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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 1917)
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, AUGUST 12. 1917. TAX EQUALIZATION IS ISSUE IN IDAHO I iLiij.mjRi4,.iH"..f 4L". v: EUGENE MAN INVENTS LOCK WHICH DOES AWAY WITH KEY N. O. Billings, Who Has Made Violins for Oregon Musicians for Number of Years, Turns to Inventing, After Losing $4000 in Similar Device. i ii'iiistsiiisiMiMiiimi utmm mmwisii inteitnii -maun imm 1 mi only four days starting today EOF LE "A Portland Institution" Alder at West Park Democratic Board Will Meet at Boise Tomorrow to Act on Question. VALUES TO BE READJUSTED 6 Tp) Radical - Action Is Certain to . Be Taken Especially With Regard to Livestock Which Has Been Prosperous Lately. . BOISE. Idaho. Aug. 11. (Special.) The first Democratic board to equalize taxes of th state which - has sat at the Statehouse In years will take up Its duties Monday. No board is of more Importance in the government of this state and none has played so prominent a part In politics. The board has unlimited power. During past years it has been of a Republican com plexion. This year that complexion has changed to Democratic due to the sweeping changes that followed the last general election. The members of the new board are: Governor Alex ander. Attorney-General "Walters, Sec retary of State Dougherty and State Auditor Van Deusen, Democrats; State Treasurer John. W. Eagleson. Republi can. The present war crisis has resulted In a revolutionized property and busi ness conditions in the state of Idaho which, board members say, will call for a readjustment of valuations that certain that in some classes of property High taxes have always been a politi cal campaign Issue in Idaho, and the action of a state board of equalization plays no unimportant part in regulat ing the taxes. It seems to be very certain that in some classe of property the new board will take radical action, especially with regard to livestock, and more particularly sheep. The livestock Industry has been enjoying an unpre cedented era of prosperity during the past year. . "Valuations Are Shown. Preparatory to the meeting of the toard the auditors of the respective 41 counties of the state are sending abstracts showing real and personal property assessed valuations. It seems certain that when the board meets the grand total reported assessed valua tion for this year will be no less than it was last year. The reported value in 1916 was $302,043,887 for the state. The board reduced this valuation by equalization to $292,703,199. Ada Counnty, of which Boise is the county seat, seems to have suffered the greatest slump In the matter of re ported real and personal property as sessments this year. The abstract shows a falling off of approximately 14.000,000. In 1916 the total - valuation of all reported agricultural land in the state was $109,070,655. Timberland, $22. 161,314: cut-over and burnt timberland, 44.925,969; mineral land. $398,863; graz ing land, $15,950,493. Improvements on lands outside cities, villages and town oites amounted to $12,914,726. Business lots had a valuation of $12,404,305, and residence lots $19,646,771. Improve ments on lands in cities, villages and townsites were valued at $32,492,059. Merchandise was valued at $7,631,171. It is not believed that when the board meets there will be . a material change In these figures for this year. The abstracts from the counties indi cate this. The board, however, may decide to increase valuations along some lines and lower them in others. One of the paramount issues in Idaho politics came up when the state board of equalization met during the adminis tration of James H. Hawley. Governor Hawley declared for rigid enforcement of the law requiring property to be as sessed at its full cash value. An extra session of the Legislature was called to bring this about. At that time prop erty was being assessed at about 70 per cent of its value. The stand taken by the Governor and the action of the board backing htm up created a cam paign issue the two years following that did more than any one thing else to retire the then Governor. Mine Taxation In Issue. The taxation of mines has always been a live issue