THE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTLAND, APKIIi 2, 1916. . 19
GRAND JOB! LAUDS
AND RAPS OFFICIALS
Investigation of Conditions at
Kelly Butte, Frazer Home
and Courthouse Urged.
LIQUOR MYSTERY SOLVED
"Workers at Courthouse Blamed but
Ao Indictments Keeult Arson.
Investigations and Kefonns
by Mr. Holman Commended.
SALIENT FEATt nES OF GRAND
JURY REPORT.
Recommends investigation of
money waste at JCelly Butte rock
quarries; in handling- of depend
ent and delinquent children at
ITrazer Home; in county relief
work; in Courthouse manage
ment, and in acts of County Com
missioners. Commends superintendent of
TTraze Home for management
and ideals; Jay Stevens, fire
marshal, and AV. A. Groce, fire cap
tain, for arson investigations;
Kufus C. Holman, County Com
moner, for needed reforms, and
conditions in County Jail, Hos
pital and poor farm.
Scores Commissioners manage
ment of Kelly Butte; administra
tion of county relief work; man
agement of bridges and ferries;
sloth in County Jail; the effort
to maintain a largre county farm;
inefficiency of Courthouse em
ployes; unbusinesslike methods of
County Commissioners, and war
rant shaving.
An unusual report, in length, scope
and tenor of recommendations, which
reflect the political animus existing be
tween County Commissioners, was re
turned by the grand jury for the February-March
term yesterday.
It begins with a criticism of condi
tions at the Kelly Butte quarries, found
durinsr a visit previous to the time the
guardhouse was taken over by Sheriff
Huriburt and continues with a discus
sion of conditions at the P"razer De
tention Home, asserts evidences of
waste in county relief methods and
scores laxity in the department of
bridges and ferries.
County Jail, hospital and poor farm
come in for a share of praise and
criticism; arson Investigations are com
mended; a more severe check on liquor
violations is asked; disorganization and
inefficiency among Courthouse em
ployes is pointed out; a dissertation
on the social evil is given; County
Commissioners are charged with gen
eral irregularities in the management
of county business; the practice of war
rant shaving is the subject of indigna
tion, and the escape of prisoners from
Kelly Butte jail a week 'ago is laid 19
prosa incompetency of officials em
ployed for political "or other reasons
not in accord with the good of the
service."
-Liquor Mystery Solution Given.
Though no indictments were returned
on this score, the grand -jury reported,
as a result of investigation of wine
stealing in the Courthouse from con
fiscated supplies that carpenters, engi
neers, firemen, painters and electricians
rmployed in the building had drunk the
liquor. The grand jury charges W. A.
Katchel, superintendent of the building,,
with warning the employes of the
pending investigation.
"We believe that so long as Mr.
Katchel has charge of the county ma
chinery and of the basement employes
there will be disorganization, ineffi
ciency and loss of the county's money,"
ays the report.
In connection with the investigation
of Kelly Butte conditions the grand
jury recommends that a small com
pensation be allowed prisoners for
faithful work at the quarries. This
compensation was allowed by the Com
missioners last Tuesday, at the request
or fcnerui nun Durt wnen the guard
house was given into his management.
Job Bartering? I Inventigatcd.
The grand jury in its investigation of
charges of Martin Iteddy that Commis
sioner Lightner had bartered county
jobs, exonerated Mr. Lightner from any
profit in such transactions, but reported
that certain county employes in the
rast had indulged in irregular prac
tices of the kind.
Charges of hiring employes "better
able to run political machinery than
the county machinery" are made in the
report, which also contends that "there
eeems to be a lack of realization by
some of the County Commissioners that
it is a violation of their oath of office
to pay private or political debts at the
expense of. the taxpayers.'
The grand jury advocated some of the
pet schemes of Commissioner Holman,
and commended him "for many needed
reforms n the matter of doing county
business." All the Commissioners have
been before the grand Jury and the old
feud between Commissioners Holman
and Lightner was revived there.
ixty-three true bills and 18 not true
bills were returned by the grand Jury
during their term, 32 of which were
reported yesterday.
The grand Jury report, in full, fol
lows: Text of Report Given.
To the Honorable Judges of said Court:
vVe, the grand Jury of the State of Ore-
con, for the County of Multnomah for the
Fe binary-March term, report- as follows:
We have, during the paat two months,
had pass before us a sordid and tragic pro
1 cession of transgressors against the law.
and have made a careful investigation of
each and every case.
we have returned 63 true bills and 18
rot true bills.
Ourtns our service on the errand Jury we
have examined 377 witnesses and conducted
as searching an examination as time would
Permit of the various county Institutions.
"We have conducted our hearings without
fpar or favor, and neither friendship nor
prejudice has been allowed to influence our
decisions. We have been ably assisted by
district Attorney Evans, his deputy, Mr.
Hammersly, and the other deputies, In try
ing to arrive at the real truth in our in
atigatlons. Beheving that your honorable body and
," the taxpayers generally will be interested in
our findings, we submit them herewith:
We visited the Kelly Butte rock quarry
on February 19. We found 14 prisoners in
charge of eight county employes.
Our Investigation convinced us that the
Kellj Butte rock quarry la badly managed
ana that the bad management is unnecea
sary and inexcusable. Wo found the cells
" un swept and dirty. The mattresses are
fiithy and should not be used. We were told
. that the mattresses had been secured two
years ago from the Gypsy Smith tabernacle.
and were in bad shape when secured. The
pillows are offensive from dirt and stains.
and should be thoroughly renovated or de
stroyed. The beds were unmade. Dirty
socks, blankets and other articles were
; jiiicd in promiscuous confusion upon the
fx ds and on the floor. To this general d!s
order there was one exception, one cell be
ing well kept and the ed neatly made.
The ventila tion was bad and the odor
in the sleeping quarters stale ana" unpleas-
ant. Wc believe the offensive condition of
the cells could bo remedied by renovating or
destroying the old ma Ureases, washing; the
blankets, painting the Iron work in the I
cells, and requiring the prisoners to air 1
their beds and take a daily shower bath j
after their day's work.
