate
and malignant opponent of postal prog
ress was the unlamented Mr. Madden,
who has now happily vacated the of
fice of- Third Assistant Postmaster
General, where he did so much harm
and so little good.
But the really effective opposition to
the parcels post has come, of course,
from the express trust, represented in
the Senate by Mr. Piatt of New York.
Compare the standard of public duty
which has guided this individual with
the late Mr. Morgan's. Mr. Morgan
felt obliged when he entered the Sen
ate to renounce all private sources of
profit, even dropping his law practice.
Mr. Piatt has found no difficulty what
ever in remaining president of the
United States Express Company and
serving the trust instead of his country
at every turn.
The waning power of the decrepit
New York boss seems to open the way
for favorable action in the Senate upon
a bill for a parcels post, and It is pos
sible that the measure may be passed
by the next Congress. The parcels post
has little of that attractiveness which
comes from pomp and' splendor, but it
is difficult to think of an institution
which would do more to advance the
substantial welfare of the people. It Is
established in every civilized country
except the United States;, here it exrsts
only for the benefit of foreigners.
Goods can be sent abroad by the par
cels post, but not within the limits of
the United States., We. use the facili
ties of the postoffice, as we do the Ding-
ley tariff, to make the cost of living
cheap for foreigners and dear to our
own citizens who pay the taxes which
support the Government.
THE TRAINED . NURSE.
Of the June "sweet girl graduates,"
as we are wont to call them gradu
ates In a modest gown of blue and
white gingham and an ample apron,
and a dainty cap of white lawn are
among the most attractive, whether
gathered upon a platform to receive
diplomas earned by rnonths-of patient
study and service or represented by a
smiling group upon a printed page.
Other graduates who appear in the
regulation scholars' gown and cap of
dignified black, and, stepping forward,
receive from the hand of the president
of a university or college the diplomas
attesting their preparation for the work
of life, turn to face a world of wide
endeavor and varied opportunity; those
who take diplomas from the training
school for nurses turn to a vocation for
which they are specially .prepared and
find therein their life work. And a
grand work it Is. Pursued in darkened
rooms, where pain and disease hold
sway, it Is the province of these work
ers to alleviate pain by gentle minis
trations; to supplement the work of the
physician In battling disease; to ren
der service in the birth chamber and
the surgery; to encourage and assist
the fretful convalescent on the road
to health; and to soothe and comfort
the dying, when all efforts to- prolong
life have failed.
As truly said in an address to the
class recently graduated from a hos
pital In this city, the term "com
mencement," as applied to the exercises
which attend the giving of the nurse's
diploma, is one of form merely. The
recipients of these diplomas are not
tyros In their profession. For them
commencement day was the day they
entered the hospital to prepare for the
nurses' vocation. To the practical side.
the useful side, til Inevitable tiutieaj
of their profession, they were intro
duced at once, and throughout the en
tire period of their apprenticeship they
lived In close touch with these things.
The nurse at graduation is not only
ready for work; she has been at work
throughout the entire course, and has
wasted no time in non-essentials. ,
It is a matter of congratulation that
each year adds a large number of
young women, trained for the duties of
the sickroom, to the Intelligent work
ing force of the community.
THE STRUGGLE FOB EXISTENCE.
The moment a living being appears
in the world a murderous army sets to
work to kill it. Consider the bugs that
beset the infant cucumber vine and the
crawling, creeping, slimy tribes that
prey upon the nascent rose bush. No
sooner does the apple tree put forth its
fragrant bloom than the insidious cod-r
lin moth lays her destructive egg
where it will (blight and blast. The
maternal salmon has scarcely commit
ted her roe to the mercies of the uni
Verse when a predatory horde of carp
and snakes begin to devour it. As for
the human infant, it is a wonder of
wonders that he ever lives to years of
discretion under the assaults of his
foes. If he sucks his bottle a flood of
lethal germs pours down into his stom
ach with the milk. The air swarms
with germs of tuberculosis lying in
wait to lodge in his lungs. If he goes
out of doors, the alternation of heat
and cold slays him. If he stays In the
house the even temperature weakens
him. There is death for the unwary
child in the luscious green apple, and
the enticing carbolic acid bottle. The
whole world Is bent upon his destruc
tion. If he escapes it Is either because
Providence keeps special watch and
ward over 1iis ways, or, more likely,
because he is made so tough to start
with that he is Indestructible, like an
old hoopskirt or an India rubber shoe.
