THE SUSPAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, DECEMBER ,12, 1909.
NEWS CHRONICLES OF THE CURRENT WEEK BRING
THESE PROMINENT PERSONS INTO PUBLIC VIEW
GREAT BRITAIN'S AMENDED BUDGET
SOON TO BE PASSED ON BY PEOPLE
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Proposed Taxes for Increased Dreadnoughts, Land Increment to Bear for the First Time Share of Burden of
Empire-Keeping Famous Measure on Which Lords and Commons Have Quarreled.
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Ni:w TORK, Dec. 11. (Special. )-r-All
the world wondered when Dr.
Thomas Jonneseo, of Bucharest, per
formed an operation in London recent
ly on a man who remained conscious
while the doctors were cutting him
open, and said he was entirely free
from pain. ' The anesthesia was ob
tained hy the injection of a mixture of
strychnine and stovaine. It is thought
this discovery of Dr. Jonneseo' will rev
olutionize surgery. Dr. Jonneseo ar
rived In New York this week. He is
a man of about 49, with dark hair and
a dark fnustache. He went to London
from Bucharest quite unknown, and It
was with difficulty that he obtained
a hearing- from the surgeons there. He
came to New York heralded by stories
of his London experience, and already
he has many engagements to demon
strate his discovery.
-Frank
Gould, whose wife recently got
divorce, has been In the mouths of
the gossips ever since. first he was
reported to have registered ;t woman
In London as "Mrs. Frank Gould." but
this proved to he a canard. It served
to bring Into the not unwelcome lime
light, however, a "showgirl".' from the
I'nlted States. Now the suit of Bessie
Devoe against Mr. Gould is being lis-c-iissed.
During the divorce suit. Miss
Devoe's name was mentioned because
It was said Mrs. Ben Teal had tried to
get perjured testimony associating her
with Gould. Now she has brought suit
against Gould for damaged affections.
It is said, and against one of her
friends for damaged character.
Count Devries is the Dutchman who
recently defied the bullets of the
guards at the entrance to John D
Rockefellers Cleveland home in order
tobring to the attention of that capi-
NEW PRESIDENT OF ROCK ISLAND HAS
WORN SAME SIZE HAT FOR 25 YEARS
President Mudge No Lover of Red Tape Electricity Rapidly Replacing Bridget in Household-Market Conditions
Bring About War Prices in Chicago.
ST JONATHAN PALMER.
CHICAGO, Dec. 11. Special.) Mani
festly there is no jealousy nor re
sentment In the offices of the Rock
Island over the selection of H. 17. Mudge
as president of that road under the new
railway deal. Kvery one in the office,
from the messengers to the vice-presidents,
seem to have a kindly feeling for
the new executive head. Mr. Mudge Is
quite as well disposed toward those who
have labored at his side. , He announces
he Is not going to make a "cleaning" of
the force, but that things will run along
pretty much ai they were, so far as, per
sonnel Is concerned.
Typical of the regard felt for Mr.
Mudge as man and official, is that shown
in a telegram of congratulation sent him
by ,a friend in Kansas City. The mes
sage spoke of the man "whose hatband
has been the same size for 25 year's."
It was a naive way bf saying that Mr.
Mudge never hag been afflicted with
"swell head" by virtue of any promo
tion that "have come to him. There
will be very little red tape in reaching
Mr. Mudge. About the only obstacle that
will stand in the way will be the time
factor. Mr.. Mudge has a way of keep
ing busy, and the day ought to have a
few more hours to gratify his appetite
. for work.
He is a man of physical vigor, inher
ited from his boyhood days when, as a
lad, he was strong enough to do an or
dinary man's work and was paid a man's
wages for his Industry and muscle. Be
cause he could swing a pick with the
best of his older co-workers, he was
quickly graduated from water boy to
track workman. He "overlooked no
bets." as the railroad men say of him.
and when he had a chance to learn teleg
raphy through the personal interest of a
friend, ho grabbed it. In the same en
thusiastic and serious way, he appro
priated other opportunities, and almost
before h himself knew it, he was "handy
about a lot of things."