The kitchen is dirty. In spite of the fact
that there Is an abundance of steam and
hot water, the dishes were covered with a
thin skim of grease, and dishes picked at
random from the cupboard left grime an 4
grease on the cloth when wiped.
The storeroom is kept in a disorderly man
ner, which results in waste. The meat was
tainted. We were told that this spoiled ,
meat could be trimmed off and the rest ;
made use of.
Under the contract existing between the
County of Multnomah and the City of Port
land, by which city prisoners are worked at
the Kelly Rjatte quarry, section 4 provides
that the County of Multnomah shall furnish
mattresses and camp utensils from the
equipment now on hand from the Columbia
River Highway. This was not being done at
the time we visited Kelly Butte quarry.
We found in the storeroom mattresses
from the Columbia Highway, many of which
were in excellent condition, and which could
be used in place of the ill-smolling mat
tresses now in use.
Without additional expense, better bath
ing and toilet facilities could be provided
for the inmates. At present the odor around
the toilets Is offensive and apparently but
little effort is made to keep them in a sani
tary condition.
Lack of intelligent supervision is every
where apparent, particularly in unnecessary
waste of the taxpayers' money In letting
the plant run down and allowing materials
to be exposed to the weather. As an in
stance, wo found two kegs of new rivets
rust-covered and exposed to the elements.
We were informed they had been there for
many months. We found many tons of
broken or obsolete machinery overgrown
with briars and weeds, and exposed to the
Winter rains.
In our opinion, if this machinery is of
no value, it should be condemned and sold
for Junk before it becomes useless from
rust, if it is still usable it should be under
shelter. Among the articles we found out
in the open and overgrown with weeds and
briars were some new and unused parts of
a steel bridge, consisting of girders, rods,
and other parts, as well as revolving screens
for rock-crushers, sand-spreaders, road
scrapers, broken parts of rock-crushers, the
bars and doors of the old Jail, range, old
wagons, and other miscellaneous iron and
steel junk. This, we believe, should be
sold and the money returned to the Coun
ty Treasury.
We found among the guards at Kelly
Butte a man who in the past has been in
dicted by the grand jury, and against whom
testimony has been brought before the
present grand Jury as to his unnecessary
harshness and brutality, his dishonesty and
his tolerance of the traffic in drugs and
other immoral practices in the past.
W. A. Katchel Is the superintendent, of
the Kelly Butte rock quarry: his son, Will
iam Katchel. is the engineer; his son-in-law,
A. R. Fairbanks, Is the fireman. We
are informed that in the past a trusty has
been employed as a fireman. We believe
the Institution to bo over-officered. From
investigation" of present conditions and con
ditions in the past we find that there Is a
lack of intelligent supervision. We believe
that incompetency and nepotism is respon
sible for much of the mismanagement of
thi3 institution. We further believe that if
the taxpayers' money were spent In secur
ing men fur their real efficiency rather than
for their political activity, the taxpayers
would come nearer to securing a dollar's
worth of value for every dollar spent.
At the time of our visit there were more
than 175 prisoners confined in tho county
jail, at -least 75 of whom were under sen
tence. We believe that the ab's-bodled pris
oners should be sent out to the rock quarry
and put to work.
We believe that if the prisoners are made
to work they will come out b-;tter able to
earn their living than if they are allowed
to lie in jail in Idleness during the term
of their imprisonment. We believe if they
were allowed a small compensation for
faithful work at - the rock quarry they
would not come out without funds, and,
being unable to secure work, become law
breakers and entail additional expense on
the county for conviction and imprisonment.
Inasmuch as the city of Portland pays
Multnomah County 75 cents per yard for
rock up to 70001 yards, a small part of this
money could be utilized as payment to the
prisoners.
Inasmuch as the County Commissioners
are held responsible for these condition!
wo recommend that they try to secure for
the county of Multnomah the same efficiency
from the county employes as they would
giv to a private employer.
We realize that the Kelly Eutte quarry
Is no pleasure resort, and that the prison
ers are here for punishment of their trans
gressions of the law; but we believe in
belnp deprived of their liberty and made
to nread rode tney are neinjr wurticientiy
punished, and that they are entitled to pure
air. wholesome food and sanitary condi
tions. I raze r Detention Home.
On February 2fl the grand Jury visited
the Frazer Detention Home.
We found S. X. White, the superintend
ent, and Mrs. S. D. hlte, the matron, in
terested m their charges and doing work
that was highly creditable. Th food was
wholesome and clean and well prepared.
The place Is kept in an orderly manner.
and we have no criticism to offer of the
management of this Institution.
Under the present policy the children are
placed in homes, so that when we visited
this institution there were only 14 children.
four of whom were to leave that night.
In charge of these 14 children we found
a superintendent, a matron, a night assist
ant, an assistant matron, a matron for the
smaller girls and a cook these six em
ployes drawing $U0O a month. In addition
to this there is a school located at the
Detention Home where one of Portland's
school teachers, at a salary of $32.50 per
month, teaches from two to 15 pupils, Last
year two teachers were employed here, one
receiving 10u a month, and tho other $82. 50,
At the same time many of the children
were sent to the Rose Park School, the
Fernwood School or the Trade School. No
other pupils go to this school except the
inmates of the Detention lfomm
Under the present system the average
stay of the children in the home in 32 days
though many of them stay but two or three
days. We believe It is a waste of the tax
payers money to keep up this school when
at times there are only two or three pupils
in attendance, and when few, if any, of
the pupils attend the school for a longer
period than a week or 10 days. We believe
this teacher could be used to better ad van
tage elsewhere.