Such is the Struggle for-Existence
which in our fatuity we set upon a
pedestal and worship as if it were an
Idol made entirely of gold instead of
being for the most part clay. It is a
warfare of the whole universe against
each Individual, unfair, cruel and
wasteful. We say of it that it develops
In men many high and -noble qualities,
but when we say so we speak unthink
ingly; because the struggle for exist
ence develops those qualities only
which are useful in the struggle. All
others it eliminates. What would hap
pen to a lion' which should show pity
to the bleating kid? He would starve.
The beneficent struggle for existence
would swiftly make an end of him,
while his wiser rival would devour the
kid just the same. What would be
come of the man in business who should
conduct his affairs according to the
Golden Rule? The bankruptcy court
yawns for such as he.
The salmon and the shad lay a mil
lion eggs for every one that comes to
maturity when they 'are let to take
their chances in the struggle for exist
ence. Nor is it. the fish of sweetest
meat and the fattest which, escapes its
foes, but the swiftest, the most wary
and the toughest. The struggle for ex
istence is as unintelligent as It Is cruel
and wasteful. It knows nothing of ex
cellence or of good and bad. It pre
serves the typhoid germ with the same
care as the apple seed, but with no
more; it treats Shakespeare and the
rattlesnake precisely alike. It reaches
its ends- by slaughter. It never invent
ed an intelligent device or an econom
ical method. The instant any living
being comes into possession of a glim
mer of intelligence he uses the glimmer
to light the way out of the struggle
for existence. The fundamental use of
intelligence is to devise protection for
its possessor so that he may cease to
struggle and begin to live for something
better. Without protection no such
thing as progress is possible; Nothing
can happen except adaptation to cir
cumstances and the elimination of
everything that is not suited to war
fare. Progress means precisely the op
posite of adaptation; it is a triumph
over circumstances.
What happens to. the apple when man
ceases to protect it from the struggle
for existence? It becomes a little,
rough-skinned berry, sour and bitter,
so nauseous that It has no allurement
for the worms and bugs. The apple of
commerce is a fruit that has been
made exempt from struggle with its
foes. The horticulturist has cut off the
rival fruit on the safne stem that would
have competed for nourishment. He
has sprayed it to kill its insect foes.
He has cut away the boughs that
would have shaded it from the sun and
tilled the ground that it might have
air and moisture at the roots. The wild
horse has -strength and fleetness; the
protected horse has both of these and
also affection for his master, loyalty
and docility. The struggle for exist
ence could never have made him docile,
for a horse upon the prairies that Is not
fierce and wary must perish. The wild
hog is an uncanny beast made up of
bones, bristles and tusks. The protect
ed swine is mostly fat with alternating
layers of sapid lean, a tender creature
almost pathetic in his facile compli
ance with the needs and tastes of man.
The struggle for existence is a lovely
thing in theory, but what man Is there
who does not try his best to protect
his children from its horrors? Why do
we lay up money for our sons and
daughters? If it is so noble to strug
gle for existence, why do we build
houses to shelter ourselves from it?
