PAGE TWO.
THE MORNING ASTORIAN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1904.
THE MORNING ASTORI AN.
Established 1873.
RATES:
By mail per year. $6 00
By mail, per month. . ; 50
By carriers, per month. 60
THE SEMI-WEEKLY ASTORIAN.
By mail, per year, in advance $1 00
ASTORIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
COMPETENCY WINS.
The San Francisco Bulletin makes "competency" the
snbiect of an interesting and very correct discourse. Our
t w w
San Francisco contemporary points out that the genera
failure of the many affords sweeping opportunities for the
few, and preaches a lesson that ought to go home to the
toilers of the land in every line of trade. Says the Bulletin
It seems, sometimes, as though nine tenths of the workers
in any profession, business, art or craft were incompetent
Thorough-going competency is as hard to find as it is usu
ally richly rewarded. The run of people in &ny field of
labor are either totally unfitted for their calling or just
barely able to pass as indifferent journeymen. There are
very few real master workmen, whether one seek them in
the clerical, the legal, the medicinal, the pedagogical, the lit
erary or the engineering professions, whether in the arts
of painting, carving, music or architecture, or whether in
the skilled trades.
The question is not one of the possession of brains. One
does not need to be a genius or even a man of talent to mas
ter any of the recognized callings. Genius stands in a class
by itself and can not be measured by plodding mediocrity,
any more than a fleet pacer, breaker of records, can be
measured by the laborious and useful draft horse. But
there are few occasions when competent mediocrity, coupl
e dwith industry, can not acomplish a given piece of work
AewdLaanativecenius. Most of the work of the world
must be done by honest mediocrity, for there arenot enough
geniuses to do it all. But the trouble is that there i3 not
nearly enough of honest and thoroughly competent medi
ocrity, and much of the world's work, for that reason, is
left to be done, and is poorly done, by the incompetent and
generally unfit
One would suppose if he did not know human nature and
had no dealings with men, that the average man would
strive with all his might to make himself as competent as
possible in the business which he has chosen to pursue
One would suppose, reasoning a priori,, that the drTine
would read his divinity by day and by night ; that the law
yer would bend in all his leisure hours over his prof essiona
tomes; that the physician and the surgeon would attend
clinics and walk hospitals whenever they had an opportun
ity; that the newspaper man would read, read, read his
tory and current affairs; that the mechanic would peruse
his trade journals and perfect himself by constant study
and practice; that the merchant would read closely the
literature of commerce ; in short, that every man would add
unceasingly to the knowledge and skill by which he earns
his living and hopes to make his career. But there is no
such general striving for perfection. The majority of peo
pie are contented not to be conspicuously inferior to their
fellows. They want that love of their work, that zeal for
perfection, that ambition to do the very best within their
powers, that makes the master, whether he be an artist or
an artisan, whether he work with his brains or with his
hands. The average man is satisfied with himself, a condi
tion which stops progress and makes for incurable infer
iority.
Competence will be recognized and rewarded because
it is so rare. Every person who has had to employ a large
number ot workers is aware that it is no easy matter to dis
cover one that fits exactly the place which he is expected
to fill. Hire a man to do an odd mechanical job about your
house and the chances are that he will do it badly unless
you stand over him. Take a stenographer into your office
and, unless you are lucky, you will have to correct punctu
ation, spelling and dictation on every page, and can never
trust to the stenographer's general intelligence. Compe
tent service is hard to get, high or low. Every employer is
looking for it eagerly. Put a bright boy into a railway
company's office, or into a. newspaper office, and he will be
picked up and pushed forward as rapidly as he fits him
self for higher promotion. Competence commands a prem
ium. The inability of the many is the opportunity of the
few.
THE TRANSIT IN BOND PRIVILEGE.