A year aso the laundry of the Detention
Home ran as high as $8f a month, and the
gas bill as high as $50 per month. We
believe that all county employes, particu
larly in Institutions of this kind, should be
impressed with the fact that just as great
care should be taken In preventing waste
and useless extravagance, and in conserv
ing the interests of the taxpayers, as if
some individual, firm or corporation were
footing the bills. When an employe cannot
be made to realize this fact, then neither
relationship nor political activity should be
allowed to hold him in ofhee.
The gas bills for the past month amounted
to $3.1 7, which is a gratifying reduction
from the bills of a year or more ago. The
laundry bill for the rast month amounted
to $4.85, a very large saving over the cor
responding month a year ago. This hai
teen brought about by the installation of
an electric washer, which was put in at an
expense of $70, and by which blankets, un
derwear and khaki suits of the inmates
are laundered.
We recommend that more effective meas
ores be taken at the Detention Home to
protect the children against the danger of
fire. A wooden ladder is securely tied on
the upper balcony, but In case of fire, this
would be difficult to lower; while in the
rear of the building the fire escape stops
so rar above the ground that the children
if driven out by fire would be apt to be
seriously injured or killed, by dropping to
the ground from this fire escape, upon
testing the fire hose in the attic we found
that more water flowed through the thin
and tissue-like hose than came from the
nozzle.
. We highly commend Mr. White and his
wife not only for their economical manage
ment but for their high Ideals, but we be
lieve that for the results secured the cost
is excessive. The budget for the Detention
Home for this year is $12,1)09.67. If an
average of 20 children are kept in the home
then it costs $643.50 a year for the care of
each of these children. On this same basis
It would cost a man with five children
$3242.50 a year to maintain them in his
home.
After consultation with various author
ities we find that the Boys y.nd Girls Aid
Society would care for dependent children.
They would not. however, take the delin
quent children. The average number of de
linquent children for the year will not
amount to over an average of five per
month. A comfortable house with a large
garden can readily be secured In any of
the suburbs of Portland at a rental of
from $12 to $15 per month. The present
superintendent and his wife could readily
take care of thts number of children, and
the taxpayers would be saved the large
sum of money now spent on the Detention
Home, and a duplication of work of the
Detention Home and the Boys and Girls
Aid Society would be eliminated.
The following figures show the budget
appropriated for the vDetention Home for
the past eight years:
$14,450.07
103 0
1911
112
1011
1914
7.272.44
7.272.44
00.00
20,525.00
1015 -18.173.00
lil 12.069.87
We believe that the efficiency of the
Juvenile Court would be greatly Increased
by putting all employes under civil service.
County Relief.
In 1015. $10,542.88 was appropriated for
the County Board of Relief, for the present
year there has been appropriated $1S,804.51.
hub um does not include the money spent
for. widows pensions or relief to the indi
gent soldiers. We believe the present
sybtem of administering this fund to be
wasteful and inefficient. We find that
there is duplication by other charitable as
sociations so that unworthy persons are
enabled to live without labor at the ex
pense of the taxpayern, through the lack of
supervision of the relief given.
vv o round many caes where the tax
payers money was unwisely bestowed. Un
fortunately, when shiftless or unworthy
persons find they can impose upon the
county they will do so as long as possible.
and will make no effort to become self-
supporting. We recommend that some bet
ter system of administering the large sums
given away p.uuually ty the county be
adopted.
Bridges and Ferries.
Testimony has been given before US)
which leads us to believe that there is
almost criminal carelessness in the De
partment of Bridges and Ferries. Men who
have proven to be grossly incompetent have
been retained In tho service, and men who
have been discharged for inefficiency have
been later re-employed.
We believe that the Superintendent of
Bridges and Ferries " fails to exercise the
neceary supervision of the bridges and
ferries to insure the protection to the lives
and of the property of the citizens of Mult
nomah County. Wo believe that there Is
laxness in this department, end that such
lax ne S3 is without justification or excuse.
We believe the chairman of the Board
of County Commissioners fails to realize
me importance of protecting the lives and
safety of oar citizens, and that the em
ployment of incapable and inefficient men
is a serious menace to public safety.
County Jail,
We found the County Jail in good con
dition. The prisoners were well fed. well
cared for and seemed to bo very contented
with their lot. They were reading, playing
cards and chatting, and they did not seem
to regard jail sentence as much of a mis
fortune. We believe that t hs nrittotiAri
should be employed in some useful labor
ana thus help shift the burden of their
support from the already heavily burdened
shoulders of the taxpayers to their own
shoulders. We recommend that they be em
ployed i 1 breaking rock at Kelly Butte,
in constructing roads, in clearing up logged
off land, or in tome ot her useful labor. We
believe if this were done that a jail sen
tence would prove a deterrent of -crime, and
imprisonment would not be considered a
pleasant vacation at the expense of the
taxpayers.
We interviewed one inmate of the jail
who has spent much of his time for the
past three years in jail, and during all of
this time he has nover had to do any work
whatever. We believe that if he were al
lowed to put in six months at breaking rock
at Kelly Butte, he would lose his apparent
fondness for coming back Into jail. We be
lieve that Imprisonment in the County Jail
In idleness softens the moral and physical
fiber of the prisoner and renders him less
able to make his own living when released.
We believe that it is a mistake to keep a
prisoner in Idleness for six months or a
year and then discharge him without funds.
He is softened by his long imprisonment
and- unable to do a good day's work, and be- (
ing out of funds and not being able to se- '
cure work at once, in desperation he turns
again to crime. If he were put to work at
useful and productive labor during his term I
of imprisonment, and paid a small sum,
frni 10 cents to 25 cents a day, and this
fund allowed to accumulate to be paid to
him at the rate of $5 a week when he is
released, he would then have a chance
to support himself after his discharge, and
look around to eecure a Job.
v County Hospital.
We believe that under very adverse con
ditions, good work has been done at the
County Hospital. The building now in ue
is poorly adapted to its present needs. We
do not recommend, however, that any money
should be spent on this buUdirig in better
ments, but that such money should be
saved toward the erection of a modern fire
proof hospital.
County Poor Farm.