Why not expose our bodies to its ele
vating rigors and grow hippopotamus
hides and gorilla hair? Our hypocrisy
In this matter is admirable. All the
time that we are singing hymns to the
struggle' for existence we are using to
the-utmost the powers of our intelli
gence to rescue ourselves and our chil
dren from its evils. Which is better
for a youth, to have a protected boy
hood with means for education, books,
sports, home training, or to grow up
under the struggle for existence in the
streets? Let It be admitted once for all
that good and great men have come out
of the struggle with enough of their
inherited nobility of nature left to
make them eminently useful; but they
are exceptions to the rule. And If they
had had to struggle all their lives they
would not have been exceptions. Op
portunity came to them before It was
too late and lifted them out of the
struggle.
It was so with Lincoln. The Ameri
can people, perceiving that he was
made for something better than the
Ignoble vicissitudes of a country law
yer, exempted him from the struggle
for existence, set him at the head of
the Nation and freed his energies to
struggle for nobler ends. Ever since
civilization began the whole race has
been working to do for itself something
of the same sort that the American
peeple did for Lincoln; that is, to get
beyond the mere quest for subsistence
and shelter. When a man or a nation
need no longer struggle for existence
there J energy, Available Xor biher
fort, but not before. If it has been a
good thing for the British aristocracy
to be free from the struggle for exist
ence, why would it not e a good thing
for all the English people? If it is a
good thing for Mr. Carnegie, why
woulrj it not also be a good thing for
his workmen?
HAS A WITNESS ANY RIGHTS?
The manner and language of the av
erage lawyer in cross-examining a wit'
ness in the trial of a case are amazing
when one reflects upon them outside the
unnatural atmosphere of a courtroom.
That principle of government which
declares that all ' men are created
equal means, that . they are created
equal before tbe law, and yet when two
men confront each other in court, one
as a witness and the other as a cross-
examining lawyer, neither guilty or
even accused of crime, it becomes at
once apparent that the law does not
throw around each the same -protec
tion and extend to ' each the same
rights. The lawyer may glare and
scowl and frown and sneer. The wit
ness must preserve a respectful de
meanor. The lawyer may intentionally
make a misstatement of fact without
probability of reproof from the bench
If the witness makes a misstatement
wilfully he is in danger of imprison
ment in the penitentiary. The lawyer
may stand up, shake his finger at the
witness in a menacing manner and
fairly shout his question. Should the
witness exercise the same privilege and
reply .in kind the, judge would send
him to Jail for contempt of court or
commit him to the asylum. Sitting in
the protecting presence of the court.
a lawyer may safely call a witness a
liar when he would not dare apply the
same epithet out on the street.
There is no reason in law or common
sense why this difference should exist.
A freeborn American citizen does not
forfeit all his rights by answering a
subpena to testify In cqurt. Neither
does he on such an occasion surrender
his right as a man, regardless of cit
izenship, to be treated respectfully so
long as his conduct has not merited
punishment. There is no reason or ex
cuse for permitting a lawyer to ad
dress a witness in any tone or manner
different from that in which the wit
ness Is expected'to reply. If a witness
should be guilty of misconduct the pre
siding judge, and not the opposing at
torney, would be the proper person to
reprimand or Inflict punishment. Quite
likely lawyers Imagine that loud talk
ing, menacing and scowling will aid in
bringing out the truth, but more of
ten they bring on confusion and mis
understanding which cause a witness
to forget, or to make erroneous state
ments. Excitement produced in this
way sometimes Causes witnesses to
contradict themselves though they
would have told straightforward,
truthful stories if permitted to do so
without Interruption or torment. Rapid
questioning, repetition of questions and
even frivolous questioning may be of
great value in testing the credibility
of witnesses but conduct on the part of
an aDiorney calculated to excite a wit
ness distorts the truth as often as it
makes the truth more clear. In the
presence of a court, as in every other
ipiace. ooth witness and lawyer should
conduct themselves with becoming dig
nity. In any event, no higher standard
cf conduct should be expected of the
witness than of the lawyer. When
the lawyer shouts a question the wit
ness should shout his repry. A few
euch experiences as that wouhj' con
vince lawyers and judges that wit
nesses have some rights which they
are bound to respect.
