The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current, August 30, 1914, Section One, Page 17, Image 17

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    THE SUNDAY OREGOJTIAN, PORTLAND, AUGUST 30, 1914.
REPORT
CRITICISES
COUNTY OFFICIALS
Investigators Aver Business
Methods Are Lacking and
Taxpayers Are Mulcted.
NO DISHONESTY IS FOUND
Lightner Clings to Old Ways, Hoi
man I Xot Diplomatic and Hart
Follows Vacillating Course,
Committee Charges.
SUMMARY OK THE REPORT OF
JOIJIT INVESTIGATING COM
MITTEE INTO CONDUCT
OF COUNTY AFFAIRS.
Excessive prices paid for "bug
juice"; more purchased before
supply was exhausted.
County Commissioners fail to
put administrative code, an effi
ciency system, into effect. Need
declared for better accounting
methods.
More personal investigation
needed In work of County Board
of Relief, more comprehensive
records, and exclusion from of
fice of outside persons Ta recom
mended. Investiga tion of courthouse
construction fails because of re
fusal of persons having informa
tion to give statements and sub
mit records.
Lack of business methods by
County Commissioners declared
to be lamentable. No dishonesty
found, but inefficiency disclosed.
Differences between Commis
sioners such that county busi
ness suffers. Commissioner
Lightner prefers to f o 1 low old
methods: Commissioner noiman
has worked for betterment, but is
not d i p 1 o m a t lc; Commissioner
Hart's attitude has been vacil
lating. Budget is not followed by num
ber of department heads: lia
bilities incurred are not shown
In statement; inventories of coun
ty property inadequate.
Combination between city and
county advisable, simplifying
work of separate administrations
and lessening cost to taxpayers.
Road work of county is com
mended, and John B. Yeon and
Amos Benson found to be render
ing valuable services on Colum
bia highway.
the several counties of the state. The
County Commissioners, by vote, decided to
adopt the administrative code. Commis
sioner Lightner dissented and claimed the
county had no authority to adopt this code,
but that Mr. Ferguson, the State Insurance
Commissioner, should furnish a sys'em
which was to be followed. Here we Had
two divergent forces the one headed by
Commissioner Holman. endeavoring to have
the administrative code put into effect, and
the other headed by Commissioner Light
ner, refusing to have anything to do with It.
The result has been fairly comp.ete reports
are made out by certain departments, in
complete reports made out by others and
no reports at all made out by still other
departments. Under such a conflict of ideas
and desires It is. of course, utterly impos
sible to get the best results for the county.
.. ,. ,h Rtuip 'nsurance com.
tfl loon uu w v" - - - ,
mlssloner the matter 01 nis mwu .
regard to an accounting and reporting
tern for county institutions, and were
vised that ne mo "" ,i
furthe- system, and that the County Board
is at liberty, so far as his office Is concerned
to make anv reoulrements In this regard it
likes. In our opinion mere is uu
reason why an adequate accounting and
porting system snouia iiui u
Insisted on oy i .k.i
accordingly most strongly recommend that
In
sys
ad
any
any
re-
and
we
nls-
1"P
Sins of commission and omission are
charged to Multnomah County officials
In the report of the joint investigating
committee made yesterday. The re
port followed weeks of inquiry.
Records were examined and a series of
public Hearings conducted.
The committee is a Joint one. repre
senting the Tax-payers' and Non
partisan Leagues. Representing the
former body on the inquiry board are:
Dr. A. J. Giesy, Leo Friede, Paul S.
Seeley and Charles D. Mahaffie. Th
latter league appointed the following
to the committee: George C. Mason,
Amedee Smith. D. A. Patullo and
George Lawrence, Jr. Dr. A. J. Giesy
was elected chairman.
The report says that businesslike
methods have not been followed and
the best interests of the taxpayers are
disregarded as county affairs are ad
ministered. No charge of dishonesty is made; on
the contrary it Is stated no evidence
of graft has been disclosed. Emphasis
is laid upon Ineffective methods of
doing business, failure to keep care
ful accounting and reporting systems,
and generally loose means of transact
ing business.
AH Commissioners Criticised.