At the timo of our visit to the County
Poor Farm there were 372 patients. We wish
unreservedly to commend the excellent work
beincr done by iIrs. tingle ton and her as
sistants. The Poor Farm Is well man
aged and is a good example of what such
an institution Bhould be. Order, cleanliness
and discipline are everywhere apparent.-
We are not convinced f the merit of try
ing to run a large farm in connection with
this institution. The persons committed to
the County Poor Farm are so weakened
by disease or excesses that they can do but
little effective work. We believe if 10 or
20 acres weru retained, and the rest of the
land sold, the interest on the sum realized
from the sale of these lands would more
than offset any profit made from farming
thi land.
Ir quiry of tho superintendent nd phy
sicians In charge brought out the fact that
more than ut per cent of the inmates were
there as a renult of impaired efficiency
through the use of Jiquor. We were fur
ther informed that almost 00 per cent of
the inmates are afflicted with some form of
veneral diseaso. We believe that the bur
den on the taxpayers of the support of
these people would be greatly reduced if
t he la-ws against the sale of liquor and
drugs were rigidly enforced. So long as we
license men to debauch their fallow men
through the ale of liquor or drugs, thus al
lowing a few to make a profit at the ex
pense of the many who are compelled to
support the product of these destructive
trades, so long shall we continue to pay
excessive taxes to support the weaklings
and defectives. Not only are wo robbed of
the potential usefulness of those who can
not resist temptation, but w ere com
pelled to pay for the supportbf those "who,
through weakness, succumb.
An examination of the records of the
various county institutions shows that
crime and poverty, diwease and Inef f telency,
are largely the result of indulgence in
liquor and lust. An examination of the
records shows that many of the patients
are "unloaded" on Multnomah County by
neighboring cities or states. We inter
viewed one patient who came to Portland
last November. Within a week of his ar
rival from Seattle, he had become a county
charge. He had only been in Seattle a
short tirne, having come t here from Okla
homa. He told us that in years past ha
had earned good wages, but bad spent the
money in the Middle West. He had been
wasteful and improvident, and now the
burden of his support has been placed on
Multnomah County.
We found that the county could go to
the expense of taking a tubercular patient
out to the County Poor Farm in an auto
mobile, and that if he or she were not
thoroughly satisfied with the conditions
there, they could return to Portland the
following day. Inasmuch as most of the
patients afflicted with tuberculosis do not
go out to the County Poor Farm until they
are In advanced stages of this disease, - we
believe there bhould be some method of
keeping them there, instead of allowing
them to return and become a menace to the
community. We further believe that patients
whose minds are bad'v affected should not
be committed to the Poor Farm, but should
be sent to the State Hospital for the In
sane. Arson Cases.
Our Investigation of arson cases during
the past two months has brought us Into
freauont contact with Captain Jay W.
Stevens and Captain W. A. Groce and other
members of the arson squad, and we feel it
to be oftr duty to publicly commend the
zeal, diligence, and Intelligence of these of
ficers in securing evidence where arson has
been committed or where a fire has been
se-t for the purpose of defrauding the in
surance company. The personal investigation
of the grand jury of numerous crooked
fires has brought to attention a condition
which should be remedied. In one case a
policy for a thousand dollars was issued on
household goods that could not be sold for
more than $10. e found the evil or over
insurance so prevalent that it is a constant
temptation to thcae whose moral fiber is
not of the strongest to set fire to their
house for the purpose of collecting insur
ance. In our Investiratlon of an apartment-house
where a f i-re had ben set. but fortunately
put out before doing much damage, the
lives and property of the other tenants of
the apartment-house were menaced.
We found that policies are frequently is
sued without any investigation of the
p re-mi ses. An insurance policy for $1000
will be issuea on guoas upon wnicn tne
agent who issued the Insurance policy would
not lend a hundred dollars of his own
money.
We also found great laxness In the is
suance of transfers when household goods
are moved from one location to another.
No Investigation as to whether all of the
goods are moved is made, and in some canes
we found that the policy for the same
amount has been transferred when a large
part of the goods has been sold or other
wise disposed of at the time of tho re
moval. Violations of the Liquor Law.
Oftr investigation of the violations of the
liquor law lead us to make the following
recommendations t
We believe that a deputy from tho Sher
iff's office should be instructed to make an
inspection at least weekly of the certificate
books of the express companies to ascertain
if liquor is being illegally secured on false
affidavits, or if the same person is purchas
ing m"re liquor than is allowed under the
law. In our own investigation we found
this to be the case, and we found that there
was no check on violators of this law.
We aUu recommend that a stricter watch
be kept upon druggists who sell alcohol for
rubbing or other similar purposes. Testi
mony of minor girls and others establishes
the fact that alcohol is purchased for rub
bing, and is mixed with loganberry juice
or cider and used as a beverage. We rec
ommend that a small quantity of camphor
be added to all alcohol sold for external
use.- This will not in any way affect its
valuo for external use, aud will prevent lit
use as a beverage.
Conditions In the Court House.
After an investigation lasting many days
Into the stealing of tho wine stored in the
Court House basement, we have established
certain facts. Many of the - county em
ployes, including carpenters, engineers, fire
men, painters, aud electricians, frankly con
fessed to having drunn tnjs liquor. Other
employes where the testimony was over
whelming of their participation in tho drink
ing of. mis liquor, perjured themselves and
denied all knowledge of the liquor beiug
stolen, or of having drunk any of it
Investigation disclosed the fact that there
Is disorganisation among the employes in
the engine-room that cannot fail to lead to
loss of th taxpayers' money and to in- j
efficiency. The testimony brought out tne
fact that W. A. Katchel, Superintendent,
after being requested by the District At
torney's Office to ferret out the stealing of
this liquor, warned tho employee that an
investigation was to be made. We believe
that so long as Mr. Batch el has charge of
the county machinery and of th basement
employes, there will be disorganization, in
efficiency, and loss of the County's money.
Juvenile Delinquents.
