33rd YEAR. NO. 79
ASTORIA, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1803
PRICE FIVE CENTS
A SWEEPING
REDUCTIO
Is Made by the Railroad
( , Commission. -
DISTRIBUTIVE RATES
The Case Was Portland Cham
ber of Commerce Against
the 0. R. and N. Co.
REASONABLE TIME ALLOWED
The Order Herein Must B Confined
to the Rates Put In IsM The
Class Rates Between Portland and
Points In Oregon.
SALEM, Of., March 31. Bated ort
4he findings that there is no increase
in the present commodity rates be
tween Portland and points in the
state of Oregon either by way of
cancellation of present commodity
rates or direct increase, the Railroad
Commission today gave its decision
in the case of the Portland Chamber
of Commerce against the 0. R. & N.
Company, in which a sweeping re
Auction is made in the distributive
rates between Portland and points
tast of The Dalles, but the rates be
tween Portland and The Dalles are
not disturbed. The plaintiff is given
permission to reopen the proceedings
should it see fit.
The reduction of rates is made up
on the folowing basis, according to
class:
"Between Portland and points east
of The Dalles within the state of Or
egon the first-class rates should be
ascertained as follows; Reduce the
present rates by an amount equal to
one-sixth of the difference between
25 cents the rate of The Dalles and
the present firstclass rate to such
point. For instance, the present 'first
class rate to Umatilla is 85 cents.
The difference between The Dalles
rate, 25 cents, and the Umatilli rate,
85 cents, is 60 cents. Deduct one
fifth, or 10 cents, which makes the
new rate 75 cents.
"The other class rates between
Portland and points east of The
Dalles should bear the same relation
to the first class as. in the distance
tariff, namely, 1-100. 2-85, 3-70, 4-60
5-50, A-50, B-40, C-30, D-25, E-20 per
cent of first class. Present rates
should not be exceeded on any class.
This will necessitate a shading of the
old tariff into the new for about 15
miles cast of The "Dalles.
"A reasonable time should be al
lowed to prepare and file new tariffs,
and the ten days' notice required by
law should be waived.
"Of course the' order herein must
be confined to the rates put in issue
the clas9 , rates between Portland
and points in Oregon. During the
hearing and argument it was con
tended that if reductions were to be
made u. the class rates attacked in
this pr cccding, the same reductions
should be made in the distance tariff
and sf Vited commodity rates
!.. ,., : i T- this nrnnneitinn
we agree at ve recommend that the
defendant j .ake similar adjustment
1 it list'innA tariff nnrl th vnrirma
filiated commodity' rates, such as
r. i and wool in the State of Ore
, As those rates were not at
lie in this proceeding, we can now
,Iy ask whether the recommenda,-
. . - J ! L f .1, - Jim
fon tor an uujusuhcih m mc us
ance and commodity tariffs will be
followed , voluntarily?"
General Counsel W( W. Cotton of
the O. R, & N. t advised of
the adverse d' fr of the commls
sion by a ' am representative.
He said K O aid be impossible to
determine without a careful compila
tion as to how sweeping a reduction
in the revenues of the road the ruling
will mean, He immediately took the
mailer up- with General Freight
Agent R. B. Miller and they will
probably have a statement ready by
tomrorow. .
The new relationship of other rates
to the new first-class rate as out
lined by the commission, after fixing
the formula for determining the new
rates, is as follows: The first-class
rate is to be considered as 100 per
cent. The second 85 per cent, third
70 per cent, fourth 60 per cent, fifth
50 per cent; A-50, B-40, C-30, D-25,
"BROWNSVILLE" BILL LOST.
WASHINGTON, March Jl.-Five
Democratic members of the Senate
on military affairs today succeeded
in defeating both the Warner and
Foraker bills for the restoration to
duty of the negro soldiers of the
Twenty-fifth infantry, who were dis
charged without a hearing for the
Brownsville affair. The success of
the minority was accomplished by
voting as a unit against a divided
majority. The effect will be to cause
both bills to be reported adversely
The majority vote df the Senate
would enact one of the bills, how
ever, and Senator Warner is hopefu
that his measure will yet become law.
STATE COMMITTEE
Chairman Westgate Calls Body
Together to Set Date.