Y'jlectrli.-lty Kcplacos Itridget.
One who attends the electric .show to
be held in the Coliseum in January
might make a sane guess that the elec
tric current Is going to solve the ser-xant-glrl
problem. Every year this show
exemplifies new and strange devices
through the medium of which the mys
terious fluid, or whatever it may be, gets
In Its work as a mute laborer. It Is
promised the coming exhibition will show
compact devices for washing dishes,
sweeping floors, cleaning enrtains and
draperies, scrubbing woodwork, ironing
shirts, running sewing machines and do
ing all sorts of household tasks. Brid
get, opetated by electricity, will be seen
busy at the washtub. at the baking oven
and the flatiron. There will be no less
than ix new motors running washing
machines, and a number of novel kinks
in electric flatlrons. There also will be
a Jungle of toasters, broilers, chafing
tli.sh.es, hot-water heaters, vibrators,
house telephones and whatnot.
It is said the !a.st year has been pro
ductive of an unusual number of elec
trical developments affecting the house
hold. In the latest eta of flat-building
in Chicago and New York stress is laid
by landlords and agents on the number
and kind of, labor-saving and health
conserving electrical devices installed for
2L
talist his proposition for the drain
ing of the Zuyder Zee. Being denied
the privilege of seeing Jtlr. Rockefeller
in the usual-way, he drove to the house
in an automobile and rushed it past the
guards. He was expelled from - the
house without seeing Mr. Rockefeller,
the convenience of the lease-holder. It
was thought a year or two ago that
the highest notch had been reached In
equipping apartment-houses, but new
avenues of improvement are opening up.
Most of these are based on some use of
electricity.
War Prices Seen Again.
Memories of war prices, when money
was not worth so much as it Is today,
came hack to Chicago when quotations for
prime steamed lard in Chicago Bhot up to
$14.15 a hundred pounds. The mark was
the highest reached in 34 .years, or since
April and May, J87.V None of the active
traders on the board today had ever ex
perienced such .prices and did not know
how to get thr-rir bearing In the crisis.
Lard went up beyond fl3 in 1893. but the
Cudahy corner hail to do with that. In
fact, all previous high-water marks were
made by virtue of some market manipula
tion, while the recent aviation was due
to normal causes, according to the trade.
Consumption, in the words of one trader,
is getting right up to the slaughtering
place and to the bottom of the pan. Fancy
values established have caused a sharp
slump in the demand from the consumer,
hence something of an adjustment of de
mand to supply. Hogs are coming into
the Chicago market In limited numbers,
partly due to shortage in the crop and
partly to bad roads. ,v
It is being argued all over again the
cause of the Chicago fire of 1S71, which
swept away J2CO.000.000 worth of property.
Mrs. O'Leary's cow either did or did not
kick over the lamp and start the fire
from a stable on the West 3ide. Jim
O'Leary. the stockyards saloonkeeper,
vindicates both his mother and her cow,
declaring the fire originated in sponta
neous combustion flue to damp hay which
had become overheated.
"My father and mother went to their
graves." said O'Leary. "under the weight
of sorrow the world put upon them
through believing their poor old cow was
to blame. TheNcow yarn is the monumen
tal fake of the last century."
The Rev. John D. Leek tarted the
trouble and discussion anew by saying In
a sermon that he had it from a man long
since dead that the fire was caused hy
two boys who went into the bam with a
lamp to steal milk for a whisky punch.
It was a temperance talk the preacher
was delivering and he little dreamed of
the storm he wa to stir up.
One Mrs. Bridget Kelly, of India napolie,
who used to he a neighbor of Mrs.
O'Leary, and talked over th back fence
with her many a Summer night, avers
she was an eye-wit-.iess to the incident
and that the cow really did overturn the
lamp. She declares, however, that Mrs.
O'Leary was not the milkmaid that night.
Old Brindle objected to being filched by
a stranger and showed her resentment
with a lusty kick.
Ttetailers Goitre Consnmers.