INSURANCE AFFAIRS.
The Life Insurance Press reports that
the level-premium life insurance com
panies, together with the assessment
orders, paid out in 1906 for death
claims, endowments and benefits the
sum of $327,576,199. To this very pleas
ing amount . we must add $120,000,000
more which went for annuities, divi
dends and surrender values.
The Press exhibits some natural com
placency over the flourishing state of
tne lire Insurance business, considering
all that has happened to blight Its
prosperity. New business has Indeed
fallen off over $300,000,000 ' compared
with 1904, but the Press says the com
panies "went right along maintaining
stability and paying claims." They
paid some other things also. For ex
ample, certain companies paid the ex
penses of agents hired to canvass for
votes to keep the present management
in power.
During 1906 more than $500,000,000 of
ordinary insurance lapsed. This was
most deplorable, since, as the Press
well says, the companies have always
been able to meet their contracts. In
fact, people threw over their policies
not so much" because they doubted the
ability of the companies as because
they distrusted their. honesty. Many
believe, also, on good grounds,' that life
insurance is much more expensive than
it need be.
WHERE THE BLAME LIES.
The President- is constrained to be
lieve that the factory Is a poor place
for married women, and he Is right
Any married woman in the working
ranks of life has plenty to do in her
own home. iBut unfortunately thlg fact
does not cover the question. There Is
no doubt whatever that married women
as a class would prefer to live in
homes that are supported by the labor
of their husbands. But what, when
this Jabor fails them? When sickness
comes and the man cannot work? Or
when the man is unwilling to work, or
incapable of making a living for the
family?
The question of the -married woman's
labor in the gainful- Industries is not
one of ethics, but, nine times out of
ten;, of stern necessity. It is not a the
ory that confronts us here; not the
woman who should be lectured upon
this point and told that she has enough
to do to take care of her house and
look after home interests. The man
should be told these things and cen
sured for allowing conditions to pre
vail that drive his wife to the factory
or the shop in order to earn needed
money to keep an abiding-place for
herself and her family, himself too
often included. A large and constantly
increasing number of American mar
ried women, as shown by labor statis
tics, work in gainful vocations; He
who supposes that these women, gen
erally speaking, enter these vocations
from choice is lamentably Ignorant of
the conditions that prevail in tbe homes
from which these workers go out to
their daily toll. From the washer
woman, who ties her 2-year-old child
to the table leg in order to confine his
movements to a limited area, leaves her
baby in the cradle, and, locking the
door, hurries to her tubs, to the milli
ner who arises early, makes the coffee
and toast for herself and husband, hud-
ef-J41e the dishes, in, iha sink and- tartssA.sia, .
for her day's -work, drawing on her
gloves, tbe married' woman who works
in gainful vocations Is spurred thereto
first or last by necessity.
Any one even moderately familiar
with the circumstances that govern
the lives of the great army of married
working women knows this to be true.
Hence, to speak of the situation as
though these women preferred It to
home life, with at least implied cen
sure, betrays misconception of the
facts.
Sunday closing of saloons is not to be
enforced on the ground that Sunday is
a holy day, or for other religious rea
sons. Some may think of it, some
doubtless do think of it, on that ground.
But the state does not. The greater
part df the sentiment behind Sunday
closing, elsewhere as here, is based on
the belief, derived from long observa
tion and experience, that it is best to
close up the drinking resorts on this
day, which by most persons Is devoted
to recreation and rest from the ordi
nary labors of the week. The Orego-
nlan has no doubt whatever that the
saloons of Portland will be closed on
Sunday; that the effort to close them.