All three Commissioners are charged
with shortcomings. W. L Lightner is
aid to cling to old methods, while
Rufus G. Holman. chairman, is credited
with a lack of diplomacy, although he
Is said to have sought to better condi
tions. Daniel V. Hart is said to have
followed an uncertain and vacillating
course.
The report in full follows:
This joint committee, appointed by the
Taxpayers' League and by the Non-Par-tisan
League, came into existence at the
request of Commissioner Rufus C. Holman.
made in his letter of July 6, 1914, to these
organizations, asking that an Investigation
be made of the efficiency of the officials
and methods of the County of Multnomah.
Our attention was called particularly to
the purchase of certain "Insect extermina
tor," as illustrative of irregularities which
Commissioner Holman stated existed. In
order to make a study of the situation, the
work was divided Into four parts: First.
Investigation of the purchase of this In
sect exterminator; second, determination to
what extent an administrative code was In
force; third, study relative to handling of
charity by the relief department; fourth,
construction of the Courthouse.
We have held open meetings at which
County Commissioners and other interested
parties have appeared and submitted to
questions In regard to county business, and
voluntarily made statements as to what they
knew about the same. We have also con
ducted investigations in regard to the mat
ters so brought up and other matters con
nected with county affairs. The object
which this committee has kept in mtnd
from the start was to find out if the af
fairs of the county are being handled in a
business-like manner, with a careful regard
for the economic expenditure of the people's
money and in such a way as to secure the
best results for that expenditure.
Insert Exterminator.
In the Investigation relative to the pur
chase of this Insect exterminator we found
that a considerable quantity of It had been
purchased between lOOy and 1013. aggregat
ing In cost more than $3000; that the price
paid by the county was t- per gallon, plus
freight from St. Louis in some Instances.
The same material was offered to us at a
cost of $1.73 per gallon f. 0. b. St. Louis
and we found it had recently been offered
to the purchasing agent of the county for
Ji.flO per gallon f. o. b. Portland. We found
thai anether insect exterminator had been
offered to the county at a cost of $UU per
.Bon delivered, and upon Investigation
we found that this Insect exterminator had
been declared more efficient by the United
States Oovemment than the one that was
purchased at a higher price. We found
that an additional amount of the Insect
f vtermlnator was purchased by the county
when there was a considerable quantity In
the basement of the Courthouse leaking
through the barrels and evaporating.
We could find no evidence that anybody
in the employ of the county bad made any
effort to find out whether the purchase
of additional exterminator was necessary;
nor did we find that any effort had been
a ade to determine whether the price paid
as the best price to be obtatined: nor to
,-Jieck the amount received. We did have
evidence that the cheaper exterminator,
above referred to. had been offered to the
i-ounty officials, but that they refused to
buy it. Since this investigation has started
the cheaper material has been put In use
by at least two of the county departments
and was selected by the heads of those de
partments because it was found to do the
work better.
Administrative Code.
The investigation made by this committee
relative ot the administrative code has
Vrougbt forth the following facts: In June.
1913. experts were employed by the Tax
payers' League and a survey of the county
business methods made at an expense to
them of $2000. The county then paid the
same experts $1000 to draw up a code of
procedure for the administration of county
business, together with a system of report
ing and auditing for the various county
departments. Meanwhile the Legislaturu
of 1913 passed a law which requires the
State Insurance Commissioner to establish
a uniform system of accounting in each of
iued
ich
era
US
Iv-Is
by
tb
sucn a system. c " - -trative
code or any other that will devc
the information. De insiaiieti aim " -out
further delay.
nn.nl nf Relief.
I , -a. 1 1 cat inn nf the methods purs
l.. v. s. tn nnnrd of relief, wh
- -- - r tn. coni Commission
assisted bv a clerk of relief. Indicates to
that reasonable care is exercised in the g
ing of relief to applicants lnsoiar ai iv
possible to determine meir
i ,nnfTn(A with
aa oruce interview. --- . .
... rnmmendlnir them. We do not feel.
however, that nroper care is used In ""ow
ing uo cases to which relief Is extended.
. .. ... -m ...., ..ace. where re-
An investigation oi 0,,-. JTj.i-
Ilef had been extended for a considerable
S..rth7"anv attempt, by way of personal
investigation, had been made on the p .art ol
anyone representing the county to se e
whether or not a continuance of the "Ml
was really needed. The clerk it m.
to us. might properly divide his time be
tweea the office work and outside investiga
tion? The necessity for such investigation
is emphasized by the fact that thecountj s
expenditure in this department amounts to
$13,000 oer annum. .