Speaking of high prices for table arti
cles. Secretary Wilson "got a rise" out.
of the meat retailers, by his statement
that the men who sell beefsteaks to con
sumers make about 46 per cent on the
transactions. It was to be expected the
corner meat dealer would resent the state
ment, which he did, saying that if he
were able to make 10 per cent he would
"i 8 -
m
itt iffy
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oir f 111
but later he saw him and laid his plan
before him with what result does not
yet appear.
General Thomas Barry has been or
dered to San Francisco to take com
mand of the Department -at Califor
be glad to retire from business and rest
on his oars after five years. He did not
attempt to explain why it is that some
of the retailers put the price of bacon to
customers up 10 cents when It had gone
up Hi cents from the wholesaler, while
others advanced the price only 5 cents.
At first blush the retailers seemed to be
vindicated when the first report of busi
ness operations by Armour & Co. ever
made public showed earnings of 35 per
cent on the capital stock of jao.OOO.OOO for
the year ending October 23, 1909. J. Ogden.
Armour made a statement a year or two
ago that the big packing concerns do busi
ness on a margin of profit of something
over 2 per cent. This statement is borne
out by the fact that to make 35 per cent
on the capital stock the .firm did an aggre
gate business of 250.00O,00O. In other
words, if only the funds represented by
the capital stock ' were used in the busi
ness, it would be necessary to turn these
funds over 12V4 times in the year. There
was no such turning over, as the Armours
always have been large borrowers of
money.
Taking the Armour report as its cue.
the Chicago Federation of Labor adopted
a resolution at its last meeting to inves
tigate the relative size of dividends and
wages. In the discussion that ensued.
Margaret Haley, woman champion of or
ganized labor forces in Chicago, declared
that the big packing concern was paying
taxes on only $3,000,000 for all Its in
terests in the country. ,
A local newspaper made. inquiries about
prices of table articles, going first to a
large retailer. who gave oBt his quota
tions on the condition his name should
not be used. The reporter then inter
viewed a woman who keeps a large
boarding-house and trades with the re
tailer In question. She detailed figures
she had paid for butter, eggs, meats, po
tatoes and other staples' that morning.
Her figures were 20 to 100 percent higher
than the storekeeper's. For instance, the
grocer said best creamery butter was sell
ing at 18 cents. The landlady said she
paid 54 cents. She paid 43 cents for eggs
which the retailer quoted at 35 cents.
One grocer admitted he was charging
48 to 50 cents a dozen for a particularly
choice brand of eggs rushed on Twentieth
Century schedule from heu to consumer.
His customer laughed a scornful little
laugh and observed the eggs must have
gone by way of the storage plant. Chick
en is cheaper than beefsteaks. Milk Is S
cents a quart.
Sectarian Teachings Bother.
The old question of sectarian teachings
in the 'public schools has come up agam
in the form of a concerted protest on the
part of Jewish citizens against the sing
ing of religious hymns by the pupils. It
is complained that the words of the
hymns now sung are diametrically op
posed to the, religious doctrines of the
Jews, and that the children of Jewish
parents are being weaned away from
their -fathers" faith. At a mass meeting
held in Temple Beth-el a dozen speakers
declared that no stone would be left un
turned to bring about the abolishment or
any kind of sectarian influences in the
public schools. The Jews had excellent
grounds for objection, they said, because
they were among the stanchest support
ers of the public schools. The Chicago
movement is an echo of the agitation on
the same subject In New York two yars
till
A
nia. It has been without a commander
since the retirement of General Wes
ton on November 13.
'
R. C. Kerens, who may be Ambassa
dor to Austria if a report from Wash
ington be true, was the distributor of
patronage under the Harrison adminis
tration for the whole state of Missouri.
Mr. Kerens has been a very practical
politician all his life. With very little
knowledge of the state of the party In
Missouri, he gained his position as ar
ter and distributor of patronage by
his contributions to the Harrison cam
paign fund. They told the story in those
days that one day Congressman Nied
ringhaus went to the White House to
protest against the dominance of Ker
ens in the distribution of patronage.