During the past" two Viontha we hav-s
rarufuily investigated 24 cases of Illicit sex
relations. These cases include lewd co
habitation, rape, and delinquency of minor
Kirls.
In the case of the meet of these juvenile
delinquents, we could not help but feel that
they were more sinned against than sin
ning. The evidence brought out in almost
every case a lack of sympathetic parental
guidance. in almost every case the evi
dence showed an utter lack of sympathy be
tween tho parents and the children, and a
complete absence of home training.
Children with the zest and ardor of
youth rebel against the monotony and in
justice of home conditions, and having no
wise counselor to whom they can go, and
lacking the restraint of home discipline,
boldly plunge into evil ways. The burdens
of society would be greatly lightened if the
parents did not shift upon the school-teachers
the duties of the home as well as the
church in giving them moral Instructions.
We desire to commend the work of the
Social Hygiene Society In bringing home
to mothers and fathers the necessity of
sex instruction to their children, and the
neod of confidence between mothers and
daughters, fathers and sons.
We found that in many cases the juvenile
delinquency was traceable to the divorce of
parents, or to their lndif fenence. We found
that most of the children who went astray
were spoiled and self-indulgent child re n.
Girls untrained and extravagant, undisci
plined and wilful, without home duties, fell
an easy prey to some designing and lust
ful meu. If parents could be Impressed
with the need of training their daughters
in th-a profession of home-making and
motherhood, there would be fewer cases
for the juvenile courts. The very Instinct
of love which would make a girl a good
wife and a good mother is by lack of train
ing allowed to become lust, and the gtrl
is lost to society. If the homes, the schools,
and tho churches would instil in the young
boys, an attitude of chivalry and protec
tion toward women, there would be a great
reduction in crimes of this nature.
Young boys with the dash, the daring,
and the love of adventuro of youth, do not
realize their responsibility to themselves,
to others, and to society, and fall into sins
of excess that keep the courts busy and
that mako the burden of taxes higher.
County Commissioners.
The Grand Jury invited tho County Com
missioners to appear before it to discuss
various matters which had bem brought out
in the Investigations made. We questioned
each commissioner quite fully on the coun
ty conditions, both in the past as well as
present conditions. We also called in 20
or more other witnesses as to their deal
ings with the County Commissioners. After
a thorough investigation and mature delib
eration, we desire to commend Kufus C.
Holman for many needed reforms in the
matter of doing county business. We re
gret, however, that owing to personal d If
forences between the commissioners, the
county affairs are apparently drifting back
to the old careless and unbusinesslike meth
ods, in which efficiency and competency
are sacnriced for political support.
A large amount of evidence has been
submitted showing that actions for or
against a certain measure would be taken
In exchange for political support. W
also have heard evidence showing that pri
vate individuals frequently purchase sup
plies at a less cost than is paid for them
by the county. There seems to be a lack
of realization by some of the '"ounty Com
missioners that it is a violation of their
oath of office to Pay private or political
debts at the expense of the taxpayers.
Commissioner W. Lu Lightner appeared at
his own request before the grand Jury to
explain certain charges made against him
of requiring county employes to pay for
their jobs. Numerous witnesses were sum
moned to investigate this particular charge
as well as other irregularities of a similar
nature. Evidence was produced showing
that certain county employes in the past
bad Indulged in many Irregular practices
of this kind; but no evidence was produced
to show that Commissioner Lightner made
a profit from these transactions. The evi
dence did show, however, that unneces
sary burdens had been placed upon the tax
payers by lack of business efficiency and
the employment of men better able to run
political machinery than the county ma
chinery. I n many cases this has led to
waste of the taxpayers' money, and we rec
ommend that in the hiring of all county
employes, real fitness for the job be the
necessary requisite for employment.
Shaving Warrants.
Our attention has been called to the prac
tice of note shaving In the Courthouse.
In our Investigation we summoned various
witnesses, among whom were County Com
missioners W. L. Lightner and Kufus C.
Holman, Charles J. Wiikins and Mose Bloch.
The evidence showed the practice of note
shaving to be flagrant and long-continued,
and we make the usual recommendations to
the County Commissioners that they prevent
unauthorized persons from occupying desks
or offices in the Courthouse to carry on
private business. We heartily concur in the
recommendations of the grand jury for th
April, 1915. term, which are as follows:
'"Evidence has been heard showing that
many laborers In the service of the county
have been paying a regular toll of 1 per cent
upon the amount due them, and it appears
to the Jury that the circumstances under
which this practice has been carried on
virtually amount to compulsion of said la
borers to make this discount.
"Kor a long time certain foremen, being
under financial obligations to the broker
who makes these discounts, have regularly
turned over the time checks of their men to
the broker, who has retained them until ths
sums represented therein were called for b
the owners, charging for this service 1 per
cent of the face value. These payments
have been made In the county Courthouse,
within a few feet of the Treasurer's office,
where the money to satisfy these claims
was awaiting the owners. The jury Is of the
opinion that no valuable service has been
rendered tor the discount thus collected,
and that the :?me has been paid through
fear of unpleasant consequences if It should
be refused.'
Escape of Prisoners.
On March 20, the grand jury made a
personal investigation of the escape of the
prisoners of the Kelly Butte rock quarry.
In our opinion there seems to be no ade
quate reason why prisoners should remain
there if they wish to leave. We walked
through an unguarded gate, entered the
main building, visited the kitchen, dining
room, and inspected the corridors, and en
tered the cells without discovering a guard
or other person of authority. We Inter
viewed various persons, but none of them
happened to have the keys to the corridor
where the escape was made. After some
search we located the guard who had the
keys. He expressed a surprise that the
prisoners could secure possession of hack
saws, knives, files, and other similar ar
ticles. Inasmuch as outsiders seemed to be
at liberty to wander at will through the
premises, there is apparently no good rea
son why they should not secrete knives,
files, saws, or revolvers In an agreed place,
or hand them to a trusty or prisoner In the
cells.