in this state, more so in past years than the more recent. The abstracts reported by the mining counties In ' the state show the net profit on mines to be $12,820,180. Last year the net profit on mines was $10, 195.934. A comparison of the figures favors the current year. The bulk of this wealth comes from the Coeur d'Alene mining section, famous for its lead mines. Shoshone County alone re ports net earnings of $12,214,415. Custer County adds to the total with $321,593. and Boise County, $127,205. Lemhi County reports net earnings of $146,967, as compared to $17,364 re ported for the previous year. Some of the larger counties of the state showing assessed valuations re ported for 1916, as compared to the re ported valuations of 1915, are interest ing. Ada County reports a total of $26,629,895 for 1916 as against $30. 479,660 for 1915. Bannock reports $16. C50.446 as against $16,491,360; Bonne ville, $11,003,420 as against $10,570,256; Canyon, $12,856,779 as against $15,974, 383; Idaho, $10,811,113 as against $10. 687,736; Nez Perce. $13,483,535 as against $14,071,643; Shoshone, $23. 079.866 as against $19,732,186; Twin Falls, $18,015,056 as against $16,507, 192; Latah. $17,062,695 as against $17, 380.279. It will be seen that the loss in Ada County's valuation is picked up by the Increase in Shoshone County's valuation, while the loss In Canyon County's valuation is picked vp by the gain in Bonneville County's valuation. Projects Are Investigated. In order that the meeting of the state board of equalization can be held on scheduled time Monday it is necessary for executive state officials to return o Boise before rhat" time. Most of them are out of the city. The so-called "Flying Squadron," composed of mem bers of the State Land Board, the Gov ernor. Attorney-General and Secretary of State, have been spending the week investigating Carey act projects in southern and southeastern parts of the state. They went as far as the Jack son Hole country, in "Wyoming, and held an informal meeting of the land .board at Mackay. State Treasurer John W. Eagleson has been the only elective ve official at the Capitol, which has otherwise been in the cus tody of subordinate employes. E. S. Madden, the new secretary to the Governor. Is rapidly becoming familiar with his duties. He was named secretary following the appoint ment of C. O. Croxon as state insurance manager to f;il th new mfice i:rf?ioil by the last I-eg;s!uture. This is a $6000 .1ob Tocxl for nve yeiLrs. Manager Eroxon will leave In a few days on an extended trip p"r th msr. r mirr r-.plAvri! Ol lalfor n.Titl i.-iftl'.e tho:a r:u:iili;ir with Ihe provisions of the workmen's com pensation act, particularly with rela tion to insurance they must carry to protect their employes. Secretary Madden la one of the , -ft - ' WV ft til ; h xi;J 1 lit1 V a i , J Iff i V -- i i vf- U$ tilt l.r : h 1 . 1 i. O. Hillings and His New Invention. 'i , - i' rt 3 i 1 t EUGEN N.O. 20 ye UGENE. Or.. Aug. 11. (Special.) Billings, who for more than years has been making violins in Oregon and who carved out many of the instruments now in use by musicians of the state, has turned inventor and believes th- profits he is soon to re ceive froi i combination lock will make him wealthy man. Tjncle Sam has approved his model by issuing him a patent and men who have spent their lives handling locks declare his prod uct of unusual merit. Billings became interested in locks not because he was a genius with ten dencies in that direction, but because he put $4000, money earned making vio lins, into' a lock which looked good on paper when in the hands of a clever salesman, but which would not work when a model had been completed. Billings' combination lock is not in tended to make the strong boxes of banks more secure, but- designed to eliminate keys from the doors in every home. The purpose of the lock in which Billings invested was the same, but it was a great, complicated affair, operated by electricity. Billings has not only eliminated electricity from the operation of the lock, but has con structed, a lock of unusual simplicity. th combination of which is controlled by three small brass discs and in which there are no tumblers to betray the secret of the combination to an