"But Mr. Kerens spent a great deal of
money in 'the campaign," said the
President, naming a sum in the tens
of thousands. "Yes." said Mr. Nied
ringhaus. "and most of it he got from
ma." When . Mr. Niedringhaus . son
planned the campaign iMiich resulted
in the choice of a Republican Legisla
ture in Missouri. Kerens was a can
didate against him for Senator. The
caucus named Niedringhaus. Kerens
bolted the caucus, organized an oppo
sition and spared no expense to defeat
Niedringhaus. The result was a dead
lock, from which Major William War
ner emerged as the successful candi
date for Senator. Kerens has made
many enemies, and they have opposed
bitterly his appointment to office.
Secretary Nagel is said to be against
him. It was reported some time ago
that he was to be made Ambassador to
Austria, but the appointment was held
up. Now it is reported that it is to
be made. As he has no special quali
fications for the diplomatic service, it
will be distinctly a "spoils" appoint
ment. '
ago. Some pronouncement by the School
Board on the subject is likely to be made
soon.
Navy Recruits Many.
Young America's love for a scrap is
being illustrated in the goings-on these
days at the recruiting station of the
United States marines in this city. At
the very first hint that marines might
be landed in Nicaragua there was an in
crease of 30 per cent in the would-be
enlistments, and when it was learned that
the soldiers of the Navy were actually
on the way to. Zelaya's troubled land,
there was such a rush that the officials
in charge of the station had difficulty
handling the men who came to recruit.
During November 100 men enlisted here.
Of those who seek to get into the serv
ice, many are seasoned chaps who have
served heretofore and been honorably
discharged. A large percentage are young
farmers from the Middle West strong,
clean, sober, serious fellows of the sort
that make the most acceptable marines.
So many applicants are coming in that
not more than one in a dozen can be ac
cepted. This situation makes it possible
to select the fittest men and to make a
marine personnel that is irreproachable
from the soldier viewpoint.
Merrlam Man of Hour. ,
Chicago's man of the hour is Charles
K. Merriam. college professor, Alderman,
searcher for municipal graft. Here is. a
young man of 35, who came out of a uni
versity faculty where men mix it with
theory more than practice, with ideals
more than with men. When he Introduced
in the Council-last June his resolution
for a searching inquiry into the financial
methods of- Chicago. "Bath House"
Coughlin arose- and with a contemptuous
Cough linesque disregard for 'high brows'
sought to laugh the resolution out of
court. But the young man from the uni
versity was ready for him. In utter cool
nesshe is famously cool under all cir
cumstances he informed the First Ward
statesman that he already had consulted
with Mayor Busse and that the latter
had given his approval of the plan to
scrutinize Chicago's methods of admin
istration. "The Bath House" sat down silently,
plainly taken by surprise. Nearly every
body else in the Council chamber looked
surprised. The "high brow" had shown
himself the politician, the diplomat, the
tactician, the practical man dealing with
practical men. It was a natural sequence
that he should have been named chair
man of the special commission. The wis
dom of the choice has been made clear.
Professor Merriam is a dispassionate.'!
alert; in-looking, able presiding officer.
He eees that the inquiry hews to tne
line, that' promising leads are followed
to the end. that there shall be no re
specting of persons on account of official
station, and "that justice shall be done to
ail. The inquisition proceeds with fruit
ful results that are surprising, not to
say amazing. The IfiO.OOO appropriated to
carry on the "work will prove a little
thing to the taxpayer If it result' in the
abolishment of abuses already uncovered.
It has been shown already wherein the
city has been filched of J300.000 that
would have been saved if the business
methods practiced by private corpora
tions had been followed by men elected
or appointed to serve faithfully the in
terests of the city. Tt has been estab
lished beyond the shadow of a doubt by
the testimony of engineers dally connected
with the work that not a square Inch of
shale was taken from the sewer built by
the McGovern Company, although Home
body in the municipal service is responsi
ble for paying the firm HS.000 for remov
ing shale. Whether this and like disclos
ures will eventuate in penitentiary sen
tences, remains to be seen, hut to the
man in the street that outcome would
era unavoidable.
(A condensation, rnads by. tb London
Times newspaper, of th present complexion
of l,loyd-Gorf's plan to collect revenue
by which expenpe of government can b
TO t.
