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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 1903)
WHERE ROLLS .. THE OREGON ' iina , TU Weather. , ' Tonight and Tuesday, occasional cooler tonight; aoutn o west VOL. . II. KO. 203. rOItTLAND, OREGON. : MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 2. 1903. iPBlCJS FIVE CENTS. SIOm WILL TACKLE ... . ..... QUEStmim besidestat law REmstoN i VTn (T ; O'clock if? . V I Q Edition f fir winas, r . v i - THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SES DAD LIKELY : TO DEftlAi ACTION ,J ' . ' '" ; ' '. . '"-1 - . SssiSsSS"e" nSJiis w i an --M-asWssssssBjsseeasBSSSSt Sentiment Among Multnomah Mem- bers in Favor of Return to the Old System of Paying Taxes. Among the mmten of the Multnomah delegation in the Ute legislature It Is generally taken for .granted that Gov. Chamberlain will call a special session to remedy the defect In the tax law paseed last winter. Despite-"th governor"' known reluctance to convene the' legisla ture, the opinion Is virtually unanimous ' that the emergency -Is- tee- pressing .and the need of legislative action Is too great to be Ignored .,..' Interviews with senators and .repre sentatives from this county lead to the belief that a strong eltort' will' be'made,' If a special session la called, to repeal the Phelps law and to return to the old law, under which taxes were payable In the spring. The chief argument in fav$r of this course Is that the change in- time of payment contemplated by: the Phelps law would 'necessitate the collection of two years' taxes next year,- and ' this would probably prove an unwelcome burden to .the . taxpayers. . The . fbelpa law was Introduced at the request of the ranchers and, sheep, teen of Eastern .Ore gon, who would Arid It more convenient1 to pay their taxes In the fall of the year, rather than in ' the 'pring'. ' The' bill waa passed without very thorough discussion, and was generally regarded a of -no -par ticular moment- to the taxpayers tn this One reason for my position Is that the Phelps - act entails double payment of taxes next year, and I think this will prove very burdensome, especially In view of the fact that next year's taxes will- -be considerably Increased on ac count of the Lewis and Clark, fair, I do not know whether anything but tax legislation will be attempted, though I have hoard -that the Portage road may come .'up. . for consideration. ' I think there can be no question that a special fusion- will be called it seems Inevit able." "I .am in favor of returning to .the oia uw." said Representative C. w. Not tlngiiam. decidedly. "I think the Phelps taw snouid be repealed." Sanderson Reed was not willing to discuss the question for publication, but at the last session he vigorously opposed the-passage-of the Phelps act and it Is reasonable to suppose that he- will ad rocate.lts repeal and a return to the old system. :. John . am Undecided. I believe there Is quite a general sentiment in. favor of a return to the old law," said John QUI. "But I am unable to express myself decidedly as to the 'Cvjurrf to' be pursued until I have nad opportunity to Investigate -the sub- HE DEPOSED THE KING OF BROOKLYN 1 -V ' H U -yt 1 y . X n f realised, that a-double burden would be members of, the delegation. Those who i ',' crystallising In opposition ' to thViliw' jaw; and thor will probably b s strong '. demand ror its repeal., . Other &aw Jklaklag tlkeiy. But the tax law will net be the only matter to be considered by the legisla ture. If the expectations of some mem bers are realised. It Is said that several of the acta passed at the last session will come up for reconsideration. An appro priation of 1165,000 was made last winter for the construction of the' portage rail road, . but unexpected difficulties have been encountered la the acquisition of the right-of-way, and many persons now be lleve that the road cannot be constructed and equipped for the amount of the ap propria tlon. At the coming special ses alon the legislature Will probably demand a report from the engineers employed to make the , preliminary surveys, and the whole question of the advisability of con structing the road may be reopened. The corporation tax' law may also come up for consideration, as the mining men of the state are anxious to have It so amended as to-lessen the tax upon mln Ing corporations. The road law passed at the last session is also regarded as unsatisfactory In some respects, and it Is said to require some changes to make it fully effective. ; George C. Brownell of Clackamas county Is, said to have a di rect primary law which he" wants the legislature to adopt, and though there is not much prospect of its passage, it may be introduced. Senator Franklin ? P. Mays of this county will endeavor to have the legislature restore that provls- N ion of the old law, repealed at the last session, which exempts from taxation the personal property of every householder to the amount of 1300. ; - ZJkely to Bit 90 Says There is plenty of evidence that the legislators,-will have their hands full, and the session nay be protracted to the full 20 days, which Is the limit Imposed by the constitution. At the regular ' session the, members ':. receive pay. for only 40 do ye, but may continue in ses sion after that time without pay, if they ee fit to do so. But the constitution provides that special sessions shall not last over 20 days, and at the expiration of that time the members must, bd iourn. r . i . ; ; '.' .