The action which th6 dominion government has recent
ly taken against American vessels in the Yukon trade may
invite retaliation, says the ost-Intelligencer. It certain
ly is deserving of it. The dominion government proposes
to prevent American vessels from landing at Vancouver
and Victoria with goods destined for the British Yukon,
to oe iranssmppeu at oi. aucnaei or omer points near its
mouth for transport up the river. In other- words the
Canadian government proposes to withdraw from Amer
ican transportation lines on the Pacific coast privileges
exactly similar to those which are acorded by our govern
ment to Canadian transportation companies here and else
where. -
The "transit in bond" privilege is one of considerable
value to Canadian railroads. It is possible for an eastern
shipper to send American goods through Canada to any
American city on the Pacific coast, without being troubled
v) me i-uMuuia uiueiais un tMuitu hiuu 01 me line, although
Dn. VAUOHAN,
Dkntwt.
Pytliino OulMitig, Adtorin, Oregon.
Dr. T. I. HALL
DENTIST
524 Commercial street. Asterla Ort.
JAY" TUTTLE, M. D.
PHYSICIAN AND BUKOEON
Anting AtnlpUtiit Hurgnan
U.S. MitrlD JtuMpitml Hnrvliw,
Oftloe hour:' 10 to II a.m. 1 to 4:10 p.m.
4T7 Commercial Street, Ind Floor.
Dr. nilODA O. HICKS
OSTEOPATHY
Mansetl Utdf. I7S Commercial BC
I'llQNB BUCK SUM.
Dr. W. O. LOGAN
DENTIST
578 Commercial St., Bhanilian UuilJlng
C. J. TKENCHARI)
Insurance, Commission and Shipping.
CUSTOMS HOUSE BROKER.
Agent Wetls-Fargo and Northern
Factflo Expreaa Companies,
goods are carried the entire distance on Canadian Pacific 0or' KJ1VBNTI1 ni bond sts.
O. W. UAltlt, DENTIST
Manacll HuiMing
573 OointircUI Strait, Astoria, Or
TELKPHONK RED SNXtl.
Of TOP A JTfVU RAVI ta
cars, ine goods are put in a bonded ear in the American
city on the eastern side of the continent and the seals are
not broken until the car reaches its Pacific coast destina
tion.
The privilege given Canadian railroads to carry freight
from oneAmerican city to another in the longrun operates!
o the disadvantage of American shippers. Freight rates
on the American roads go down as the volume of business
increases, lnc more business, strictly American, which
is diverted to American roads, the longer the time before
he treight rates on American roads come down. If all of
he American freight business now done on Canadian
roads were to be immediately transferred to American
oads, there would be lower freight rates, for the addition
al volume of business would warrant a cut.
hM U tkMtUl
ri.t. rrii. .
muff reoii-iOKlL
I iprt lilmnnSlil tiff
New Style Restaurant
Everything First Class. The Best the Market Affords.
Open Day and Night Good Service.
120 Wh St. Mxt door to Griffin Bros.
ind adjoining Ihi Olflct Saloon
ASTORIA, OREGON
1B.OO
Fiuo Qunrtertnl Ottk, Swell Frout
Dmmer. Klcgnnt in design, hand'
eomelr polinhxl, Fronob twvolleri
(iluto mirror.
fJilT.BO :
Mi(nifkut WnU-fye Maple Drca
or, swell front, largo French
bevellotl plate mirror, a beauty.
A Pair of Choice Bargains
Our Sioro is Full of Tlicm.
The "transit in bond" is a reciprocal one at present. The HHZAPF, The House Furnisher.
dominion government proposes to abolish it to the injury
of all of the American transportation ' eomnanies on
the Pacific coast. If the privilege is withdrawn from
American transportation companies carrying goods to the
Yukon, it certainly should be instantly withdrawn from
he Canadian railroad companies carrying goods through
On.." i-Am.. i .'t i, I ii -....ll, . i-' '
The Canadian transportation companies have had the
best of it under the present reciprocal arrangement, which
is bad enough for us ; but they certainly should no longer be
given privileges by our government, which the dominion
government expressly and in terms denies to American
transportation companies on the Pacific, for the deliber
ate purpose, announced in advance, of taking trade away
from them. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the
gander.
The apologists for polygamy in Utah .say that as plural
marriages are a thing of the past, polygamy will die out
in time. That may be so. but in the meantime there is nn
BLACKSMITH I NO. .
CARRIAGE AND WAGON BUILDINU. FIR ST. CLASS HOUSE
SHOEING.