THIS Budget has now taken its Anal
form in the House of Commons.
It was introduced by the Chan
cellor of the Exchequer April 29,
and the finance bill embodying
its provisions was issued May 38.
That oill contained Ttclauses, and with
schedules filled 62 folio pages of print. The
debate on the second reading began June
7 and the committee stage June 21. The
bill did not emerge from committee until
October 7. It then contained 97 clauses
and filled S7 pages?- In the report stage,
which began October 19 and ended yes
terday, it has been again greatly altered
and extended by the Insertion of a very
large number of amendments by the gov
ernment. In its original form the bill
was exceedingly long, complicated, tech
nical, and obscure; it is now very much
more so. and the repeated changes it has
undergone, have had a confusing effect
upon the mind .of any one who has tried
to understand it. Yet it is moat Import
ant that the "public should know clearly
what it actually contains. In these ar
ticles an attempt will lie made to set
out the main provisions in plain language,
so far as that is possible.
Xew Taxes.
New or increased taxation is proposed
under the following heads:
Land Values.
Liquor Licenses.
Death Duties.
Income-tax.
Stamp Duties.
Customs and Excise.
Tand Values.
This is the longest.. ' most novel, most
complicated, and most confusing section
of the bill. It consisted originally' of SS
clauses, with numerous subsections: it
now contains 42 clauses, and the subsec
tions have much increased in number,
length and complexity. The additions and
alterations have been introduced for the
most part to meet cases which were over
looked when the bill was framed and to
clear up obscure and ambiguous points,
with which it abounded. They show how
much more difficult the subject is than
the authors of the bill realized: for all
attempts to improve it and bring it into
consonance with actual conditions have
resulted in making it more and more
complicated. Only the main points can be
stated.
The proposed new taxes on land" are
four: (1) Duty on increment value; f2
Reversion duty: 3 Duty on undeveloped
land: (4) Duty on minerals.
' Increment Duty.
The duty on increment value Is a tax
of 20 per cent levied on any increase in
the "site value" of land accruing after
last April. It is to be paid whenever the
land is sold or let on lease (for more than
14 years'), and whenever It changes hands
by death. In the case of corporations,
which do not die, the duty is to he paid
periodically every 15 years, beginning
with 1!14. instead of on transfer through
death of the owner.
.The amount (called increment value) on
which this duty is to be paid is the dif
ference between the "site value" ' of the
land last April, as fixed hereafter by the
Commissioners of Inland Revenue (called
"original site value") and its "site value"
at any subsequent time when the duty
becomes payable, assuming that there is
any difference and that it represents an
increase. If there is no increase or a
decrease nothing is due.. No allowance is
made for dec-ceases: but If a piece of land
has been bought or mortgaged within the
last 20 years and its 'total value at the
time of purchase or mortgage was higher
than that fixed . by the commissioners
next April, then such higher value may
be substituted for the valuation of the
commissioners. After the first payment
duty is only charged on the Increment
since the previous payment.
The knotty point Is the meaning of
"site value." It is arrived at by taking
the actual price paid for land in the case
of a sate, the calculated value In the
case of a lease or transfer on death, and
the hypbthetical value ("if sold in the
open market' by a willing seller") in the
case of the commissioners' valuation, and
then making a number of deductions.
"Site value" equals "total, value" minus
any buildings, machinery or other struc
tures, growing timber, fruit trees, fruit
bushes and other things growing. And
"total value" equals "gross value" minus
depreciation due to any fixed charges,
public rights of way, rights of common,
or any agreement restricting the use of
land.
The problem of assessing increment
value is further complicated by a num
ber of deductions from "site value" to be
made by the commissioners, who are to
make allowance in respect of the follow
ing items: Works executed, or capital ex
penditure (including expenses of adver
tisement) incurred by or in the interest
of any person interested in the land, or
arising from the dedication of open spaces
by the owner for the purpose of improv
ing the value of. the land for building, or
for the- purpose of any business except
agriculture; any expenditure on redemp
tion of land tax or rent charge or on the
enfranchisement of copyhold land or cus
tomary freeholds, or for goodwill or any
other matter personal to the owner; any
sums, which in the opinion of the com
missioners it would be necessary to ex
pend in order to divest the land of build
ings, timber, trees and the other things
which have to be deducted from total
value to arrive at site value (see above);
any part of the total value directly at
tributable to, the appropriation or gift
of any land for the purpose of streets,
roads, paths, squares, gardens or other
public spaces: works executed or expenditure-
Incurrred for Improving the land
for agriculture which have actually im
proved it for building or any business
other than agriculture.
