THE SUNDAY OREGONTAN, FOBTLANP. AUGUST 4, 1912. J,'
00 E POLITICS
MUNICIPAL BLIGHT
ISocial and Economic Feature
at Present Lax Says Char
ter Revisionist.
NEVV FORM PROVIDES AID
V. B. Ayer, of Commission, Declares
Old System in Vogue Is Costly
and Bunglesome Responsi
bility Xot Centralized.
Discussing commission government of
luniciDalities yesterday, W. B. Ayer,
a. member of the committee that re
cently completed the draft of a com
mtsion charter for Portland, said the
ml trouble in Dresent-day municipal
administration is the influence of politics.
He contends that the fault lies noi
alone with incompetent officials, but be
cause municipal government today is
political rather than coctal and eco
nomical.
With the municipal afralrs or fort
land Intrusted to 48 men,- the absence
of concentrated authority, points out
Mr. Ayer, gives opportunity for shift
ing responsibility. Mr. Ayer does not
assume that a commission plan will
guarantee perfect government, but he
does maintain that in its operation the
commission charter that has been com-
niled. if adopted by the voters, win
accomplish many Improvements by en
couraging efficiency and economy, con
centrating authority and fixing respon
sibility. Authority Not Centered.
"I am not one of those who despoil
of government of American cities." salil
Mr. Ayer. "I do not believe they are
bo bad as they are painted. Whenever
there is an election, or even Deiore,
when a candidate is grooming himself
for office, it is the fashion to make all
sorts of wild statements about graft,
rice, etc.: but after election it ail
settles down to the dull monotony or
inefficiency and spasmodic bursts of
grandstand play.
"Neither do I believe that the men
elected to office are venal or incom
petent. They are simply a product of
a system of government that is not
adapted to the conditions of communal
life. Municipal government should be
social and economical and not political.
Our present charter is purely political,
with all its checks and balances: It
does not concentrate authority, but
gives the opportunity for dodging and
shifting responsibility. There are 48
men intrusted with the legislative and
executive management of this city
the Mayor, 15 Councilmen. 10 on the
Executive Board, four on the Park
Board, four on the Water Board, four
on the Health Board, five on the Public
Docks Commission, five on the Audit
orium Commission. Could the Ingen
uity of man devise a scheme that is
less direct and business-like, or freer
from responsibility? Who ever heard
of, a corporation, big or little, trying
to manage its affairs in any such
clumsy manner? And what is the. diff
erence between a municipal corporation
and a private corporation that demands
such a different form of management?
No great railroad owner, like James
J. Hill, would tolerate such a system
in his own affairs for a moment. Why
should the individuals who make up a
city endure it?
rmwot System Chaotic.
"The so-called commission fornj of
municipal government provides for con
centration of power and responsibility
in the hands of a few. All the above
enumerated officials are abolished and
the entire management of the city
lock, stock and barrel is given over to
the Mayor and four Councilmen, sitting
together and called a Council. Each
Councilman has allotted to him a spe
cific duty. -such, for Instance, as the
parks and lire department, and to
gether they consult and consider the
general policies and enact such legis
lation as may be necessary. The res
ponsibility for efficiency and econom
ical administration is apparent, and
I do not question the assertion of ex
Mayor Lane that hundreds of thou
sands of dollars could be saved annu
ally that are now wasted, by substi
tuting a business management for the
chaotic political system now in vogue.
"The question that each citizen is
always asking is,, are we getting our
money's worth? Does each dollar of
public money buy as much as a dollar
of private money? Personally, I do
not see how it is possible under the
present charter, for there Is no co
ordination between departments and a
divided responsibility. .The money re
ceived by the city from taxes, fines,
etc.. amounted this year to $4,000,000.
That then is the size of the city's finan
cial business. The volume of business
of any one of our big department stores
is about the same amount per annum,
and in no case are there over two or
three owners attending to-- the entire
buying and selling. From a business
standpoint alone, the present charter
Is a poor job.
Responsibility Good Thing.
"The principal argument of the op
ponents of the new charter is that the
same character of men would be elec
ted to office under the new charter
as under the old; consequently, there
would be no improvement in the gov
ernment of the city. I am willing to
admit that the same character of men
may be chosen under the new as under
the old charter, but do not admit that
results will be the same. I have never
yet known a man who failed to re
spond, to a degree at least, to increased
responsibility. He will not only as
sume the added burdens, but he will
do his work- better and more con
scientiously; in other words, he r'ses
to the ocasion. Every man holding a
position of trust and giving his entire
time to the business, and receiving
an adequate salary for the same, will
do much more successful and satis
factory work than when h is receiving
nothing and devoting only a small por
tion of his time. I am absolutely con
vinced that the failure of municipal
government Is In only a slight de
gree due to the character of men elec
ted to office, but almost entirely to
the character of government prescribed
in our charters.