If not immediately successful, will suc
ceed ultimately; and that at no distant
day. It is an ordinance that prevails
in most cities and towns of the United
States, and is advancing fast towards
the conquest of the rest of them. Re
sistance to the movement cannot be
maintained In Portland. The newcom
ers Into the city " and state coming
rrom places where Sunday closing has
been enforced, and approving the pol
icy will powerfully augment tbe forces
already here and at work towards the
same end. It Is one of the many signs
of the transformation of Oregon. The
wise Oregonian easily sees H; tthe oth
ers will be "shown." Customs even
more venerable than those of forty
three years' standing have "gone," or
must "go." For Oregon is getting out
of - old ruts or grooves mighty fast,
these times.
Dwellers in this city on hospitable
thoughts intent are astir in the inter
ests of the annual reunion of the Ore
gon Pioneer Association next Wednes
day. The prospect is good for a large
attendance at the reunion and banquet,
the latter feature of the gala occasion
being especially enjoyable to the sturdy
pioneers. The rose fiesta, occurring at
the time of the reunion, will lend ad
ditional attractions to the meeting.
The long set speeches which formerly
fell upon the ears of the aged men and
women in seemingly endless monotone
have been practically eliminated from
the programme of Pioneer day. Social
intercourse has taken -the place of these
addresses, and Is very much enjoyed
by the gray-haired men and women,
many of whom do not leave home more
than once during the year. As usual.
every facility for rest will be provided
lor tne guests, and if the day is fine the
attendance will no doubt be in excess
of that of any former year.
With women as plenty as they are In
this world good women, too, Industri
ous and self-respecting It is strange
Indeed that any sane man will pursue
and endeavor to bring back to his home
an errant wife who is proving her lack
of. womanly character and wifely honor
by running away with another man.
Still leas Is it conceivable that any
man Ift his right mind will put his neck
in a noose by killing the worthless fel
low who is his wife's companion in
flight. Yet two instances of this kind
are recorded as having taken place in
this state on a single day recently one
in Lane and the other in Clatsop
County. The only explanation possible
is that the husbands in these cases
were men from whom wives were jus
tified upon -general principles in trying
to get away.
. The State Agricultural College grad
uated last Wednesday a class of sixty
five students, of whom sixteen were
from the agricultural department and
eight from the department of household
science. Down-at-the-heel farming and
slipshod housekeeping are no longer
characteristic of life on Oregon farms
a fact that is due in no small degree
to the work of the Agricultural College
and the instruction given under its
auspices through farmers' institutes.
The influence of such work is far-reaching
and cannot be tdo highly appreci
ated. Any effort that shows how farm
ing may be made to pay and life in
country homes be made attractive is
well worth the investment in time, la
bor and money.
The District Attorney at Cathlamet,
Wash., has served notice on the sa
loons of that town that they must close
on Sundays. He also issues" through
the local newspaper an address to the
public. In which he eays:
The Sunday closing law has been upon the
statute, books for many years, but has not
been enforced simply from the. fact that the
public at large has been Indifferent in regard
to such matters, but at the present time
there is a movement over this entire country
to regulate and, control both saloons and busi
ness nouses.
This is only part of the great moral up
heaval that is going- 0n everywhere in the
country today, .without doubt having Its In
spiration from the moral teachings and poll
cles of the President.
i m
Of course there will be roses for the
coming carnival plenty of them; not
roses as plentiful, as large or as fine in
every way as were the first roses of
June, but abundant enough and beau
tiful enough to make a grand display.
Let all the faded and falling roses be
clipped from the bushes and the prom
ising buds spared, and there will be
roses In. abundance on the days of the
carnival providing, of course, that
rain ceases to fall and the sun shines
In tbe meantime.
The Czar has sent the Douma home
again because it didn't please him. The
Csar has to do something occasionally
to show that he Is still the whole thing
in Russia. ' ,
As evidence that six days' rain
doesn't affect business, note the 52 per
cent increase in bank clearances last
week.
We understand It now. Rammaker
Hatfield, up in Sherman County, is do
ing it alL Somebody call him off.
Mr. Harrlman very kindly ave the
Alton people back their stock, but
thoughtfully kept their money.
Wonder what would happen if Heney
and Burns were to get busy around
Greater New York City Hall.