CALL FOR FRIDAY APRIL 10th
The Time for Holding the State Re
publican Convention Is Left to
the Committee and Probably Will
Assemble Some Time in May.
PORTLAND, March 31. At last,
G. A. Westgate, United States Sur
veyor-General for Oregon, has in his
capacity of chairman of the Repub
iican State Committee decided to
call the body together to set a date
for the State convention. Westgate
has issued a call for Friday, April
10. The State committee will call
the convention and aportion dele
gates.
The time of holding the State
convention is left to the committee
and it will probably be held some
time in May. There was some fear
that the convention would be held
prior to the primaries, but owing to
the procrastination of Westgate, this
fear is now set at rest. Had . the
State convention been called before
the primaries the Senatorial fight
and other State issues would have
been dragged in. Westgate has stu
diously avoided jeopardizing the in
terests of any of the candidates by
an early convention, although' there
had been ademand for it from cer-
tain quarters.
!
Aside from announcing the date
for a State convention, the commit
tee will also arrange for calling con
ventions in the first and second Con
gressional districts. The first dis
trict is organized, but the second is
not. The only work for the Con
gressional conventions is to select
two delegates and two alternates for
the Republican National Convention
to be held at Chicago, June 16. The
State convention will select four dele
gates and alternates, making eight
delegates and as many more alter
nates for the National gathering.
Aside from the delegates, the Slate
convention will also select four
Presidential electors, so that this is
a matter which will have to be dis
posed' of by the convention. A plat
form, of course; will also be adopted;.
POWER OF A
PRESIDENT
Fully Defined by the Con-!
stitutlon,
REMARKS ON SUBJECT
States Could Not Complain if
Congress Assumed to do
What They Failed to.
IGNORE THE RESTRICTIONS
TeUer Called Attention to the Presi
dent's Expression Regarding Cer
tain Eivls Which "Congress Ought
to Find a Way to Remedy."
WASHINGTON, March Jl.-The
alleged tendency of the general gov
ernment to over-ride the powers of
the states and to ignore the restric
tions of the constitution was the sub
ject of the remarks by Teller in the
Senate today. He declared there had
grown up a practice of attempting
to justify any act by the Federal
authorities whether there is author
ity for it or not so long as it was
ascribed to the public interest. Tel
ler quoted Secretary Root as saying
;hat the States cojild not complain
if the Federal Congress assumed to
do what they failed to. He called
attention to the President's expres
sion regarding certain evils which
Congress ought to find a way" to
remedy. The President's power is
fully defined by the constitution and
no "interpolation" should be made to
extend to these powers. The fall of
the confederations of states in the
past, he said, resulted from a failure
to recognize the rights of each of the
states. Speaking of the Benton Dam
bill regarding the Snake river, Wash
ington, Teller said' the right sought
in that bill belonged to the State and
not to the Federal government. Tel
ler criticised in sharp terms the for
estry bureau, contending that their
regulations transcend the laws and
afford a poor opportunity to home
steaders or prospectors to avail
themselves of the opportunity which
Congress intends to afford to both
classes. The remainder of the day
was devoted to a discussion of the
Benton Dam bill, Heyburn and
There is a plan on foot to .have
resolution introduced at the State
convention recommending that nom
inating conventions be held in the
. .... m
various counties nereatter. inese
are not to be the old-time conven
tions, exactly, but instead of direct-
nominating the convention will
recommend a ticket to the voters of
the Republican party. The purpose
of this is to prevent several aspirants
for a nomination making a fight in
the primaries.
How to select delegates to the
State convention is a question which
has not been determined. This is a
proposition over which the State
committee will have the struggle. A
special primary to select delegates is
too expensive. The State commit
tee could select them if it desired to
assert the authority.
An impression prevails in Portland
that delegates will be selected by
the county committees. This is suf
ficiently satisfactory, but gives an
opportunity for those who are slight
ed to make a charge of ring prac
tices. There have been so many ac
cusations of this character of la'te,
however, that the county committees
are probably becoming accustomed
to' them. ,
j Borah, both of Idaho, taking oppo
I site sides, with Heyburn opposing
and Borah favoring: Heyburn de
clared he would maintain his posi
tion even if he was satisfied that by
doing so he would imperil his seat
in the Senate. No vote had been
reached when the Senate adjourned.