We were informed that the night guard
did not have the keys and hence could not
make a personal investigation when the
warning of the escape of the prisoners was
telephoned- to him. Not wishing to awaken
Mr. Brigps, who had. the keys, he put the
matter off until morning, at which time a
count was made to ascertain how many of
the prisoners had decided to remain.
We believe that the employment of gross
ly incompetent officials at the Kelly Butte
rock quarry is without excuse, and we fur
ther believe that the fault lies with the
member or members of the Board of County
Commissioners who give employment to men
of known inefficiency for political or other
reasons not in accord with the good of the
service.
In this same connection we wish to point
out the danger of drifting back Into the
former methods of conducting county busi
ness. Testimony has been given before the
grand jury by bidders, in which it was
shown that the former method of letting
bids was secret and unbusinesslf i.e. Bid
ders were not allowed to be present when
the bids were opened and were not In
formed as to the successful bidder. Evi
dence was also produced which showed that
at times bids were not awarded to the low
est bidders.
We believe that the public, which furnishes
the money, should at all times be given full
and frank information how their money is
spent. Very respectfully.
BEN GADSBY. Foreman,
FKED LOCK LEY, Secretary,
S. J. LANDON,
FRANK N. LEAHY,
K. J. VEVNERV1TZ,
J. J. HCBER,
MARTIN A. XELPOX.
Y. M. C. A. INSTALLATION
Stale University Banquet Held In
Honor of Campus Cody Officers.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGOX, Eugene,
April 1. (Special.) The annual in
stallation and banquet of tho campus
Y. M. C. A. -was held Friday night with
about 200 men of the university attending-.
All of the houses of the campus
closed their ioors for the evening and
the men attended en masse.
The toastmaster of the evening was
Dr. John Straub, . of the university,
who introduced as the speakers for the
evening. Dr. Kenneth Latourette. of
Reed College. Dr. H. K. Schmitt. of Al
bany, and chairman of the state Y. M.
C. A. committee. R. A. Booth, of Eu
gene, and I. B. Rhodes, state secretary
of the Y. M. C. A.
The officers Installed were 'Walter
Pimm, of Eugene, president; Joseph
Bell. 'of Rickreall, vice-president; Burle
Bramhall, of Baker, treasurer, and De
witt Gilbert, of Astoria, secretary.
0. A. C. WILL HAVE CHARGE
Federal Investigation of Marketing
Conditions Proposed.
OREGON AGRICULTURAL. COLLEGE.
Corvallis, April 1. (Special.) Federal
experts representing the United States
Bureau of Markets, who are working
upon problems confronting the market
ing of horticultural products of the
Northwest, this week conferred with
Oregon Agricultural College repre
sentatives at Corvallis and have placed
all activities of the bureau in Oregon
under the direction of the Oregon Ag
ricultural College bureau of organiza
tion and markets.
Plans were made to determine the
most desirable line of action to follow
in each district ot the state. The Fed
eral experts. C. E. Bassett. C. W. Moo
maw and W. IT. Kefr, will remain for
some time In the Northwest.
SMUDGE POT IS ABANDONED
Lane Fruitgrowers Kegard Frost
Fighting; as Vseless.
EUGENE. Or., April 1. (Special.)
The farmers in Lane County have
abandoned- the smudge pot as a means
of fighting frost. J. O. Holt, manager
of the Eugene Fruit Growers Assocla
firm otatorl tnrian Ihflt amildirfn? Is
now regarded as a useless expenditure
of money. In the past little if any
benefit has been derived from the
burning of crude oil in the orchards on
frosty mornings, he said.
According to C. E. Stewart, county
agriculturist, all fruit gives promise of
good crops, with the exception of
peaches.
TWO SEEK SHERIFF'S POST
Candidates Appearing for OTflce in
BcntonCounty,
PHILOMATH, Or., April 1. (Special.)
Benton County politicians are begin
ning to wake up as the time approaches
to get themselves on record for desired
offices. W. A. Oellatly has announced
himself as a candidate for re-election
to the Sheriffs office, on" the Repub
lican ticket, while J. G. Horning appears-
as his rival.
M'. S. Bovee announces himself as a
candidate for County Coroner, and Roy
E. Cannon deBires to be re-elected to
the office of County School Superin
tendent. REGISTRATION HAS SPURT
Increase of 19,245 Signatures for
State Primary Recorded.
SALEM, Or.. April 1. (Special.)
Registrations for the coming primaries
May 19 show an increase of 19,245 since
last week, according to reports filed
with Secretary of State Olcott by the
different County Clerks. The total as
compiled today shows 140,386 persons
listed on the books as compared with
121.141 last week.
Republican registrations so far num
ber 93,480; Democratic. 35.224; Progres
sive, 843; Prohibitionist. 3320; Social
ists, 332S. and miscellaneous registra
tions, 4191.
ALBANY, Or.. April 1. (Special.)
Almost $2000 worth of Jersey cattle
were purchased in Linn County last
week for shipment to Montana. R. D.
Sutherlin, a banker, of Loma, Mont.,
bought the cattle, and will sell them
to homesteaders in that vicinity. Many
of those who are living on homesteads
near Loma went to Montana from this
vicinity, and knowing the quality of
Linn County stock desired to purchase
stock from their former home. Mr.
Sutl.erlin secured 36 Jersey cows, and
also bought two registered Holstein
bulls.
Albany-Vaquina Line Closed.
ALBANY. Or.. April 1. (Special.)
The slide which occurred last Saturday
on the Albany-Yaquina line of the
Southern Pacific has not been cleared
yet, and trains are being operated by
transferring around the obstruction.
The slide occurred near tunneWfc22, east
of Summit, and when the dirt from the
first slide had been almost removed a
second and worse lide occurred. It is
expected that the line will be cleared
for operation tom,orrow.
Ashland to Clean Vp Tomorrow.
ASHLAND. Or.. April 1. (Special.)