Kxenriptlons.
The following are exempt from-the in
crement tax:
1. Agricultural land, so long as it has
no higher value than Its value for agri
cultural purposes. (TBis value is not de
fined nor is any means Indicated for ar
riving at It.) Land for sporting arid allied
purposes is classsed as agricultural land,
except where its value for such purposes
exceeds the agricultural value.
2. Small houses occupied by their own
ers for 12 months previous to the. collec
tion of the duty and not exceeding 40 a.
year In London. 26 In any other town
of 60.000 inhabitants. 16 elsewhere. Owner
includes the holder of a lease granted for
50 years or more.
3. Agricultural holdings'" of not more
than 50 acres and 75 annual value, oc
cupied and cultivated by their owners for
12 months. Owner includes leaseholder,
as above.
4. Land held by any corporate or incor
porate body for the purpose of games or
recreation without view to profit, and on
conditions which render its continued uae
for such purposes probable, is. exempt
from the periodical payment explained
above.
5. Crown lands. This does not include
sales and leases to the crown.
. Buildings used for separate tenements
or fiats.
Payment Is- to be made by stamps. In
the case of land' passing en death tle '
whole amount due is to be paid as -an
addition to the estate duty. When the
consideration for sale or lease is re
ceived In periodical payments the duty
may also be paid in installments. Bodies
holding land may pay the periodical du
ties in 15 annual installments. Increment
duty paid on a transaction not subse
quently carried through can be recovered
on application within two years of trie
.payment.
, On the first occasion on which the duty
is collected it is to be reduced by 10 per
cent of the "original site value."" and on
every subsequent occasion by 10 per cent
of the site value ascertained on the pre
ceding occasion, provided that the total
remissions granted in a period of five
year?, do not exceed 25 per cent or the
antecedent site value.
The duty is 1 for every "complete" 5
of increment value. The Chancellor of
the Exchequer originally expected this
tax to yield 50.000 In the first year, but
that amount has been reduced by one
half, In the revised estimate issued on
October 22.
Reversion Only.
This is a. 'special form of increment
duty, payable on the determination of a
lease of land. It is a tax on the in
creased value of land accruing lo (lie
owner or lessee by the determination of
a leas?, and is charged at the rate of 1
for every 10 of that increased value. The
increased value is the amount (if any) by
which the total value of the land at the
determination of the lease (subject to de
ductions for permanent works executed
by the lessor and for any compensation
payable by him exceeds the total value
at the time of the original grant. Where
the lessor is not the freeholder the as
sessment is to be reduced in proportion to
the difference between the value of his
Interest and that of the freehold.
Exemptions.
1. Leases of agricultural land.
2. Leases for not more than 21 years.
S. Cases in which the lessor's reversion
ary interest is a leasehold interest not
exceeding 21 years.
4. Cases in which a reversion was pur
chased before April 30. 19u9, and the lease
determines within 40 years of that date;
but this exemption does not apply where
the lease is determined within 40 years
by any agreement not contained In the
lease Itself.
Where a lease is .determined by
agreement before the expiry of its
full term and a fresh one is granted
for at least 21 years beyond the expiry
date of the old one,- the Commissioners
shall make an. allowance of 2Vi per
cent of the duty for every year of the
original term unexpired at the time
of determination. It is obvious that
cases will arise in which Increment
duty and reversion duty will botli be
payable on the same values. To meet
such cases and to- prevent payment
twice over provision is made for allow
ing either duty, which has already
been paid, to count as payment of the
other or of part of the other.
The reversion duty is to be collected
as a debt to the .crown.
This tax is expected to yield 100.