expert. $ts operation is noiseless until the com bination is complete, when a little bar prominent Democrats of the southern part of the state. His home is at Caldwell. For some time previous to his appointment he did some special appraisement work for the State Land Board and carried on some investiga tions into irrigation matters as its agent. He is a comparatively new man in state politics and his appointment brought him into the political and public limelight. Prior to his appoint ment as secretary Manager Broxon was engaged in the newspaper busi ness as editor of one of the state's largest daily newspapers. He has been coaching the new secretary to the Governor in his work since the latter's appointment. Governor Alexander has still left unnamed the third member of the pub lic utilities commission. No hint has been given out as to who he will be. That he will come from Northern Idaho seems to be a settled fact. Among the other more important appointments he must make soon are three workmen's compensation commissioners, to com pose Idaho s new compensation com mission which comes into existence the first of the year. BERRY PRICE RECORD HOOD RIVER GROWERS HAVE BAX- IS Kit CASH YEAR. Net Returns Are $20,000 Greater Than In 101G, Although Shipments Are 19,000 Crates Lmh. HOOD RIVER, Or., Aug. 16. (Spe cial.) Officials of the Apple Growers' Association say tne strawberry season Just closed has been the most success ful in the institution's history. The sales organization reports the season's average, net to the association, at $2.90 per box. as compared with $1.i9 last year. While last year's total crop was 73.000 crates, as compared with 54,000 this season, the total returns of this season are $26,900 greater. Fourteen different pools were made during the season, the smallest price for any pool having been $1.81 per box during the period of July 1 to 5, In clusive. The sum of $4.80 was received for all berries sold on June 1 and 2, when the first express shipments were made. The last shipment was made on July 27, nearly a month later than usual. Despite the lateness of the berry harvesting season, the associa tion will distribute the returns to growers several weeks earlier this year than usual. The following is the list of the vari ous pools showing the dates and the average price realized, this price be ing absolutely net to the association after paying all brokerage and selling costs, and does not include any rail road claims but Is the actual net money received and which is being distributed to the growers. 1 June 1 and 2.$4.80 8 June 21 to 24. $2.80 2 June 3 and 4. 3.331 June 25-26... 2.B3 3 June 5 to 11.. 8.4fiit0 June 27 to 30. 2.09 4 June 12 to 15. a.Mjll July 1 to 5... 1.81 5 June 16 3.C4 12 July 6 to 11.. 1.87 fi June 17 to la. 3.3o'l3 Julv 12 to 18. 2.O0 7 June 20 3.1SI14 July 19 to 27. 2.25 BRUSH FIRE IS CONTROLLED Flames Sweep Small Area. Xear SasIirse Hoed. A crew of a doren men is fighting a V.rtirh firo on t "rue Unrclinn ro.nl near KocWwood, about eight miles from Porc.anti. Sheriff llurlbun was calied to the s,cene late yesterday and sue- In rMip1irig up iii:eh rnon ro -ut "Iho ri.t-rnAa UTidr rx.rltr4.il. The fire Is on the south sido of the road and the Northwest wind carried it over a area 100 yards wide and a quarter of a mile long before it was checked. ::yi-r-Vlj.i' - : .' ' ; i i 1 1 ' Another View of Lock. falls down and. as the knob is turned, draws the bolt back, opening the door. Billings made his first lock of wood similar to that used in the manufac ture of violins. He worked for two years and. after he succeeded in mak ing a lock which he could readily ad Just to 10,400 different combinations, he called in G. A. Saachs. a worker in metals, who, after working 408 hours, completed the first model of the lock, which has now been patented. The necessity of light in operating the combination to a door at night was a problem which had to be solved by Billings. The completed lock contains a small dry battery which is turned on by pressing a lever near the top of the lock. A circle of light is thrown di rectly onto the combination figures by this operation. The lock can be manufactured at about the same price as the better grade locks of the old style now on the