We believe that more care could well be
exercised In the keeping of the off records
of the cases to which relief Is given-
nresent records not Infrequently fail to give
more than meager Information eoneernln.
the one receiving re..t. -
Its allowance. An improvement might also
be made in the recording sj.tem
the present metnoa. .1 . " - -
through several volumes of -Ll32
of the comparatively i - --
are receiving relief. This Is due to the fact
"at the record sheft of each case Is kept
In the volume of the year in which the case
county and having no officia connection
with it. On several visits to trie on "
found one there navawr """'"---, the
the County ana nii..K , ..(,
office-room for his own personal business.
Construction of Courtnouse.
,-m to the investigation of the
construction of the courthouse, we were han-
Icaoned by the difficulty in getting m" -
formation we wanted. Commissioner Hart
!ttended none of our meetings. t.
. . , nn the hoard at tna.
sioner iioim," "- . . ,,,.-
time and knew nothing about this matter.
ommissloner UJW ner - a nd
anv ouestlons relative w ...... ' - .
referred us to Mr. Whldden. of the firm of
Whldden & Lewis, architects: Mr. Whldden
declined to give us mans aim m""n'
declined to recognize our committee In any
way or to aDoear before it. Working under
such a handicap It was impossible for us to
get the facts without the employment of
expert accountants and the power to sub
poena witnesses, which we did not have
Wo regret this difficulty in securing the
facts in connection with the expendUure of
$1 30O.00O of the people s money. our in
ability to get the facts prevents US from
makinc a more complete report on this
"so'far as we could ascertain there is no
evidence in the county records Indicating
that extra work on this contract
authorized. We assume that the architects
would not eo ahtad and spend a net hicrease
of mor than $122,000 without authoritj so
tl So! but from the lack of inf option on
file at the Courthouse we are led to belle e
that If this authorization was ever given
It is in the possession of the architects and
not among the county records. We do not
consider It good business for the County
Commissioners to be placed In a Position
that they have to rely on interested part "
for information relative to th expenditure
of public money, and for which the Com
missioners are responsible.
General.
We find a lamentable lack of business
methods employed by the County Commis
sioners as a board. This offers the oppor
tunity for a charge of dishonesty difficult
to be dlsproven. In view of the charges
made in Mr. Holman's letter of - dishonesty
practiced the grossest incompetency.' it is
only fair to state that our investgatlon did
not disclose any dishonesty, but did show
that Incompetent and Inefficient methods of
doing business have been very generally fol
lowed. We find the Commissioners pulling
in opposite directions, an absolute lack of co
operation producing a condition anything but
beneficial to the taxpayers. We find an
evident desire to prove someone else at fault
Instead of a willingness to work together
for the common good. As an Illustration:
Commissioner Lightner stated that "the
road department was never so badly disor
ganized as it is today." Our investigation
does not Indicate any such condition, but
if Commissioner Lightner believed this to
be the case, it was his duty to attempt to
correct the situation instead of quietly hold
ing facts In reserve as a club over the head
of some employe of the county. The differ
ences between the Commissioners have been
carried to such an extent that the entire
county business suffers from it.
We wish to give Mr. Holman credit for a
desire to better conditions and a sincere ef
fort to put the county on a business-like
basis. We believe he would have been more
OREGON PIONEER WHO DIED
IN PORTLAND AS RESULT
OF FALL ON SIDEWALK.
HaInanDaS
,
aaa
Jinn Wilson Cook.
James Wilson Cook, an Oregon
pioneer of 1852 and for many
years a prominent farmer of Mc
Minnville, died Monday at the
home of L. L. Cook in Portland
as a result of injuries sustained
in a fall on the cement sidewalk
about six weeks ago.
Mr. Cook was 87 years of age.
He was born in New York in
1827, and, while a child, moved
with bis parents to Michigan. In
April, 1852. he left with a pioneer
train of about SO wagons for a
trip across the plains to Portland.