"I do not expect a perfect govern-,
ment to follow the adoption of the
Commission Charter, but I do expect
a great Improvement, because it se
cures the entire time and attention of
each Councilman: It encourages ef
ficiency and economy: it concentrates
authority and fixes responsibility."
ORATORY TO - BE REVIVED
Reorganization of 19CC Interstate
League Practically Assured.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON. Eugene,
Aug. 3. (Special.) Following the in
structions of the committee on oratory
and debate at the University of Ore
gon. Graduate Manager Geary is pro
posing the re-organization of the Inter
state Oratorical League, established in
1903 among the universities of Oregon,
Washington and Idaho, by the King
County Bar Association.
The plan is to enlarge the league
by the admission of the Oregon Agri
cultural College, Washington State Col
lege, Whitman College, and to elimi
nate the University of Montana, which
took the place left vacant by the Uni
versity of Idaho, three years ago. The
main complications in the re-organlza-tlon
of the league are the terms under
which the annual gift of the King
County Bar Association to the win
ners of the contest "was made. It was
stipulated that 176 should be given
to the winner of the first place and
$25 to the winner of second place in
an annual oratorical contest held
among representatives of the state uni
versities of the Northwest.
Manager Geary has written to the
manager of the University of Wash
ington and to the secretary of the King
County Bar Association asking whether
aTMIXWItiLE BISIXESS MAS
CHARTER MEMBER OF ELKS'
LODGE PASSES AWAY.
i i "v -- ' J
I - i
Arthur L. Tidd.
MMINNVILLE. On. Aug. 3.
(Special.) Arthur L. Tidd, a
prominent business man of this
city, died here July 30. He was
a son of one of the early settlers
of this countv and was born at
Yamhill. Or., February 10th, 1S85.
He was a member of the Knights
of Pythias and of the new Elks'
lodge here, of which he was a
charter member. He resided with
his mother, Mrs. M. C. Tidd.
Mr. Tidd Is survived by his
mother, three sisters and two
brothers. They are: Miss Lulu
Tidd. McMinnville; Mrs. C. B.
Mann, of Seattle; Mrs. J. F.
Slater, of Portland; Earl Tidd, of
McMinnville, and Win. Tidd, of
California.
The funeral was conducted by
the Knights of Pythias lodge
and was held at the Christian
Church. . Burial took place at
Yamhill Cemetery near Yamhill,
where Mr. Tidd passed his early
life. r
the annual gift will be continued if
the league is thus enlarged by the
admission of the agricultural colleges
of Oregon and Washington and Whit
man College. The purpose of the en
largement is to bind together closely
the colleges of the Pacific Northwest
conference.
GITY OFFICIALS DEMUR
MEX CXDER "BRIBERY" INDICT
MENT TAKE ACTION".
Attorneys for Mnyor, Chief and Oth
ers Object to Charges Based on
Nuisance Statute.
Asserting that if their clients are
guilty of anything it is of a violation
of section 2029, Ford's Oregon laws,
which relates to the giving or offering
of a bribe, or section 2054, Ford's Ore
gon laws, which refers to malfeasance
or negligence in office. Attorneys Mal
arkey, Logan and Benbow yesterday
filed in Circuit Court a demurrer to
the indictment, drawn under the nuis
ance statute, charging Mayor Rushlight,
Chief of Police Slover, Detective-Captain
Baty and Detective-Sergeant
Smith, with committing an indecent
and immoral act and injuring the per
son and property of another by of
fering a bribe of $400 to Deputy Dis
trict Attorney Collier.
The demurrer is on two grounds, one
being that the Indictment does not
state facts sufficient to constitute a
crime and the other being, to quote
the exact language of the demurrer,
"that the acts of the commissions
charged therein as being the crime al
leged to have been committed by said
defendants are not clearly and dis
tinctly set forth in ordinary and con
cise language without repetition and In
such a manner as to enable a person
of common understanding to know what
Is intended thereby, or such certainty
as would enable a court to pronounce
Judgment upon a conviction, according
to the rights of the case."