-. - ., Hot all of the members of the Mult nomah delegation have determined what course they will pursue, as to the. tax law, but some of them are outspoken In their advocacy or a return to, the old Jaw. , . Senator Sweek's Views. Benator Sweek spoke as follows: ul amln ? favor of -j repealing the Phelps ; set . and : returning to . the- old system of paying taxes In the-sprtng. houd be better qualified than I to de cide upon the- action to be taken. I thlnk ;a the . legislature wllli not connne itself to tax legislation. TVs should have a report from the- engi neers employed to make the prilimlnary survey for the portage road. Dlfflcul ties have arisen, which may- make -the construction of the road Inadvisable, and the legislature should consider them. The road law and. the corporation tax law are both likely to come up for eon sideration. The road law 1s excellent In many respects, but I understand that It Is Indefinite and- Incomplete In some points, and should be amended." w. w. Banks differs from some of his colleagues In his View of the tax law. "I am Inclined to favor the change In the time of paying, taxes provided for by the Phelps law," he said this morn ing. "It does not make any great dif ference 'to the taxpayers of this county and it would be very much easier for the people of Eastern Oregon to pay in the fall. That Is the season of the year when they receive their money. The fact that It would be necessary, under the Phelps law, to pay two years' taxes next year, .does not seem to me to be a very serious matter. I ave no doubt there will be other legislation at the special session besides the amendment of the tax law. The session will prob ably last the full 20 days Senator Hoi man said that he had not yet decided what course to pursue con. cernlng the. tax law. 'I shall be guided by the wishes of the taxpayers," he said. "I intend to acquaint myself as far as possible with their . views, and I shall act accord' lngly." .. . ' favors Exemption. "I am not prepared to discuss the ac tion - that , shouldbe taken -' upon tlw Phelps law." said Senator Franklin P. Mays, "but there is another act passed by the last legislature .which, in my opinion, should be changed. Prior to the last session the personal property of every householder, to theamount of $300, was exempt from taxation, but the leg lslature repealed this provision-.- I am fh favor of the exemption and think It should be re-enacted. ; Many poor people have nothing but their household effects and thse -Bhoald be exempted, from tax ation. ' No doubt if a special session Is called many bills will be Introduced, but in my opinion only urgent matters should be-taken up." . Special Elections, Too. Under the law It is tne duty of the governor to call special elections to fill vacancies In the legislature, before It is convened. The seats occupied at the ; '7 '( j ( ff- ' 4 x'm . - - - . . , ; p J I , III V' i ir j in i OREGON COAL TEST First Trial of Coal Dug in This State By the O. R. &N. POINTED C; V. Cooper Interrogates the Oregon Monument Committee. IRE LUCK SAVES IT East. Side Escapes Great Loss From Fire tight Wind APPARENTLY A SUCCESS "LOOKS BAD" HE SAYS NEED OF A FIRE BOAT Special Run to The Dalles Made Saturday Night to Determine the Quality of Coal Mined Near Hcppner. PATRICK McCARREN , ' New York, Nov. 2. On the eve of election affairs over: In . Brooklyn show that Hugh McLaughlin, who for nearly, half a 'century, has, been; the undis puted leader of the Democratic party .of Kings county,' has surely, been deposed and Patrldlc McCarren Is now In command.- Mr. McLaughlin would, not agree to support the city ticket, and believed he could carry his, wish.' Today It It clear that the venerable leader Is out of power.' tThoiabove photograph was taken of McCarren while he was telephoning to a merrtber o the campaign committee. . - '. '.. . v , , (Continued on Page Three.) MORE 0RDERS OF LAND IN LAWS ARE A BAD STATE Commissioner Richards Files His First Annua: Report and Points Out. a Remedy For the Existing Evils Washington Bureau of The Journal. ' Washington, IX C Nov. 2. The land of fice at Spokane was Instructed By tele graph today to withdraw from all forms of entry excepting- the -homestead II townships in ranges 31 and St. These lands being intended for use-in construc tion of the Big Bend Irrigation proect. Similar instructions . were telegraphed the land office at Watervllle concerning four townships in rangesS and 80. In an informal interview today,' Sena tor Mitchell say he-Is stoutly opposed to the proposed program of eliminating river and harbor legislation at the com ing session of congress. , The commerce of the country he says warrants many new improvements. Many undertakings must be carried on ty appropriations at the coming session, else there will be loss of millions of dollars to the govern- merit by the suspension of work. 