He reached feere in November of
the same ya.r. Soon after his
arrival her he moved to Mc
Mirinville, where he engaged in
farming. He remained there
until a fw years ago. when he
retired. He is succeeded by five
children. They are: Meldora R.
Parker, of Oakland. Cal.; W.
Manley Cook, of Portland: A.
Deane Cook, of Parker. Or.; L. L.
Cook, of Portland, and Bessie E.
Gowan. of Eastport, Idaho. Fu
neral services were held Thurs
day at McMinnville.
f '
TAYLIGHT is no longer con
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sunrise and sunset.
Peerless MAZDA Lamps
"National Quality"
radiate a white, soft light, the
nearest approach to natural
sunlight, that means daylight
at night.
And this perfect light is not
a burdensome expense it is
cheap. Besides quality, Peer
less Mazda Lamps mean three
times the light given by the
old type incandescent, at no
greater cost.
It will be our pleasure to
demonstrate Mazda Lamps if
you will calf or phone us.
MAIN ELECTRIC CO.
Lighting Fixtures and Electric
Supplies.
361. E. Morrison St.
hi 1 1 II iii 1 a 11 11 1 i
Hi Will 111 aaWBalMllsIl I ilHM
Distributers of Peerless MAZDA Lamps in Portland
V ilonnl OiiHlltv"
iSSS M,ncouve, J "
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I ' B C Kisher. I.lnnton.
S Al..JLn i Son 217 N Jersey St.. St. Johns
Kern Park Elec. Co.. 6834 Foster Road
Smlth-Mrt oy Blac. Co., 071 Washington St.
I niTed Adv. Sim Novelty Co.. 410 Morgan Bldg
ul.h r-o. 311 Stark St
Agents in All Princlpai Cltieo and Towns.
EXPERTS ON FACTORY EFFICIENCY
recognize the importance of scientific illumination, and recommend
Peerless MAZDA Lamps
'National Quality" ,
Three times the light of carbon lamps. Same cost for current. Made in
all sizes from 10 to 1500 watts. Allow us to demonstrate to you. lelepnone
us your wants in anything electric.
SMITH-McCOY ELECTRIC COMPANY
"Everything Electric" 571 Washington St., Bet. 17th and 18th
w
The same quantity of electricity that makes 1
. . . . . .u m i : i I
power or lignt m an wwniim cruu
lamp will make ; candlepower in a reeneor
MAZDA Lamp.
"National Quality"
More than triple light for equal cost.
40 candlepower absolutely free.
Multiply this by the number of carbon lamps iu
vour home astonishing, isn't it?
You may think it thrifty to save carbon lamps until
lliev'rii hnriiprl out. It isn't! Discard them. Put a
Peerless MAZDA Lamp in every socket and triple your
light.
Use them in your car. your candelabra, your flash
light, your home, office, factory any place where elec
tric light can be used.
Buy them by the carton.
The Peerless Lamp Division
National Lamp Works of Gen. Electric Co., Warren. 0.
Portland Office, 85V2 5th St.
W. II. Wahl, Manager.
COMFORTS OF HOME
It is a real comfort to read by an even, steady light of sunshine
Why impair your eyesight under the dull yellow glare of the old carbon,
or the flare and flicker of the open flame!
Peerless MAZDA Lamps
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give that steady, white light of sunshine quality that makes reading at night
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salesrooms, or a phone call will bring our representative.
tvi f. WALSH CO.
., ikui.. Ti-rTire and SutjdIv House. 311 Stark Street
jomana s xieaums ajishub . - - -
LOST
You can seo a leak in a bucket, but
vour electric lamps can leak with
out your knowledge. Carbon lamps
waste two-thirds of the current
you pay for. Get from us
Peerless MAZDA Lamps
National Quality"
Pierce-Tomlinson Electric Co.
Electrical Service 302 Pine St.
Phone us your order. We deliver any
place m the city
YOU ought to litrht your auto right. There
is no secret about it if you want good
service from your lighting equipment you can
get it very easily by using
Peerless MAZDA Auto Lamps
National Quality"
TJ, lamas are the best tha market affords, bfausa.
7h"a,hnPJl?r"uLl lamp 1- careful!, gg
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rough roads.
3. They stay bright. .. . .
Come in and let us supply you with lamps or the
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ARCHER AND WIGGINS
Oak Street, Corner Sixth.