market. Mr. Billings estimates. Before coming to Eugene Billings re sided In Portland and Hood River. Senator Simmons Concludes Talk on War Tax Bill. M'CUMBER TO SPEAK NEXT Farmers Are Declared Ready to Bear Their Share of lEpcnsc of Car rying on War in Defense of Nation's Honor. "WASHINGTON, Aug. 11. The $2, 006,970,000 war tax bill as the un finished business of the Senate, again today was the subject of debate in that body. Senator Simmons, chairman of the finance committee, which re-wrote the House bill, resumed his speech in further explanation of the measure. "I believe this Is a righteous war made necessary by every considera tion of National honor and safety," Senator Simmons said in speaking of the bill's heavy tax levies. "I know that money is as essential to its suc cessful prosecution as armies and navies and I believe that everyone should pay for its support according to his ability." On the liquor section. Senator Sim mons said the Senate committee accept ed practically all of the House rates imposed on intoxicating beverages and that changes made were due to the pas sage of the food-control bill and the necessity for raising a larger amount of money through taxation. "Undoubtedly the prohibition of the manufacture of spirits for beverage purposes," he said, "and the comman deering powers of the President will give to the owners of the stock of spirits now In bond and In stock a practical monopoly of the market and prices will be greatly increased." The higher tax on beer and wines, he said, was deemed necessary because there would be an enlarged market for them. Senator Simmons declared that the farmers were willing to bear their share of the war taxes and that no re quest for exemption from the pro visions of the bill had reached him from them. told the Senate that the farmers had received returns for their products on the average beyond their most optimistic dreams, and that they would continue to reap a splen did net return until the peril had passed. Senator McCumber had planned to discuss the bill, but as Senator Sim mons did not conclude until late, he postponed his speech until Monday. MOTOR CAR VICTIM DIES Complications Follow Injuries to 31 Iss Krsaa, of Grangeville. GRANGEVILLE, Idaho. Aug. 11. rSpecis.1. ) Miss Ruby Krckau died horo yontorOay. dath rosniting from injuries received in an auiumubilc ac cident, which occurred Friday, Atigusi 3. For a time it was thought that ue ynne la.y would recover, but srion developments wre itted. aul tlie o.id came this morning. Miss Krakau was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Krakau and was 18 years of age. She is survived by her parents and a brother and a younger WAR DEMANDS COIN I k A GUARANTEE The management unhesitatingly assures you that you will enjoy this programme as much as any ever shown; usual prices. ii'y mnrin.iartfim sister. Miss Krakau was graduated from the Grangevllle High School in the class of 1917. and was popular with everybody who knew her. RATING TO BE LOWERED Elimination of Fire Hazards at Sa lem Is Profitable. SALEM, Or., Aug. 11. (Special.) James McCune. secretary of the Oregon insurance Rating Bureau, conferred with State Fire Marshal Wells rela tive to elimination of fire hazards that have been made by a number of Salem business men following the investiga tions of the state fire prevention com mittee, and promised . that in cases where hazards included in rate charges have been removed, credit will be given by a lowering of the rating. Representatives of the bureau will re-check the business district -within the next 30 days. The readjustment will not be general in nature because fire and water equipment in Salem is said not to Justify general application throughout the city. WILLLIAM C. HIND MAN DIES Ex-Resident of liaker Succumbs at Los Angeles, Cal. LOS ANGELES, Cal., Aug. 9. (Spe cial.) William C. Hlndman, 96, died ere today at his home, 471 "West Forty seventh place. Services will be held here tomofrow. Besides the widow, Mr. Hlndman is survived by four children, W. W. Hlndman, an attorney of this city; Frank Hindman, of Alberta, Canada; Mrs. Phlla A. Kaiser, of Weiser, Idaho, and Miss Grace Hlndman, of Oakland. Mr. Hindman was a former resi dent of Baker, Or., where he was en gaged in cattle raising for many years. Campbell Hotel Twenty - Third nnd Hoyt Streets. Phone Marahnll KS1. 