000. Duly on CntJeveloped Land.
This is one of the most difficult and
intj-icate forms of taxation in the bill.
The proposed duty is an tnnual tax
on the site value of undeveloped land
at the rate of a halfpenny for every
20s. What Is undeveloped land? It
is land which "has not been developed
by the erection of dwelling houses or
of buildings for the purposes of any
business, trade or industry other than
agriculture (but including glasshouses
or greenhouses), or is not otherwise
used bona fide for any business, trade
or industry other than agriculture."
Land which has once been developed
but has reverted through the buildings
being, "derelict" or through its ceasing
to be used for any husiness, etc.. is to
be considered undeveloped at the end
of a year after it has lapsed In the
manner stated. On the other hand,
where 100 an acre has been spent on
developing land by making roads or
sewers It shall be considered developed
to the extent of an acre for each com
plete 100 expended, although it is not.
as a matter of fact, developed. But
that grace only lasts for ten years
from the time of the expenditure, and
it is withdrawn' if the land after hav
ing been developed reverts to the un
developed state.
For the purposes oC this tax the site
value is that fixed by the Commission
ers (see above) at the first valuation
and subsequently at each later periodi
Preserve a Magnificent Park
Statement of the Hetch-Hetchy Question and an Appeal to the Country.
BY JOHN Ml'IR.
TUB Tosemite National Park is not
only the greatest and most wonderful
National playground in California, but in
many of its features it is without a rival
in the whole world. It belongs to the
American people and is among their most
priceless possessions. In world-wide in
terest it ranks with the Yellowstone and
the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. The
Yosemite Park embraces the headwaters
of two rivers the Merced and the Tuol
umne. The Yosemite Valley is in the
Merced basin, and the Hetch-Hetchy V.il
ley, the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne,
and the Tuolumne Meadows are in the
Tuolumne basin. excepting only the
Yosemlte Valley, the Tuolumne basin is
the finer and larger half of the park.
Practically all of the Tuolumne basin
drains directly into Hetch-Hotchy Val
ley, which is a wonderfully exact coun
terpart of the great Yosemlte. not only
hi its crystal river, sublime cliffs and
waterfalls, but In the gardens, groves and
meadows of its flowery -park-like floor.
This park-like floor is especially adapted
for pleasure camping, and Is the focus of
all the trails from both the north and
the south which lead into and through
this magnificent camp ground.
The Yosemite National Park was cre
ated in 1890 by Congress in order that
this great natural wonderland should be
preserved in pure wildness for all time
for the benefit of the entire Nation. The
Yosemite Valley was already preserved
in a State Park, and the National Park
was created primarily to protect the
Hetch-Hetchy Valley and Tuolumne
meadows from invasion.
In spite of the fact that this is a Na
tional property dedicated as a public park
for all time, in which every citizen of the
L'nited States has a direct Interest, cer
tain individuals in San .Francisco con
ceived the idea that here would be an
opportunity to acquire a water supply for
the city at the expense of the Nation.
A bill to accomplish this object has been
introduced and will be urged at the pres
ent session of Congress. Let all those
who believe that our great National won
derlands should toe preserved unmarred
as places of rest and recreation for the
use of all the people, now enter their
protests. Ask Congress to reject this de
structive bill, and also . urge that th
present park laws be so amended as to
put an end to all such assaults on our
system of Nation parks.
If San Francisco could not obtain pure
water elsewhere this great National sac
rifice might be justified, but hydraulic
engineers of unquestioned standing have
reported on many other adequate and
cal valuation, which is to be made
f every five years. Where' increment
duty has been paid - on unfevloped
land five times the amount paid is to
be taken off the site" value. Unde
veloped land does not Include the
minerals.
Kxemptlniis.
1. Land of which the site value Is
not more than 50 ah acre Is exempt.
2. Agricultural land with a. site
value of more than 50 an acre is only
liable on the amount - b.v which the
site value exceeds the "agricultural
value." .3. Public parks, gardens and open
spaces are exempt.
4. Woodlands, parks, gardens and
open spaces, to which the public have
reasonable access and the Commission
ers think such access beneficial, are
exempt.