Automobile Supplies. Sporting Goods.
i v i m
t
-
successful in his efforts If he had been more
diplomatic. time the
. v, , in th hands of
ren, Mr"Holm.n,' chairman, who has
been on the boarn since .
,,i.rt t handle the county affairs in i
business-like manner. Mr. "
hus been a County Commissioner for w
Sear, and who seems to believe '"talis
hundreds oi men u... - 7, ,h
,1,000.000 a year, can be carried out .in the
same way as n w j ,,
Multnomah County was m"ch .Jma"non
has refused to co-operate in the . dPt'on
and enforcement of what OOTrMer a bet
ter system. The third member is Mr. Hart
whose attltuae as , j
Soard annears to have been uncertain and
vacillating. His term expires in janu.,
nBw'e find that under the Pr!l"s
tri i 1U which over
. r. ' d.ril the estimates of
o?fUicas and 'department heads and sub
mitted a budget for the year 19H to the
County commissioners- that this budget.
with such cnanges w, find
deemed expedient, was adopted W "na
that for the first six months ot the cujrent
year no apparent attempt hM been made to
follow the budget by a member of the de
partment heads and employes of the coun y,
and That up to this time the County Comm s
sloners ha done nothing to compel its
We' md that no account is taken of a
'he .county until the war a
s?ntrrefore:"aV all times Inade-
quate, in that liabilities incurie -
ShWen'find no adequate Inventories of county
property. It ! ,'"'" aC-
ounty booas w .k-.-j
ually owns.
New System Held Needed.
.mintlnii of the count!
rrom out ,
rinins- business, the need ot a
more systematic and complete system is very
apparent. The departments uo -----report,
sufficient to show what they are
Lctually doing. It is mp, " -
stance, to determine wnet,.e, -
stltution is being 'emlcal. or not.
nrtoriirto amount oTrk done from
to vear. County Dusine
foo greato be carried on in the way it now
i. has heretofore been done, it -s
!ntp?rnadtivr,haht a comprehensive hu-.n.
accounts, accounting, reports and inventories
n m ...in enable tiom couui) w
te-sSSLS s;
canrt be done now.
,tJo U ln"c.uy and city govern
.m laxnayers. of course, ver
Srgeiy supporting both. We find county
"p-to-b? nadul1;:
reason for maintaining separate admlnis
trafion. and in our P'' "
advisable. tivcu - ..!,.
now conducted, there appear eipenihe
duplications which m a. -
rtab.e-.0roffIcs duplicate each other . ry
largely, and it r ' ,h. co unty of
r cut qowii tne -.i""-1- - -
work done, and at the same time an op-
tunlty would be given to ...... "
VACATIONS AT END
Fresh Air Work Twice as Suc
cessful as in 1913.
572 CHILDREN BENEFITED
lalb
th
po
JIUI LUlll.J - -
efficiency of the work.
uld.
n,t, these changes
v or tne w.. .wv.. . -
1.. iriRiative action.
3. noweve. .r..:- --------
prevention oL .a-a--"-
the present iac. .
system does not require such action. This
is I
bill
A
very
plea
tjf.'S
be
beln
not
stem does no. ----- .
not to be taken as an indorsement of the
i , voted on tnis ran
consolidation of city and county fv'';
ment upon wnicn e
prepared to take any position.
Yeon and Benson Comnienaea.
investigation of this character, by its
. n hrln. nut the un-
nature. in ----
sant things and one is apt to become
. .. . - .i ., nf Bi.h renorts.
islmisllc m " r-T ,L,
ause he forgets the good work that is
g accompiisnea, ouU l" ,rr-j
take this opportunity of stating that in our
investigation ot the road work of the Count,
of Multnomah, as evidenced In the construc-
of the Loiumum -- -
organized, following systematic methods
. ... ..-i...... hlsf nhlerts
and In cnarge ot ...c. -
are to secure tne very ni ,l"J7rr'
at the least expenditure of money. We be
lieve that John B. Yeon and Ajnos Benson
are particularly deserving of commendation
in this regard, as they are not only devot
ing their time to this work without compen
sation but are contributing money to Its
cost. This highway, we believe, will be a
great benefit to the City of Portland. Mult
nomah County and the State of Oregon.