Logging Camp Work.
All klnJa of wtgon materials in itork fur ). We guarantee the beet
work done In the city. 1'rloea right. ,
ANDREW ASP.,
vomer xweirtb and Dunne Street. Ttiofti 291
V
HOTEL PORTLAND
The Finet Hotel in the Northwest
PORTLAND, OREGON.
FRESH AND CURED MEATS
Wholesale and Retail
Ships, Logging Camps and Mills supplied on short notice.
LIVE STOCK BOUGHT AND SOLD
reason for condoning the offense and treating the chief B WA5H,NQT0N MARKET . CHRISTENSON Q CO.
offenders as virtuous and law-abiding citizens. nuuuxnnHniannimmimnmiiiiiiiITT
Japan intends to take Port Arthur, and in directing her
energies persistently to the effort she displays admirable
judgement. The Japs might well adopt General Grant's
policy: "We intend to fight it out on this line if it takes
all summer."
Something New
Ranges, Stoves, Iron Cods and Furniture of all kinds. Also a
good assortment of Second Hand Goods at Lowest Prices
L. H. HENNING5EN CO.
504 BOND STREET, ASTORIA, OREGON. PHONE, RED 2303
Japan's ally is not able to render much assistance in a
military way. Corea has an army of 15,000 which the Jap
anese experts think would be improved by reducing the
force to 5,000. Mere numbers do not make an army.
Scow Bay Iron 8 Brass Works
Manufacturers of
The present attorney-general was pitted against an ex-
attorney-general in the merger suit, and the persent legal
adviser of the government won. But ex-Attorney-Gen- phone 2451
era! Griggs had the lucrative end of the argument.
Iron, Steel, Brass and Bronze Castings.
General Foundryuien and Patternmakers.
Absolutely firstcluss work. Prices lowest.
Corner Eighteenth and Franklin.
I
ASTORIA AND C0LUHB14
eges by becoming a naturalized Russian, but the salary
offered might be a sufficient inducement.
No one has threatened to strike unless Uncle Sam agrees
to the new schedule of salaries for executive and legisla
tive officials of the government.
. Some polygamists. according to the Washington Post,
drive their wives abreast, while others, not Mormons.
drive tandem.
A ii:n r.t 171..1 A ... ,l l p
in uuumt; uiujj uj. x lunua wuuiu ivmiuy pass ior a map
of one of the peninsulas at the seat of war.
The trans-Siberian railroad is now being used for the
turpose for which it was built.
RIVER RAILROAD
LEAVE PORTLAND ARRIVE
8:00 a m Portland Union DeiiTii) a m
7:00 p m pot for Aitorla and 9:40 p m
I Way Pointa I
ASTORIA
ItUXURIOUS T
AVEL
745am
6:10 p m
For Portland and 11:30 am
Way Points 10:80 p m
SEASIDE DIVISION
8:15 am
11:35 am
5:50 p m
Astoria for Waren- 7:40 a m
ton, Flavel Fortj 4:00 pm
Stevens, Hamrnond10:-45 a m
and Seaside I
6:15 am
9:30 a ml
2:30 pm
Seaside for War
renton, Flavl,
Hammond, Fortl
Stevens A Astorlal
12:50 p m
7:20 p ni
9:25 am
Sunday only
All trains make close connection at
Those little Filipinos will see some advantage in wearind SiX&SSS KJJSff
clothes-say, in Montana. Vrt c. Mayo
wiu rmmm, Agvnu
Th, "Northwestern Limit" traina.
electrlo lighted throughout, both Inside
and out, and steam heated, art with
out exception, tbe finest trains la the
world. The embedV the litest, newest
and but ldas for comfort, convenlsnce
and luxury ever offered the traveling
public, and slroitether are the most
complete nd splendid orolurtion t th
rnr builders' art.
These splendid Trains
Connect With
The Great Northern
Tbe Northern I'nclfic and
The Canadian Pacific
AT ST. PAUL FOB
CHICAGO and the BAST.
No extra charge for these superior
acommodatlons and all classes of tick
ets aro available for passage or. tbe
trains on this line sre protected K the
Interlocking Bloott System.