Municipal cleanup day has been set this
year for next Monday. Following prece
dent established several years ago, the
city takes over the job of garbage re
moval and "pays the freight." The
junk is taken to the municipal dump,
far removed from the city limits, where
a caretaker has the privilege of sal
vaging anything considered of value,
the residue being burned.
Eutjcne Marine Is Sharpshooter.
EUGENE. Or.. April 1. (Special.)
Archie R. Hill, of Marcola, this county,
according to a bulletin issued by the
headquarters of the United. States
Marine Corps, has qualified as a sharp
shooter in that branch of the service.
He enlisted October 15. 1915, and is
little more than a recruit. Marine
Corps officials look upon his record as
excellent under the circumstances.
Ira Hampton Dies at Newport.
NEWPORT, Or.. April 1. (Special.)
Ira Hampton, a resident of this city
from boyhood, died at his home here on
Sunday morning of typhoid fever. He
was 42 years old and Is survived by his
widow and a son nine years old. He
was an enthusiastic sportsman and was
one of the leading spirits in the or
ganization of the local Rod and Gun
Club.
WHEEL TRACKS MAY
BE TRAIL OF VILLA
Dodd's Cavalrymen Find Sig
nificant Clew in Mountain
ous Waste at Front.
AIRMEN MAKING SEARCH
Number of ' Pandit Dead as Result
of Fight With Americans at
Gucrrera Now Placed at 60
ly General Pershing.
CAMP OF COMMANDING GENERAL,
at the Extreme Front, April 1. (By
Aeroplane to Field Headquarters and
by Wireless to Columbus. N. M., April
I.) Hopes of the American cavalrymen
under Colonel George A. Dodd on find
ing Francisco Villa among the snow
clad slopes of the continental divide are
based on the discovery today of the
track of carriage wheels in a moun
tainous waste near here. These, it is
believed, may have been made by the
vehicle which carried away tho
wounded leader.
E-er since they defeated the "Villa
commander at San Geronimo ranch
with heavy losses last Wednesday, the
American cavalrymen have searched
ceaselessly for the bandit leader, but
up to late today no definite information
concerning his whereabouts had reached
this camp.
Villa has disappeared in a way which,
considering the relentlessness of the
American pursuit seems mysterious.
The American troops have not encoun
tered any natives who will even, admit
they have seen Villa.
Every gorge, arroyo. canyon trail and
watering place in the mountainous
passes in this vicinity is being watched
by American air scouts or searched by
cavalrymen in the hope of discovering
the bandit's lair. The aviators also
are keeping the column informed as to
the movements of the scattered rem
nants of the band. Hope is expressed
that one of these, at least, may attempt
to rejoin their chief and thus lead the
American forces to his hiding place.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex.. April 1. Villa's
loss in dead on the battle with Amer
icans at Guerrero Wednesday was
placed at 60 by General Pershing today
in a report to General Funston. The
bodies were found in houses in Guer
rero and scattered in the underbrush
for miles along the routes taken by the
neeing Mexicans. Villa himself was
believed to be northeast of Guerrero,
but General Pershing expressed the
opinion that there was little chance for
his escape, for detachments from four
regiments of cavalry had been disposed
in such manner that the district where
he had been reported was practically
surrounded and every point of escape
carefully guarded.
General Pershing said that a snow
storm sweeping over the San Geronimo
ranch, a region of high elevation, had
made the operations of the troops more
difficult and exceedingly uncomfort
able for the soldiers, who were moving
with light equipment.
ROGUE IRRIGATION GAINS
ADDITION OF SECO.XD SYSTEM IX
VALLEY PROBABLE.
Farmer' Club, in Seion at Talent,
Votes to Form Nevr District en
Comprehensive Scope.
MEDFORD. Or.. April 1. (Special.)
There is now a probability that there
will be two irrigation systems in tho
Rogue River Valley. One will take
care of Medford and the district north
to Gold Hill, the other will take care
of Talent and the district south to
Ashland.
At a meeting of the Farmers' Club
at Talent Thursday night it was voted
to form an irrigation district, and
trustees will be elected in the neat
future.
It is probable that the Beaver Creek
proposition will bo selected, as this will
provide water for 20,000 acres, while
the Hyatt prairie proposition would
cover only 8000 acres. Meanwhile, the
Rogue Iliver Canal Company is extend
ing its system over the Central Point
and Willow Springs districts in the
north part of the county, so that thera
is strong likelihood that by anothet
season there will be a comprehensiv
irrigation system from Grants Pass of
the north to Ashland on the south.
Ml AGREED
NEWBERG PLANT TO BE TURNED
OVER TO BANKERS FOR SALE.
Property and Location Are Considered
Valuable, and Disposal Without
Trouble Is Expected.
NEWBERG, Or.. April 1. (Special.)
At the meeting of the trustees of the
Newberg Cannery Association yester
day afternoon final arrangements were
made for turning the property and the
business over to a committee consisting
of U. S. G. Miller, of the Miller Mer
cantile Company, W. H. Woodworth
and S. L.- Parrett, presidents, respec
tively, of the two local banks. The
petition signed by the trustees to this
effect will be taken at once to McMinn
ville for filing.
There are 349 stockholders in the or
ganization, and in order to take this
course with the business it was neces
sary to get the consent of 246. It was
found when this task was entered upon
that a considerable percentage of
stockholders are not living here nor
in this vicinity, and this added to the
delay, in closing the matter up.
It is believed there will be little dif
ficulty in finding a buyer for the prop
erty. Th tannery has been in opera
tion for two seasons and started out
with excellent prospects, the associa
tion having bought for $6500 a build
ing and equipment which had cost Mr.
Bussell, of Seattle, about four years
previously close to $25,000.
An abundance of fruit of all kinds in
this vicinity renders it an ideal location
for a cannery. It is especially famous
for pears. Royal Ann cherries and
strawberries.