The scope of our investigation was lim
ited to the matters directly noted in this
report and no investigation was made of
the condnuct of county affairs generally,
therefore, this report and its conclusions
must be read and understood accordingly.
Women's Press Club to Meet.
The Woman's Press Club will hold
the first meeting of the year Wednes
day night at 7:30 in room G of the Cen
tral Library. An unusually interesting
programme has been arranged. Mrs.
Eva Emory Dye. Oregon's noted au
thoress, will address the club on "The
Author as an Asset to a State,-- and
Miss Anne Shannon Monroe will speak
on the subject "Beginning a Literary
Career."
cars to transport the children to tn
depots and have given personal assist
ance in a hundred different ways."
Madras Resident Jailed.
R. G. Alexander, of Madras, was
brougitt to Portland yesterday by
United States Deputy Marshal Dave
Fuller to await action by the Federal
grand jury on the charge against him
of having transported liquor to the In
dians of the Warm Springs Reserva
tion. Charles Larguharson was arrest
ed at the same time with Alexander on
the same charge, but gave bail of J250.
Alexander did not furnish bail and was
brought to Portland for detention in
jail here.
Fund Readies Total of $2545.35,
New Cities Join Movement and
Ten-Day Outings in Country
Are Given to 46 5.
The Fresh Air season under the aus
pices of the Associated Charities will
end this week with a record of service
nearly twice as extensive as that of
the Summer of 1913, when the move
ment was inaugurated. Last year half
- n . An ntuna nariipinatpii in the work
and about 300 children received vaca- j
Hons in the country.
This year the total number of chil
dren who had ten-day outings at the
s&ashore or on farms was 465 and the
total of all who had some of the ben
efits of the season's work was 572.
The Fresh Air fund has reached a
total of $2543.33. the last contributions
received being from William Fleming,
of Salem, 1; "H. A. E.", $10: The Em
porium. $3, and Miss L. E. Petersen, 3.
This fund represents donations aver
aging more than $300 a week, while
the Fresh Air season was on.
Tltur Towns Join Movement.
Silverton. Dallas, Xewberg. McMinn
ville and Forest Grove, which partici
pated in the work a year ago. all took
parties of Fresh Air children again
this year, and besides these six
other cities joined in the movement
and received large parties. These new
towns were Ilwaco, which took the
first party organized in Portland this
season; Lebanon, which was repre
sented by the Lyons Camp; Nehalem.
Tillamook, Carlton and Turner. Small
parties were sent to nearly a score of
other places.
Secretary V. R. Manning, of the As
sociated Charities, announced the fol
lowing list of the towns and cities
that had helped in the movement and
the number of children they had en
tertained: Ilwaco 21. Silverton 54, Rec
reation League Camp 12. Lyons Camp
at Lebanon 12, Lebanon 3. Tigard 3.
McMinnville 42, Nehalem 35, Tillamook
75, Sherwood 1. Everett 3, Salem 3.
Chemeketa 5, Corbett 2. Seaside 4. New
berg 22. Wheeler 3. Dallas 14, Forest
Grove 70, Corvallis 4. Albany. 2, Norton
1 Carlton 25. Newport 1, Turner 22.
Oregon City 2. Wall L Canby 1, Bull
Run 4, Willamette 2, Spokane I, Ger
vals L Everett 3, farms and suburban
places 24.
O.-W. It. V N. Knlertalnu 70.
The O.-W. R. & N. excursion provided
a day's entertainment for 70 of the
Fresh Air children. 12 were entertained
in excursions by Miss Lena Graham
and 25 in excursions by Edward Wort
man. Tillamook took the largest party, the
entertainment of the little visitors be
ing shared by all organizations of the
city The United Artisans arranged
for the transportation of the children
with them to Tillamook by special
train on the annual excursion of the
Artisans. .
The remainder of the fund that is
available after the expenses of the sea
son are attended to will be applied to
procuring a permanent Fresh Air farm
near Portland, which may be equipped
and used in the Fresh Air work next
season if possible.
Greater Sbccms Exnwted.
"The public has been so generous
with the Fresh Air movement this sea
son in spite of the fact that it has not
been what one might call a good ear.
said Secretary Manning, "that we look
forward for a still greater success in
the next Summer, for the Fresh Air
movement has now apparently become
an established thing in Portland s
charitable activities.