Mayor Schmitz would have been
quite as well off if he had prolonged
his European tour a year.
This thing has gone so far that
Heney is almost a synonym for, Keme-
COMMENT ON CURRENT STATE TOPICS
Why Cannot Geversmrst Break: Up Traaaporiatloa Monopoly Willamette
RJ-verr OUed Streets as a Fire Rlak .Hertford and III Klertrie Light
Plant Disorderly Crowds on Sua day Excursion Trains Poor Pay for
County School Superintendents Panlshina; Charivari Ri-Mera.
WHCT the Federal Government has
such Jurisdiction over a navigable
stream that it can regulate navi
gation and prescribe the conditions upon
which bridges may be built, and when
the Government has also the power to
punish those who form combinations or
make agreements in restraint of trade,
merchants up and down the Willamette
Valley are wondering why something can
not bo done to restore -competition in
transportation on the Willamette River
and secure a return to something near
the freight charges that prevailed a few
years ago. A dozen or fifteen years ago
freight was carried from Portland up
the river for about one-third the present
rates. That was In the days when com
petition between rival boats was keen.
The rate on merchandise from Portland
to Salem, for example, was from S to 714
cents a hundred. After the rival lines
ceased their most strenuous fighting and
confined their competition to superiority
of service rather than lowness of rates
the freight charges were advanced by a
sort of mutual understanding to about 10
cents a hundred. Now the charges are
from 16 to 23. cents a hundred and still
advancing. For a number of years two
steamboat companies, originally keen ri
vals, handled their business at river
points through the same agent and . on
the same dock. For the last three
years one company has handled all the
business... Merchants cannot under
stand why . there should be such
an advance in rates, for the business that
was formerly divided between rival boats,
maintaining separate docks and agencies
and employing separate crews, now goes
to one . company. While wages of
boat officials and laborers have in
creased, this increase, it would seem,
is offset by the saving through discon
tinuance of competition. That advancing
rates are justified by advancing cost of
operation, the Valley merchants are'Hm
willing to admit. And some of them are
considering a remedy. That free locks at
Oregon City would solve the problem they
have some doubt, for the' locks are avail
able to all upon the same terms, and, if
competition can be suppressed now it
could be when the lockage charges have
been removed. Free locks would mean
lower rates, if there should be competition
as a result otherwise the boat companies
rather than shippers, would profit by the
removel of the lockage charges. The Ore
gon " Railroad Commission law does not
apply to steamboat companies, so there
is no hope for a remedy by appeal to
that arm of the state government. To
the Federal Government, which has con
trol of the river for many purposes, and
which has lately succeeded in breaking
up a furniture combination, they are more
likely to appeal, If they can see any hope
of relief from that source.
THAT oiled streets constitute an add!-,
tional fire hazanj, is the opinion of
the Insurance Field, which bases its opin
ion upon some tests of oiled streets In
Kentucky. This subject will be of inter
est in Oregon for the reason that several
Oregon towns have been using oil lately
as a dust preventive. Thus far the use of
oil has been entirely successful and much
superior to water, for an oiled street is
dustless all the time, while a water-
sprinkled street will be dusty in two or
three hours after the water has been put
on. But if the use of oil creates a means
of spreading a fire, there will be some
hesitation in using it very extensively.
That such should be the case seems hard
ly probable, for streets in California
towns are liberally sprinkled with oil and
there have been no reports of serious
fires as a consequence. The Insurance
Field cites the experiments in Winches
ter, Ky., describes as follows:
The street in front of the Bean carriage
factory has Just been oiled. Waste paper
from the shop is usually burned in the
street. Before burning the paper it was
suggested that they might set the street
on Are. To test it, they applied several
matches to the oil without effect. Then
they tried a lighted piece of paper. That
settled the question. In a moment the
street was on fire, the flames running fifty
feet high. The small hose of the fire de
partment was turned on, but this increased
the conflagration. The large hose was the
brought Into use and the nre flooded out.