Points to be relied upon in argument
are given in detail.' 'It is alleged that
the Indictment contains nothing to
show how the person or property of
Collier was injured, how the public
peace was grossly disturbed, how pub
lic decency was openly outraged or
how public morals were injured; that
the indictment fails to state a specific
date upon which any of the acts men
tioned was committed: and that the In
dictment "shows on its face that the
acts complained of were committed for
the purpose of entrapping another and
obtaining evidence of his criminal acts
and were therefore Innocent and law
ful." In conclusion the statement is made
that section 2087 (the nuisance statute)
refers only to acts not made punishable
by other criminal statutes and the con
tention is advanced that the crime, if
any exists, is covered by either section
2029 or 2043."
The original Indictment, against the
same defendants, with the exception
of Detective Smith, was drawn under
the statute relating to the bribing of
public officials, one of the sections re
ferred to above. This Indictment, con
viction under which left the defendants
open to penitentiary sentences, was dis
missed on the eve of trial by motion
of District Attorney Cameron last Mon
day. At that time the defendants were
arraigned on the second charge, which
is a misdemeanor punishable by fine
or Jail sentence, and given until yes
terday to move or plead.
The date for argument of the de
murrer interposed yesterday has not
been set. It probably will come up
early this week, before Judge Ganten
bein. The defendant's attorneys evi
dently have forsaken a previously-expressed
intention to demur on the
ground that the grand Jury had first
voted a not true and later a true
bill on this indictment. Lionel R. Web
ster, who will appear as special prose
cutor, asserts that there is no question
of the right of the grand Jurors to
change their minds.
Our insecticide, positively "puts bed
bugs out of business. We also make all
styles of sweeping compounds, floor
oils and floor spray. Phone Plummer
ltuk Co.. u nird ana Maaison. Mam
SAVINGS :
' v V
DEFINITE
DE M ONS TEA TED
When people patronize sales they expect to save money. .The object of this sale is not to
save money for youj but to get cash for ourselves. If, by that means, we can make it pos
sible for you to save money, we are glad, for, we kill two birds with one stone and make
friends, besides. Wq believe that the following a$i' will speak for itself. The old Steinbach
prices are given so that you can demonstrate definitely, exactly how much money you save
on each purchase. It's just a matter of subtraction.
Make Your Own Careful Comparisons
, ' , Steinbach SALE
ARTICLE pnee , PRICE
Young men's hand-tailored Suite to $22.50 $11.75
Youngjnen's high school Suit3 to". . 18 00 9.35
1912 rubberized Raincoats to 15.00 7.45
Ladies' rubberized Raincoats to 6.00 3.65
Ladies' polo and mannish Coats to 35.00 11.85
Boys' long Pants to 3 50 5
Boys' long Pants to 5 00 1.15
Boys' long Pants, peg top, to.... 5.00 2.35
Boys' Blouses, Shirts, with collars to 1.50 - .45
Children's novelty straw Hats to... 5.00 .85
Boys' straw Hats, 6 3-8 to 7, to. .. 1.00 .45
Boys' straw Hats, same sizes, to. 2.00 .65
Yonman's Derby Hats to 5.00 3.45
Brooks' and other Hats to 5.00 2.35
Broken lots standard Hats to 5.00 1.65
Caps, odd lots to 2 00 45
All Straw Hats to 5.00 . .85
Yonman's Silk Hats to 9.00 5.95
Boys' Caps, 40 dozen, to -50 .15
Straw Hats, broken lots, to 3.00 .45
Infants' Holeproof Sox, 4 pair 1.00 .50
Holeproof Hose, boys', girls', 6 prs. 2.00 1.35
Holeproof Hose, same as above.. . . 3.00 1.95
Adler's Tryon Gloves 1-50 1.10
Dent's outseam Gloves 2.00 1.45
Hansen's auto Gloves 3.00 2.15
E. & W. Redman Collars, four -.50 .25
E. & W. linen Collars, two 50 .25
Soft Collars, four 100 - .25
Soft Collars, P-K, two .50 .25
E. & W. white dres3 Shirts . . . 2.50 1.25