"The assistance of the Junior League
committees this season has been in
valuable in handling the work and
members of the league have been most
generous not only of their time and
iflorts but aave cawruil loaned tieir
1 UNUSUAL EPITAPH TO MARK I
I GRAVE OF ECCENTRIC t
f MEDFORD BACHELOR.
CLUB ASKS CHARIER
Irvington Park Organization
Sends Articles to Salem.
NEW CLUBHOUSE PLANNtD
'v.":-..
Monument Made nt Singular
Request.
MEDFORD, Or.. Aug. 29.
(Special.) "To an independent,
good-looking old bachelor, who
in his younger days preferred to
live a single life rather than get
married and be ruled by a petti
coat boss through this life and
perhaps in eternity."
This unusual epitaph is chis
eled In the granite monument
just completed by F. B. Waite,
of this city, to mark the last
resting place of William Hart
ley, of Myrtle Point, Or., the ec
centric bachelor, who died there
last Spring.
Above the inscription is the
figure of the "good-looking old
bachelor" on one side of the
River Jordan and on the other
are three old maids beckoning
him to cross. The figures and
the inscription were both made
at the direction of Mr. Hartley in
his will, which was carried out
by his executor, J. R. Benson,
of Myrtle Point.
Although Mr. Hartley did not
believe in marriage as an insti
tution, he was not a woman
hater. He left an estate of $3500
and directed that a children's
park be laid out at Myrtle Point
to be known as the Bill Hartley
park, in which there should be
no religious or political restric
tions. Five hundred dollars also
was left to a maiden friend in
that city, and the remainder,
which happened to be J500, wa3
used for this singular purpose.
The monument is made entire
ly 6f Oregon granite, quarried
five miles northwest from Med
ford, and will be shipped to the
Coos County town in a few days.
Meeting Called io Elect Officer and
Site for BvlUttak Is ' "
Bought Old Body to B
Taken In and Fund Used.
Articles of incorporation, which were
adopted at the meeting of the I"R
ton Park Club Friday night at the
club quarters. East Thirtieth and
Holman streets, were sent to halem
yesterday for filing. The capital stock
is placed at $2000. The value of each
share of stock is M t O. B. .
Joseph R. Gerbcr and Joseph AAudie
man are the Incorporators. The ob
jects of the club are set forth, as the
social improvement of the community,
to secure street improvements, elec
tric light, water mains, school facili
ties and to acquire such property as
the club may need to carry out Its
objects."
As soon as the officers are elected
the club plans to buy a site for " club
house and take steps to erect the build
ing The old Irvington Park Uub is
to be merged Into the incorporated
organisation. It has 125 active mem
bers, about one-half of whom are
women. The old club has $400 which
will be available toward buying the
site for the clubhouse.
Tentative plans for the clubhouse
have been submitted. A site also has
been selected, but Its location has not
been announced.
The clubhouse plans provide for a
social hall about 40x50 feet, with
stage, reception room. UtekWUM
men's and women's lockers. Before
adopting the plans the entire member
ship will be consulted.
A special meeting of the newly In
corporated club has been culled for
next Friday night to elect officers and
adopt bylaws.
The club will be made a community
affair and every family In the Irving
ton Park district will be asked to take
one or more shares of the stock. In
the erection of the clubhouse the club
plans to favor the residents of the
community as far as possible and
take work on the clubhouse in payment
for stock. It is desired to obtain 500
members this year in Irvington Park
and to have work under way on the
new clubhouse early this Fall.
PISGAH MOTHER REPLIES
Purpose of Home Is Told in letter
to The Oregonlan.
PISGAH HOME. Aug 2 (To the
Editor.) In the news columns or yes
terday is a statement that the removal
of Pisgah Home is asked, and that the
City Commissioner is requested to act
at once. I wish to use your columns
to inform the public of the purpose of
the Pisgah Home. It has been IPM
blesslnl to be permitted to dwell In a
community like Lents, because It Is a
nlanmpossiblllty to conduct such
a place with any results In a saloon
focalUy The people of that vicinity as
a mass have been most considerate and
forbearing when there has been any of
fenses. They have come to me and we
have removed the cause inyariabb I
have recognized the impractlcabilltj, of
a residence district, and since last Win
ter have been making every efTort to
arrange for a place in the country.