4 :30 to :SO P.M. 6O0 SUXDAY OIXNEIi 6O0 August 12th. 1817. Loganberry Punch. Sliced Cucumbers. Sliced Tomatoes. Olives. Vegetable Soup. Fried Spring Chicken with Country Gravy. TopSirloIn Steak. Mashed Potatoes. Buttered Fresh Peas. Scotch Scones. Home-Made Jam. Fresh Loganberry Pie with Whipped Cream. Pinochle Ice Cream and Cake. Crackers. Cheese. Coffee. Campbell Hill Hotel 741 "Washington Street. Phone Main 75S4. 5 to 7 P. M. " . :'KM""-h-x-:-K"X:"K:"X:- New Houston Hotel SiTth and Krvrrtt Street. your block from Union Ei:ot. Near Business center. Fireproof and Modern. Rates 73c to $2.00. Chaa. G. Hopkins, Manager. at the head of a wonderful company in the most appeal ing, powerful, compelling production we have had in this theater in many weeks a soul-stirring drama in which love batters down international hatred. Besides this remarkable five-act dramatic success, our programme includes a ludicrously funny twb-reel "Lone some Luke" comedy entitled Luke, Mess and, for good measure, another Peoples Theater news scoop, photographed in Portland yesterday, Bathing Girls at Columbia Beach See Portland' Bathing Suit Contest Scores of Pretty Girls : j", nn 1V.1H1 milium DEATH CAUSE REVEALED ACUTE ALCOHOLISM BLAMED IX DR. HUGH SMITH'S CASE. Dentist's Demise Follows DrUikliur of Quantity of Essence of Pepper mint at His Office. Dr. Hugh C. Smith, manager of Alba Bros., dentists, died or acute alcohol ism, according to the autopsy per formed on the body -yesterday by Dr. William B. Hare. Dr. Smith died last Thursday night after drinking a half ounce bottle of essence of peppermint, which contains a large percentage of alcohol. Dr. Smith, who lived at 724 Mason street, started to drive his automobile home after drinking the peppermint in I ! IMIMI "n-iliifs M-ili'rsW.irttinVifoi FUR No less than 300 pieces assembled for final selling:, many of which we could not replace today at the prices at which they are now offered. Fine mahogany chairs, luxuriously uphol stered Davenports, Art Mirrors, Tables, Bedroom and Dining Room Pieces. YOUR TIME IS LIMITED and SO IS OURS Don't put selection off a day longer. CASH ONLY. WE MUST INSIST ON IMMEDIATE DELIVERY Store Fixtures and Equipment for Sale ifh rawn en his office at 245 Morrison street. Mrs. Smith told Deputy Coroner Smith that her husband had almost run the machine into the curbing on the way home, and that by her request had let Dr Jordan Goblitt, a passenger on the car, do the driving. Mrs. Smith said her husband was unable to walk into the house when they got home, so she and Dr. Goblitt left him In the machine for more than an hour, until, it was too dark for the neighbors to notice his condition. When they returned for Dr. Smith, they found him dead. SERGEANT WILL SERVE Student, Rejected at Presidio, May Keturn to Twelfth Company. HOOD RIVER. Or., Aug. 11. (Spe cial.) Although he failed to receive a commission following his attendance at the Officers' Training Camp at the I IM MMMIM 11 Mill M 1 I tin mm iwii'i.lksiss-tW ger 1T9S NOW if you expect to benefit by the astound ingly low prices which prevail here in NITUME 68-70 FIFTH STREET, BETWEEN OAX AND PINE Jest a Ste" Two North of Oa.V. A -only four days starting today mmum-wv Presidio. Kent Shoemaker," Hood River County Court Clerk, who has returned home from San Francisco, declares that he is determined to enter some branch of service In the Army. Mr. Shoemaker was first sergeant of Twelfth Company. Oregon Coast Artil lery, and may return to the artillery company. His place has been held open for him. and a telegram urging that he again join the organization was received today from Captain. George R. Wilbur. Mr. Shoemaker, who is only 26 years old, is the youngest County Clerk in the state. Dcutli Held Accidental. A coroner's Jury last night brought in a verdict of accidental death in the case of Carrie Thomas, 364 Yamhill street, who died as a result of being struck by an automobile driven by Rev. Jacob Stocker, of Salem, last Tuesday. The Jury held that no blame could be attached to Mr. Stocker, who is a min ister of the Evangelical association. l M " .- . sfttfksMMi-sim J A