'We are preparing for the big ex position on the Pacific coast to be held at Portland In commemoration of the Lewis, and Clark expedition." The senator continued, in -speaking of measures in wnicn tne coast states are concerned: x ' very eany m tn session.! propose to introduce a bill asking congress to give us an appropriation for that expo sition. .- i anaii press tne iui as ur gently as I know how. We have not yet decided upon - the . amount to be asked."' '.--c---.--.".' - Senator Mitchell says the people of the far West are not taking much In terest in the postal Investigation. For himself, he Is convinced that the con gressional Investigation In 'view of the thorough Investigation which hag been made by the department itself, would be useless. Senator j Mitchell takes r no stock In the talk of a Republican candi date for vice-president from the coast. lie thinks Fairbanks wiu be the nomi nee. : V. -' Washington. D. C Nov. ' i. In . his first annual report, given to the public yesterday. Land Commissioner W. A. Richards presents the following views concerning ' forest reserve problems, which "brings new light on the stubborn subject: . r " "The work of. forest reserve exten sion has been pushed forward as rapid ly "as possible during the past year," says he. "It has, however; been greatly retarded by a lack of authentic informa tion recardina- many ot the regions un der consideration, which has prevented recommendations being made, as yet, tn many cases. It In undoubtedly a matter or nrsi Importance that the reeeves thus far es tablished should be supplemented by such additional ones as are needed to form comprehensive series, such as will Insure full protection to the water and timber supplies of both tne Koexy mountains and Pacific coast regions. As yet neither the two great ranges of these reaions has a sufficient cnain or reserves protecting its entire length, nor has the matter .of reserving as many sources of water supply as may be needed in con nection with the Irrigation movement been fully determined. . ' Ziosa JTo Tim. . "While Impressed with the urgency of losing no Turther time in protecting an Heeded watersheds and other important areas, I deem it of equal Importance that no hasty or ill-advised action should be taken in connection with a measure of public policy that, involves withholding extensive areas from settlement. The forest reserve system Is simply one of the features of our general land policy. and requires to he administered as to be mad to serve the mam . purpose ana in tent of that policy, the settlement of the countryof -home building. Since all inconsiderate withholding of lands from settlement and entry is subversive of that . policy, I am of the opinion that any administration of. the forest reserve system that results in unnecessarily withholding areas from settlement should be avoided. v Only audi areas as are absolutely required to preserve a supply of timber for present, and future needs and to protect Important sources ef water supply should be withheld from, ; i'' Ji " - ' ' -. " ' " " ' ' the general area available for settle ment. Acting upon this prlpclple. I have proceeded slowly 'in the matter of rec ommending the setting apart ef new for est reserves. Careful expert examlna tlona are deemed essential in considering all cases. A general scheme of reserves has been mapped out, and thorough field examinations will be made before final action Is taken in any case. . "In the meantime, , the precaution is taken of securing the lands from, specu latlve appropriation . by temporarily withdrawing them from settlement and disposal of all kinds." To do away with the lieu land evil, Commissioner Richards recommends the further amendment of the law of June 4, 1897, to provide that only non-tim bered land may be taken in lieu of land within a forest reserve. roreet ! Xeserre Tires. Commissioner Richards highly com mends the work- of forest rangers in 'suppressing forest fires throughout the West. The effectiveness of the present fire protection system is shown by the constantly 'decreasing number of fires in reserves. Whereas In 1901. 