E. & W. white dress Shirts 2.00 1.00
Cluett Shirts, white . 1-50 .75
Manhattan Shirts ........ 2.00 1.05
Manhattan Shirta to 3.50 1.65
. Steinbach SALE
ARTICLE price PRICE
Monarch Shirts $ 1-00 .65
Cluett Shirts 1-50 .95
Negligee Shirts, collar attached 1.50 .75
Steinbach Shirts to 2.50. S1.35
Ruff Neck Sweaters to . 8.00 5.15
Silk Hose, all we have, to .75 25fr
Holeproof Hose, men, 6 pairs 1.50 .95
Holeproof Hose, men, 6 pairs 2.00 1.35
Holeproof Hose, men, 6 pairs .. 3.00 1.95
Steinbach Hose, men, 4 pairs 60 .25
Pure silk Hose, two pairs 50 .25
Pongee silk Night Shirts & Pajamas 5.00 2.45
Madras and soisette Night Shirts to 2.50 .95
Silk Underwear, garment 15.00 4.35
Health Underwear, pure linen, gm't 6.C0 1.85
G. & M. Underw'r, sweater neck, to 2.50 1.15
G. & M. Underwear to 3.50 1.85
Cooper springneedle Underwear. . . 1.50 .85
B. V.XD, Underwear 50 .25
B. V. D. athletic Underwear . . 1.50 " .95
Porosknit Underwear 50 .35
White Cat Underwear, union suit. 1.50 .85
Knit Sweater Vests 5.00 2.45
Stockinette office Coats 5.00 1.15
All wool Sweaters, coats 3.00 1.35
All wool Sweaters, coats 7.... 5.00 2.35
Negligee Shirts, collar and tie 2.00 1.15
No-fade Shirts, collar to match... 1.50 .95
Steinbach Shirt, collar to match . . 1.50 .85
Silk & wool Shirts & Drawers, gmt 5.00 2.65
Boys' wash Suits to 1.00 .35
Boys' wash Suits to 2.00 .65
Boys' wash Suits to 3.00 1.15
Boys' wash Suits to 4.00 1.65
Boys' wash Suits to 5.00 1.95
IDTtr Steinbach SALE
ARTICLE . Price PRICE
Rogers-Peet Clothes, finest makes to $40.00 $18.65
Rogers-Peet Clothes, finest makes to 27.50 13.85
Rogers-Peet blues and blacks to. . . 35.00 21.65
Stratford Clothes, other makes to 22.50' 11.75
Stratford Clothes, other makes to 18.00 9.35
Full dress & Tuxedos, R-P. to. . . . 60.00 37.50
Full dress & Tux., 1911 models, to 50.00 28.50
Black Cheviots, young men, to 22.50 4.85
Three-piece Suits for young men to 25.00 7.85
Two-piece Suits for young men to. 25.00 4.85
College b'd S'ts, 1912, young men to 25.00 13.85
English covert Top Coats to 20.00 5.85
English Top Coats, box back, to ... 35.00 9.35
Odd Suits, immense lot, 1911, to . . . 20.00 5.85
Boys' knickerbocker Suits to 15.00 7.95
Boys' knickerbocker Suits to ... 11.00 6.65
Boys' knickerbocker Suits to 8.50 5.15
Boys' knickerbocker Suits to 7.00 4.15
Norfolk Suits, 2 pairs pants, to..;- 5.00 3.35
Russian and Sailor Suits to 3.50 1.95
Russian and Sailor Suits to 5.00 2.95
Russian and Sailor Suits to 7.50 3.95
Russian and Sailor Suits to 10.00 4.85
Men's extra Trousers to 3.50 1.95
Men's extra Trousers to 5.00 3.15
Men's extra Trousers to 6.50 3.85
Men's extra Trousers to 8.00 4.85
Men's extra Trousers to 10.00 6.85
Ladies' tailored Waists 2.00 .85
Ladies' mannish Waists to 3.00 1.35
Ladies' silk tailored Waists to 5.00 2.30
Steinbach standard ladies' Waists . 1.50 .65
SPECIAL NOTE Every Steinbach price remains
marked on original tags, so that you can see what
you are saving. DON'T BE ANNOYED IF WHAT
YOU WANTED HAS BEEN SOLD OUT.
Sale Continues Monday Morning at 9 o'Clock
4th
and
4th
and
Mor-
rison
LION CLOTHING CO., SUCCESSORS
RUDOLPH METER DIES
WELIi - KXOWX DRAUGHTSMAN
PASSES AWAY AT FARM.
Superior Technical Training Makes
Native of Westphalia, -Germany,
Valuable City Employe.
Heart failure yesterday caused the
death of Rudolph Rueter, for 20 years
chief draughtsman in the City En
gineer's office, at his farm near Cove
Orchard, Yamhill County. Mr. Rueter
was 63 years old, having- been born
January 7. 1849, at Wesphalla. Germany.
With his family he came to tjie
United States 23 years ago and chose
Oregon as his home, settling for a
time at Forest Grove. Later he came
to Portland and entered the service of
the City of -Portland. His superior
technical training, acquired in his na
tive country, gave him opportunity for
rapid advancement and he became chief
draughtsman for the City Engineer.
Mr. Rueter served under Engineers H.