No serious damage was done. Some trees
were scorched and a telephone pole was
Slightly damaged.
It Is quite likely, however, that much
more oil was used on the street men
tioned than is used on the streets oiled
in cities in Oregon, for It seems scarcely
probable that the thin sprinkling put on
here would be sufficient to furnish fuel
for a fire.
THOUGH Medford has decided, by
popular vote, to' lease its electric
light plant to a private corporation for
a term of 25 years, the city has not
thereby turned over to the corporation
the power to establish rates to be
charged consumers. The city fixes, in
its lease, the maximum charges that
shall be made, and reserves the right
further to regulate the rates, with the
proviso that the charges shall not .be
made lower than the average in other
cities of similar size. The lease requires
the lessee to pay to the city S per cent
of its gross Earnings and provide the
city with ten 2000-candle power arc lights
and 30 32-candle power Incandescent
lights, and additional liehts In rjronnrtinn
to the Increase In population. A graded
schedule of rates to be charged private
consumers is prescribed. The company
nas tne rignt to purchase the plant from
the city at the end of five years for
$20,000, and the city reserves the right
to buy it back at. the end of 25 ver at
a price to be agreed npon by arbitration.
tne lease Is rather novel In its terms,
but it seems that the people were" satis
fled that thev would set reasons his
trie light service at fair rates under Its
terms, lor they authorized the execution
of the contract thus summarized.
7T T the opening of the season for Sun
r day excursions to Summer re
sorts the St. Helens Mist has voiced a
timely appeal for better control of the
crowds on excursion trains. That paper
describes a riotous scene on a recent ex
cursion a scene such as many respect
able and orderly people have witnessed
to their extreme disgust and It calls
upon the railroad company to compel
drunks and hoodlums to have respect
for men and women who have paid their
fare for the purpose of securing decent
transportation. "Last Sunday's down
train seemed to be in possession of the
mob. They filled the aisles and plat
forms and amused themselves with loud
singing and conversation that is seldom
heard outside the slums. They traversed
the cars repeatedly from end to end and
made nuisances of themselves generally
without any interference from the con
ductor, . . In. the name of decency,
and public safety, the A. & C. manage
ment should see that ' its trains are run
in better shape." The Mist's protest Is
one that thousands of excursionists have
voiced before, not only on that road, but
on others, and on the river boats. Tet
It is Impossible for' a conductor, or even
for the whole ' train crew, to handle a
crowd of half-intoxicated rowdies. Clat
sop County once had a Sheriff who made
a practice of going to Seaside on excur
sion days and on the return he arrested
and took from the train at Astoria all
men who were so boisterous as to be
dangerous to the passengers. The St.
Helens paper could quite likely prevail
upon the Columbia County Sheriff to
send a deputy to the county lino to ac
company the train and remove all pas
sengers violating the peace within his
Jurisdiction. Because a man is on a train
does not make him any the less liable
for infractions of the law. - Neither is
a railroad train any less within the ju
risdiction of a Sheriff than a railroad
station.
YAMHILL County Is lamenting be
cause Its School Superintendent re
signed his office, paving a salary of $900
a year, to accept a position at the head
of the city schools In Bugene at a salary
of $1400. The people and press are not
censuring the Superintendent for stepping
Into the more profitable position, but are
condemning themselves for paying a sal
ary so low that they could not keep him.
"Mr. Alderman Is an able man," says
one paper. "Yamhill County needs such
a man as Superintendent of Schools, but
Just so long as the salary is $500 per year
will wo be subjected to the loss of men
of ability because soma other commun
ity is willing to pay for value received.
The same is true of teachers' salaries.