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION.
INDIANAPOLIS, March 31.
Two hundred and fifty thousand
picks will be dropped from the hands
of as many bituminous coal miners
of the United States this afternoon
not to be used again until a wage
settlement has been reached between
the members of the United Mine
Workers of America and the coal
operators. The situation, however,
does not indicate a prolonged strike.
As an Open Winter and industrial de
pression have left a large stock of
coal on hand and the differences be
tween the miners and operators js
very slight. It is practically agreed
that the present wage scale will be
continued, but there are some ppu
tics in conoytion with the change in
the nationlf officers of the miners'
organization and this has resulted in
mporary suspension.
INDICTED FOR fc&JUR?
NEW YORK, March 31.-Flora
Whltson, one ti the' girls who testi
fied in the recent ca"e against Ray
mond Hitchcock, the actof, was in
dicted today on a charge of perjury
alleged to have been committed iri
her testimony in the Hitchcock case.
RICE TESTIFIES
Before the House Committee on
Submarine Boats.
HE DENIES LILLEY'S CHARGES
Through the Committee Lilley Sub
mitted a List of 204 Questions to
Rice Dealing With Technical De-
tals of Company's Business.
WASHINGTON, March 31.-Isaac
C .Rice, president of the Electric
Boat Company, was the only witness
who testified this afternoon before
the House committee which is in
vestigating the submarine boat ques
tion. Rice denied Lilley's charges
that his company had endeavored to
influence the navy department in the
manner "to call forth the condemna
tiort and the criticism of the high
officials of the navy department."
Rice said the only influences which
had been used On the navy depart
ment had been to build the best boat.
"The rest of the story is a malicious
lie." Regarding the charge that his
company suppressed competition
Rice said it was "so utterly absurd
it sounded like ravings." He said the
charge that his company subsidized
the newspapers was pure invention.
He denied making campaign contn
butions or helped to'vdefeat the tan
didates who did' not favor submarine
legislation. He claimed that the re
ports derogatory to his company
were being circulated by members of
the Lake Boat Company, and while
he absolved Lilley from any ulterior
motives he said Lilley's information
came from these people. Rice as
serted that he had been approached
four times by representatives of the
Lake company to buy out that com
pany or to merge with it.' The repre
sentatives who were ' approached 1 he
said were U. G. Brown and Charle
R. Flint, both of New York. Rice
said Brown gave him to understand
that through Senator Bulkeley of
Connecticut,' Brown would have' the
present investigation stopped if a
consolidation was effected. Through
the committee;, Lilley submitted a
list of 204 questions to Rice dealing
with'the technical details of the com
pany's business methods. Rice de
clined to answer publicly some of
the questions, but stated he would
FORESTRY
BILL PASSED
Mondell Continued His At
tack on Bureau.
VIGOROUSLY DEFENDED
"Not a Government by Legisla
tion But a Government by
Strangulation".
MONDELL'S MOTION WAS LOSf
Said He Was Not Against! a ReasOnV
able Extension of the Service, But
Charged It Had Been Carried Far
Beyond Where It Should Co.
WASHINGTON, March 31.-Aff
er
natftig gsone through many
changes, the paragraph of the agri
cultural appropriation bill relating to
the bureau of forestry was finally
passed by the House. Mondell, of
Wyoming, and Smith, of California,
continued their attacks on the bu
reau, supported by Beringe, of Colo-
rade, and Cushman, of Washington.
These embraced charges that the bu
reau had been created for timber
monopolies in favor of large cor
porations, and' illegally assumed
jurisdiction over water rights be
longing to the Western states, and
juggled with figures in order to ob
tain large appropriations from Con
gress, lne work of the bureau was
vigorously defended by Hepburn, of
Iowa, and Scott, of Kansas. Mon
dell also charged the committee on
agriculture with being in a reckless
state of mind when it allowed to the
forestry bureau $100,000 more than
had been estimated for. He charged
that being a lump sum it could be
used for any purpose, "including ad
vertising," which statement was con
troverted by Scott, who read a let
ter from Secretary Wilson saying
that the $100,000 was to coyer un
forseen items. Scott declared that
the committee had prepared a very
conservative bill. ,
Charging that the forestry bureau
had contrary to its claim expended
annually over a million dollars more
than it received, Mondell said that
the bureau goes on "year after year,
juggling figures." He moved to
strike out the paragraph of $500,000
"for the proper and economical ad
ministration, protecton and develop
ment of the natonal forests."