H. Gradon. Frank Gilliam and Douglas
W. Taylor and enjoyed the friendship
of many city officials. Including the
late George H. Williams. Mr. Rueter
was a familiar figure about the City
Hall and he was beloved by friends
and associates as well.
In late years, Mr. Rueter was In
charge of the Sewer Department and
superintendent and construction of the
Brooklyn sower. He also assisted In
platting the present City Park. Ill
health forced his retirement from ac
tive life two years ago and acute suf
fering from minor ailments developed
into heart failure, which caused his
death yesterday. His death was not
unexpected by his family. A daughter.
Miss Emma Rueter, was at the" bedside
to the end.
The late engineer was a highly
learned man and a linguist of more
than passing ability. He was a lieu
tenant In the German rmy before
coming to America and came of a prom
inent family. Dr. Herman Rueter, a
brother, is a prominent physician at
Hamburg, Germany. Another brother
Rudolph Rueter, Ex-City Engi
neer. Who Died Yesterday at
Cove Orchard.
is Adolph Rueter, of Forest Grove, Or.
He is survived by his widow, two
sons and two daughters, who are Mrs.
Elizabeth Barry, Miss Emma Rueter,
William Rueter and Carl Rueter. The
funeral will be held Tuesday after
noon from the family residence, 786
East Taylor street. Interment prob
ably will be at -lone Fir Cemetery.
MRS. RICH TRIES SUICIDE
Woman Known In Portland: Becomes
Despondent- In San Francisco.
A report was received by Captain of
Detectives Baty yesterday to the ef
fect that Mrs. Benjamin B. Rich, whose
husband formerly owned a string of
clear stores here, had attempted sui-
Lcide in her , apartments, 1701 Bush
street, San Francisco, several days ago.
Mrs. Rich became despondent while
her husband was out of the city, ac
cording to the report, and attempted
suicide by inhaling gast She was dis
covered and resuscitated.
After she had regained consciousness,
Mrs. Bush told the police that she had
become despondent because the preced
ing night, at a party at which she was
the hostesB, one of tha guests had re
marked pointedly ,that there was net a
word of truth in a story that she was
telling. .
Marshal Arrests Two.
Deputy United States Marshal Beatty
returned yesterday from Pendleton,
having In custody Ernest Johnley and
C. B. Reed. The arrests were ordered
by the Federal authorities on a oharge
of introducing liquor on the Umatilla
Indian Reservation. Johnley was in
dicted by the last grand jury. '
One-halt the world, balng- short, dotra't
know how the other half rets alone.
"liO" CATS WATCHED
POLICE TO REPORT WEIRD AC
TIOX OF STRAY FELIXES.
All Unlicensed Dogs to Be Chained
to Telegraph Posts and Collected
by Poundmaster.
Six' dozen dog chains were delivered
yesterday to the police by City Pound
master Welch, with which to chain up
all unlicensed dogs. In an order is
sued yesterday to. patrolmen. Chief of
Police Slover instructed them to take
up immediately dogs found running at
large without licenses. The dogs will
be tied to telegraph posts. In sheds, or
any place that is convenient, and held
there until taken away by the pound
master. In the same order, Chief Slover re-
qulres his men to report Immediately
any case of suspicious action on the
part of dogs or cats, and to secure de
tailed Information in such cases.
Since the order of State Health Of
ficer White, issued recently, many dogs
have been muzzled, and the number is
Increasing daily. Though the police
are not authorized to enforce the order
of the state officer, in the absence of
any effective city ordinance, they are
assisting in every way possible, as far
as empowered. State Veterinarian
Morel, however, is assembling a force
of men. and is preparing to enforce
the ordinance as speedily as his force
will permit.
Chief Slover is preparing to enforce
the ne city ordinance requiring the
muzzling of dogs with a vengeance, as
soon as it goes into effect, on August
.28.
Drowning Cause of Nurse's Death.
CATSKILL, N. Aug. 3. The re
port of the physicians who performed
an autopsy on the body of Miss Dorcas
L Snodgrass of Mount Vernon gives
the cause of death as drowning.
RUPTURE
seeTeyV Spermatic Shield Truss
Sptrmttta (Mold Pad
Doyor"C"thilreovaT
Seeley's Spermatic Shield Truss, as
fitted to the Czar of Russia and
now used' and approved by the
United States Government.
will not only retain any case of rupture perfectly, affording immediate relief,
but also closes the opening in ten days on the arerage case.
If you can't come, send for descriptive literature.
LAUE-DAVIS DRUG CO.
THIRD AND YAMHILL, PORTLAND, OR.
Truss Experts and Exclusive Agents for Seeley's Spermatic Shield Trust.