With very few exceptions a teacher who
cannot command more than $30 to $35 per
month is not worth 35 cents per year;
the exceptions being the few who live at
home or are forced to take small wages
because they have no idea of the real val
ue of their services." The trouble is
that the people put a. wrong estimate
upon the relative importance of the sev
eral county offices. It takes more
talent and more preparation to make a
good' School Superintendent than to make
a good County Clerk or Recorder. Yet
the Clerks and Recorders are paid tho
higher salaries. On an average the
County - Judges In Oregon are men of
poorer qualification than the School Su
perintendents, and some of them give
much less attention to the duties of their
offices. Yet the Judges get higher sal
aries than the Superintendents. An even-ing-up
by judicious lowering in soma
places and raising in others might solve
the difficulty.
THERE will be very wide and prao.
tically unanimous approval of the ac
tion of the police in Albany in determin
ing to prosecute those who participate In
charivari proceedings. In other towns
there is frequently opportunity to pre
serve the peace and dignity of the city
by adoption of a similar policy. In the
last few months there have been reports
of several charivari parties which resort
ed to violence, not only demolishing
property but injuring persons for whose
annoyance the parties were formed. Oc
casionally members of the riotous crowd
are Injured by the exasperated groom, but
even tho danger of this punishment has
not been sufficient to deter those who
feel that such occasions as weddings
and Halloweens operate to suspend tho
laws which guarantee protection to life
and property. Rigid adherence to tho
course announced at Albany should be
effective not only in promoting the peace
end orderliness of the city at present, but
also In suppressing a spirit of lawless
ness which will grow if tolerated and re
sult In greater crimes in future.
COMPANY L, o the Oregon National
Guard, located at Pendleton, has hit
upon a plan for drill that other com
panies might find worth, imitation. Tho
company goes into camp on Saturday
night at some convenient point along the
Umatilla River, and remains In camp un
til Sunday evening. The boys leave in
heavy marching order, carrying . their
blankets, overcoats, shelter tents, provi
sions and cooking utensils. They sleep
pructically in tbe open air, get the bene
fit of the long tramp, , and, what Is
chiefly desired, receive practical Instruc
tion in guard duty and extended order,
which It is Impossible to receive in the
limits of the armory. And under ordinary
conditions of weather they have a very
enjoyable time.
ALL along its line In Western Ore
gon the Southern Pacific has used
decomposed granite as a material for
the construction of walks and station
rjlatforms. The granite is cheaper and
much more lasting than lumber, . and
makes a better walk. It packs closely,
permits the water to drain off rapidly,
and Is never dusty. Because of the many
merits of this material the people of
Grant's Pass are considering its use in
street improvements. Unless the horses'
hoofs would tear it up and keep it loose
it would apparently make a good surface
for streets and highways. The fact that
it is not dusty is a strong feature in its
favor. As this kind of material is close
at hand, Grant's Pass can use It at much
less cost than most other towns, and the
results of experiments will be watched
with Interest.
Rnbiayat of "Old Probs."
Munsey's Magazine.
The Weather Prophet writes, and havlnr
writ
Benignly back amongst His Clouds doth
sit:
Nor all the Cold Sarcasm of the Press
Can hinder Him from thinking He Is It.
And that Inverted Bowl we call the Sky
He rules from Day to Day with varied lAml
Lift not your hands' to Him for Help
for He
As jllttle really knows as You or I!
- t
Myself when Young did eagerly Peruse
The "Weather Indications" In the news
For Picnics and for Balls; but evermore
What they did promise, I did surely lose.
I sometimes think that never glows so Red
The Dawn as when the Weather Clerk has
said:
"Tomorrow Cloudy; Heavy Winds and
Showers"
And Sol comes out Right dazslingly. Instead.
Ah, Love! could'rt Thou and I somehow
conspire
To grasp this Weatner Bureau Scheme en
tire; Would we not quickly get onto the Job
And then remold It to our Heart's Desire?
For He no' Question makes of Ayes and
Noe.
But anything that strikes His Fancy goes;
What others tnlnlc is neltner Mere nor
there
He knows about it all Ke knows H
knowsl