Representatives of Libby, McNeil &
Llbby. of Chicago, were here during the
first year of the cannery's operation,
and were so favorably Impressed that
they endeavored to buy the plant, but
the trustees would not entertain the
proposition.
Bar on Conpon Solicitors Sought.
PENDLETON. Or.. April 1. (Special.)
An ordinance which would restrict
coupon photographic solicitors was in
troduced, at tho City Council meeting
GAHNERY I
this-week, at the request of the Pendle
ton photographers. The ordinance, if
passed, will require a license of flO
for the- first day and 15 for each sue- '
cesslve day for solicitors of any kind,
and provides for a penalty for viola
tion of fines from HO to tlOO or sen
tence of from five to 20 days in jail.
LAND PROTESTS ARE READ'
"Withjeonibc and Brown Object to
Terms of Kxcluiftge in. BUI.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU.
Washington. April 1. Representative
Ilawley today laid before the public
lands committee letters from Gover
nor Withycombe and George G.Brown,
of tho State Land Board, urging radical
change in the pending school land ex
change bill. These letters repretant
that the bill as It stands will reuuc
the amount of school land which Ore
gon may receive from the Government.
They also urge an amendment permit
ting the states to take in exchange for
school sections in forest reserves, va
cant public lands of valuo eq,ual to
those surrendered.
As the bill stands, lands given to tt
states are to be eliminated from forest
reservations. The Governor wants th
right to take unreserved lands if tha
state so elects.
The Governor's suggestions wera
turned over to Representative Sinnott.
who will draft an amendment to. pro
tect fully the rights of the State ot
Oregon.
NEW AIR RECORD IS MADE
F.ngine Ituns Five Hours on Trip to
Washington and Return.
NEWPORT NEWS. Va., April 1.
Glenn H. Curtis announced that Steve
McGordon. of New York, instructor in
the Curtis aviation school here, estab
lished a new cross-country passenger
carrying flight record today when he
flew from Newport News to Washing
ton and return, about 300 miles, in four
and one-half hours without stopping
the engine. - The machine was in tho
air five hours and five minutes, but 35
minutes of that time, according to Mc
Gordon. was spent in altitude flight.
McGordon was accompanied by Lieuten
ant Vivian Hewett. of the British Royal
Naval Service, here inspecting machines
for the British government.
Until today the crosn-country passenger-carrying
record was held by Lieu
tenant Dodd, U. S, A., who on Febru
ary 14 flew from San Diego, Cal to
Burbank. Cal., 244 miles, with a passen
ger. His time, according to Mr. Curtis,
was not as good as that made by Mc
Gordon today.
ALBERT L. FLEMING DIES
Powerman "With Telephone Company
Succumbs to Kidney Trouble.
Albert L. Fleming, aged 33 years,
for many years in the employ of tho
Pacific States Telephone Company as
powerman, died yesterday morning at
his residence, 535 East Twenty-fifth
street. The cause of death was com
plication of kidney troubles.
He is survived by a widow, his futher,
who is somewhere between iSan Fran
csco and Panama: a brother in Wash
ington and a sister in Alaska.
Mr. Fleming was a young man of
promise, zealous in his line of labor
and highly esteemed by his fellow
members in the Independent Brother
hood of Electrical Workers No. 25, of
which he had been a, member for ten
years.
Funeral services will be held at 3:30
Tuesday from Miller & Tracey's es
tablishment, with interment in River
view. VANCOUVER MUSTER HELD
Post Commander Makes Inspoctiou
of Field Equipment.
VANCOUVER BARRACKS, Wash..
April 1. (Special.) Regular monthly
muster was held in the post yesterday,
and more than COO men turned out.
There are five companies here yet of
the Twenty-first Infautry. and Com
pany F. Engineers, comprising more
than 160 men in that organization and
the Hospital Corps and Quartermaster
Corps. Seven companies have left.
However, it is possible that a large
number of recruits will be sent to this
post to be drilled.
At muster, held on the parade
grounds, there was field inspection.
The men pitched their shelter tents and
spread their field equipment, which
were inspected by Colonel Francis H.
French, post commander, and his staff.
FOREST GROVE WILL AID
"Made-ln-the-Xorthwest" Week "Will
Bo Observed.
FOREST GROVE, Or April 1. (Spe
cial. "Made-ln-the-Northwest week"
will be appropriately observed here,
beginning next Monday. All merchants
of the city will have on display goods
made in Oregon and the Pacifio North
west. A joint committee from the Com
mercial Club and the Woman's Club
will have charge of the special pro
gramme to be given at the Congrega
tional Church parlors Tuesday night,
when a banquet made from homo
products will be served. On Saturday.
April 8, the merchants of the city will
observe "Dollar day" by making spe
cial bargains for that occasion.
"BULLFROG CHORUS" BUSY
First Rehearsal Is Official Sign of
Spring in Vancouver.
VANCOUVER. Wash.. April 1. (Spe
cial.) The official sign of Spring in
Vancouver the first rehearsal of the
famous "bullfrog chorus" has arrrved
Nightly concerts are being held at
Third and Washington streets, and
probably will be continued throughout
the Spring and Summer months.
This chorus is made possible by a
deep hole over which was built many
years ago the old auditorium. Three
years ago this was burned and the hole
was never filled.
The civic bureau of the Vancouver
Chamber of Commerce has taken up
the proposition of having this hole
filled.
STAFFORD WOMAN IS DEAD
Mrs. Sarah A. Iliney Iieavcs Fivo
Sons and 15 Grandchildren.
OREGON CITY. April I. (Special.)
Mrs. Sarah Ann Hineyf 84, was found
dead in her bed this morning at the
home of her son. Charles Tiedeman. in
the Stafford district. Death, due to
cancer, came after a long illness.
She was born in Springfield. O., and
rpent the greater part of her life in the
Middle West. She came to Oregon from
South Dakota 11 years ago. Her body
will be sent to Middleton. Wis.
Five sons and 13 grandchildren
survive her.
Read The Orcgonian classified ads.