The petition referred to was circu
lated some weeks ago, and I talked
with the party who circulated It and
gained his consent to a delay, that I
might have time to complete my ar
rangements. I respect the fact that
,iiv has a rlcht to decide
thU matter. I only ask them to Walt
a little longer. I am mw' l
., in it hr I'Miiso of Delntr
orderly, or In any way
that these men dress poorly, and sitting
on the orche are looked upon as a
physical wart, and thst It depreciate,
the value of property.
Now. these things rsnnot be avoided,
and If they become unbearable, nil we
caii do Is to remove them. I ant quite
sure the mass of the people In Lent
do not recognise oven this defei 1. It Is
a fact that Grays Crossing has been "
sufferer to a greater extent by these
men coming from the city and gettln.
off there In a besotted condition. The
only thing that ran be done Is bring
them on over to the home. This the
citizens have most kindly done. why
they get off there I do not know, only
that It Is an older stntlon and these old
men know the locality better hy thst
name. Before these men get to our
home we are not responsible for their
conduct, and know no way to prevent
It. We can only regret thst our social
system is such that these things arc.
I hope eoon to get our people out
among the hills and valleys where w
can hide our outcasts; where the out
ward appearance will offend none;
where we can worship God In his own
appointed temples. "The groves were
God's tlrst temples."
Just yesterday a lady celled me to the
city and placed a deed to a tract of
land in my hands, saying, "t'se this. In
Jesus' name, for the Pisgah mission
work." This land Is not trlbutsry to
Portland, but Is of sufficient value to
purchase us a desirable home nearby.
The question Is before the community.
If they wish to continue the mipport of
this work in another locality. Wherever
they are they must eat.
The gospel is preached In an effectual
way every day In our midst. The pls- e
Is inter-denomlnstlonnl. Everyone has
a chance to do rescue work who i omeo
to us, nor Is It routined to any one per
son. The Christian Endeavor young
people, the Epworlh League. V M. ' A.
and other helpers come In to lend a
hand to uplift these men snd women
from the plane they have reached
through the results of dissipation snd
misfortune, and It Is a condition that
we do not stand alonf responsible for.
When the King conies aa defined In
Matthew, rrader, where do you stand
"Inasmuch as ye have done It unto the
least of these, my brethren, ye have
done it unto me."
riSC.AH MOTHER.
CLUB MAY MAKE EXPOSE
HAitiN- canrANi uraxiu of
M'in tTs TO in i i i.i v i r
lroinol Member Avera Committee
Kinds "liima fpeal la Some Caere
More Than aadldatee Report.
A special meeting ef the Iroquois
Club has been called to determine
whether the report of a committee on
the expenditures of primary rsndldstas
should he made public.
One of the club's officers asserts thst
a committee has been employed since
last June gathering affidavits, state
ments and Information, chowlug IM
amounts primary candidates expen.le.i
and that the amounU In some ej
stances are greaUy at varlaii'-e erttl
the sums reported to the Secretary or
State in compliance With the corrupt
practices act. It Is said that one .an
didate for a state office expended up
wards of $11,000. and several thousand
dollars In addition, for which M '
titled affidavits have yet been pro
cured. This report was prepared for use in
the coming campaign by club member
and they decline to make It public until
the officers arc authorised to do so h
a majority of the members. The club,
which has headquarters In the Com
monwealth building. Is an Incorporated
social and political orjanlxallon ami
votes and acts as a unit. A maJor1t
I..,. niek the candidates
OI Hie ' " f -
and measures, and all members are
pledged to support them or retire from
the club. At present the club's roll
contains 1 " namer-.
, .,;m,-..l worker In each of the
36 precincts of the county.
Fire Fluliters Are Dismissed.
Of the 200 men engaged In fighting
the fire In Columbia County, near Mist
all have been dismissed save the few
necessary to patrol the fire lines, ac
cording to word received from the Co
lumbia County Park Control Associa
tion. This was the worst forest fire
raging In the state, but Is now well
under control, and. according to the
Oregon Forest Fire Association, no
menacing biases now exist. Light
.bowers in Columbia County are alatt
the fighting there.