Hepburn vigorously criticised the
"chirpings" against economy. As to
the forest service, he claimed, the
principal objection come from the
committee of which Mondell is the
head. Twelve of its members are
from the states involved. He sar
castically remarked that the members
of this committee had seen to it that
every acre of land in their states had
been improved. "It is time," he said,
give the information to the commit
tee privately. Among Lilley's ques
tions were a number relating to the
employment of women by the com-
pany to influence tne memoers oi
Congress. Rice and Mr. Olmstead,
one of the memblrs of the commit
tee, objected to this class of ques
tions, Rice denouncing them as
"outrageous and perfect lies." Rice
denied that large sums had been
spent on champagns , or entertain
ments for the members of Congress
or for officials of the navy depart
ment, or that any gifts had been
made by his company to any mem
ber of Congress or naval official.
"they should be content with what
they have and not insist on grasping
everything that still remains." Hep
burn refused to yield, first to Mon
dell and next to Smith, of California.
The latter, who was much incensed
at Hepburn's- remarks; exclaimed:
"You don't dare to."
This nettled Hepburn. "Oh," said
he, "I don't know that there is any '
power the gentlemen posses to make
me fear any question he may ask."
Cushman made a vigorous reply to
Hepbura He held up a map show
ing that the states involved are all
located in the Far West and said1:
"J. think the gentleman would no
look with such complacence on the
forest service if that service should
go into his State and take twelve or
fifteen counties out of the middle of
Iowa and build a Federal fenea
around Wm flffi1
He was not, he said, crying oat
against reasonable extension of the
forest service, but charged it had
been Carried far beyon the point
Mondell's motion was lost Smith
then apologized for the remark to
Hepburr?, titty he 5M
of the tongue. He took one man
shot at the forey seryije, howevei,
declaring that this was "not a goT
ernment by legislation, but a gov
ernment by strangulation.
Replying to Cushman, Hepburn
said there was no propriety in his
question as the cases are not parallel.
When the House adjourned the
bill had been but half completed.
THE FIGHT A DRAW
Both Men Dissatisfied With Ref
eree Smith's Decision.
ATTEL MUCH THE CLEVERER
The Little Hebrew Had the Best of
It Up to the Ninth Round, When
Nelson Broke Down His Hereto
fore Impregnable Guard.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 31.
With the disadvantage of at least
eight pounds against him, Abe At
tell, the champion featherweight of
America, tonight fought Battling
Nelson a fifteen-round draw. The
fight was most spectacular and there
was not one count that the crowd did
not stand on its feet shouting for one
man or the other. At the end of
the contest both men were fairly
deluged with blood, Nelson's face in
particular presenting the worse sight
Attell had the advantage of all the
earlier rounds. He matched his su
perior skill, agility, cleverness and
fleetness of toot against the rugged
and sturdier man and by outgeneral
ing his opponent bade fair to win a
clear cut decision. The turning point
came, however, in the ninth round.
Nelson, who haid been taking .his
punishment without a whimper, fin
ally succeded in getting past the
Hebrew's heretofore impregnable
guard and once having paved the
way, worked his man considerably.
In the fourteenth it looked as if Nel
son would score a knockout, but At-
tel's wonderful cleverness and knowl
edge of ring trickery stood well in
stead and he stalled and smothered
the round out. The consensus of
opinion seemed to be that while At
tel landed by far the most blows and
was much the cleverer, but that these
points were to a great extent offset
by Nelson's aggressiveness and the
superior power of his blows. It was
on this basis that Referee Smith
based his decision, and he so stated
to the press reporters. Both pugil
ists are dissatisfied with the decision,
each man stoutly maintaining that
the decision should have been his.
The betting on the result favored
Nelson 10 to 7 1-2.'