5. hand kept free of buildings, in
pursuance of any definite scheme of
development, is exempt, subject to the
approval of the Commissioners.
Land used for g3rrtes or other
recreations, under on agreement bf not
less than five years' duration, or other
conditions which' make its continued
use probable, is exempt.
7. Plots of ground not exceeding an
acre attached to houses and gardens
riol exceeding five acres are. exempt
under certain conditions. "
(This provision is apparently intend
ed to protect private gardens and is of
great importance to many household
ers, but the terms are extremely tech
nical and can only be Interpreted in
any given case by an expert.)
8. Agricultural land held under a
lewse or agreement made before April
30. 1909. is exempt while the tenancy
continues.
9. Agricultural land-occupied and cul
tivated by the owner or the holder of a
lease of not -less than 50 years is ex
empt. If the total value of the land, to
gether with any other belonging to the
same owner.- does not exceed 1500.
Undeveloped land duty, together with
"nngotten minerals." was orirarinally es
timated to yield 350,000 in the present
financial year. That has been reduced
on the revised estimate by 25,000.
Duty on Minerals.
This is an unusual tax, at the rate
Is In the pound charged on the "rental
value" of all rights to work minerals
and of all mineral way-leaves, excluding
brick clay and earth, sand, chalk, lime
stone and gravel.
"Rental value" means. In the case of a
mining lease or. mineral wayleave, the
amount of rent paid by the working
lessee in the last working year. But if
the rent so paid exceeds the rent "cus
tomary in the district" and partly rep
resents expenditure by the proprietor,
the rental value Is reduced accordingly.
In the case of a proprietor himself
working the minerals, the rental value
is the customary rent of the district
which the proprietor would have re
ceived if he had let the rights.
Where there are sub-leases the inci
dence" of the tax is adjusted by pro
portional deductions of rent. '
Mining leases, having to pay this spe
cial duty, are exempted from increment
duty on being granted, and from re
version duty on being determined.
Minerals worked under a lease or by
the proprietor previous to April 30.
1903, are exempt from increment duty
so long as the arrangement goes on,
and this, exemption extends to tem
porary cessation of working for - a
period of two years. Where increment
duty is chargeable on minerals value is
not to be estimated as a capital sum
but as the amount by which the rental
value at the time exceeds the annual
equivalent (namely, two twenty-fifths)
of the original capital value or the
capital value when the last Increment
duty was paid. Increment duty so paid
covers the minerals duty for that year
up to the amount paid.
Here new values are introduced. The
"capital value" of minerals Is the "total
value" less deductions for works or
capital expenditure. And "total value"
is the (hypothetical) amount which the
fee simple might be expected "to realize
"if sold in the open market by a will
ing seller." The "original capital value"
is that fixed at the general valuation to
be made on the passing of the act.
The financial result of the mineral
rights duty is estimated to be an addi
tion of 175,000 a yeati to the Chan
cellor of the Kxchequer's original esti
mate of the yield from undeveloped-land
and minerals. The two together now
represent 500,000, according to the re
vised estimate.
available sources. In this respect, prob
ably. o large city in the world is more
favorably situated.
The General Federation of Women's
Ciubs, the California Federation , and
many other state federations have adopt
ed resolutions protesting: against this de-
I structive plan. Anyone desiring complete
iiiivuiiaiiuii vi 1 1 una ii upui la ii l auuject can
fOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK.
The shaded portion represents sub
stantially the area of the Tuolumne
drainage which would be affected by
the Hetch-Hetchy grant.
obtain It by writing to John Muir, presi
dent of the Society for the Preservation
of National Parks, 302 Mills Building,
San Francisco, Cal.
OPPORTl'MTV.
I'm sought for oft in anxious hast
' Or hopeless quest half-hearted Iv ;
In ways unwise and place unfit
To meet me "most contentedly.
I often stand close by your side
Unrecognized, because vou look
For greater objects than I hide
For you inside my future-book.
But when I meet the faithful man.
ho works unwatched and caicfullv.
I make for him a place unsought.
Beyond his hopes, most cheerfully.
JOHN L. VESTAU
13 Ninth street Kortb,