1,333 fires were discovered. In 1908, there were 1,088, and In 1903 , only 697. while the area in reserves, and for which fire re ports were made, was materially In creased, each year., The excessive fires reported last year were In the Cascade reserve, Oregon,; Rainier reaerve, Wash ington and the ' Teton and Medicine Bow reserves, Wyoming, where location, weather and wind conditions ' made it practically Impossible to control the flames, once they got under way.- i Free Tse ef Timber. .There Is a growing demand for the free use of forest reserve ' timber for domestic purposes.' and In the develop; ment of- mines -witnm the forest re serves, but as yet the aggregate amount of timber so used - is comparatively small. Commissioner Richards, in his report endeavors to , correct an impres sion : that ' obtains - to some- considerable extent among residents In and 'near for est reserves, that; they could have free use of timber to supply 'fuel or other needs Inrldrtital to conducting business The first Oregon coal ever tested on the O. R. A N. Co.'s lines was the prod uct of the Heppner mines, burned in en gine No. 156 Sunday morning, hauling an extra freight train from Alblna to The Dalles. The test was made to as certain its steaming powers and was successful according to the Indications from an untechnlcal point of view. The engine pulled 5 cars, all being empty excepting five. The tonnage was 100 tons, approximately, and the coal con sumed was 8-12 tons, the usual quantity for that run. The actual running time -was as usual. Some difficulty was experienced with clogging of grates beyond Bonneville, because of dirt that was mixed with the ooaL This trouble, declare the owners of tbff mlue, wllL be obvtated when the properties have been .furnished with better machinery. , . .- Engineer Donean, Fireman Smith, Draughtsman Rose. Conductor Weiden, Brakemen Monn and. Wade composed the train crew that made the teat. which was witnessed by President Oeo, Conser and Supt W. Bertram Hancock of the Heppner coal company. The trip began at Z o'clock Sunday morning and ended at 11 a m., after some delay In- awaiting for passing of regular trains and' to clean the grates at Bonneville. . Owns Knch Goal Land. The Heppner Railroad and Coal com pany builds its hopes on the outcome of the test. The company owns 4,200 acres acres of coal lands 21 miles from Hepp ner up Willow creek. On this land two seams have been demonstrated carrying it is estimated not less than 60,000,000 tons of lignite coaX Tne company also owns 800 acres of yellow fir timber lands at the mines on which and the contigu ous timber lands Is 480,000,000 feet of lumber. The company is trying to float $1,000,- 000 five per cent 30-year gold guaranteed bonds. More than 2,600 feet of tunnels and gangways have been driven and the sinking is for a depth of f 18 and 813 feet respectively in two shafts. Tunnel No. 3 is In 638 feet, tunnel No. 4 Is In 732 feet. No. 6 is in 250 feet and No. is in 176 feet. They show respectively six feet two Inches, seven feet six Inches, seven feet six inches and eight feet six Inches. The veins extend unbroken for five miles on the company's property. Operation and Markets. The engineers estimate the coal can be mined for 11.26 a ton. The Port of Portland now works un der a handicap of 32 or more a ton over th price paid by Puget sound ships in loading their bunkers for ocean trtps. The Oregon Railroad & Navigation com pany Is anxious to get a good steam coal and gave instructions that the test be thorough In every respect. On the surface the test appeared sue cessful. "Public Money Spent Behind Closed Doors" As Banker the Wood men He1 Holds $1,147 for "the Statue Fund. Jurisdiction, MONTANA MAY HAVE AN EXTRA SESSION People-Are Clamoring for a Tatar Trial Sill aatft the Governor Zs Oon ' aiderUur Matter 18,000 Men want Work. (Journal Special Service.) Helena, Nov. 2. Oov. Toole 1 being fairly engulfed with petitions from, labor organisations and Individuals to call an extra session of the legislature for the purpose of passing a fair trial bill .which will permit hearing the Vari ous - cases pending between Helnxe and the Amalgamated Copper company and by others than the present judge of I Silver Bow county. The Amalgamated company announces today that in case such , a bill is passed it will resume operations and thus give employment to 15,000 men. - The governor Is still considering the. matter, but will give no Indication as to what his deelsion will be." - . . v ; .-, . w.v; . Head Camp, Pacific Woodmen of the Worlt. Portland. Or., Nov. 2. To the Editor of The Journal: Referring to the state ment made by the monument manufac turers In Saturday's Journal. In reply to the arguments of the chairman of the general committee as to why the contract for the Oregon volunteer monu ment was privately let to outside car- ties, I desire to say that the Woodmen of the World were the first to agitate the question of a monument to our sol dier dead and took active steps to raise li.ooo as their contribution for a fund for that purpose. I have In my posses sion, as chairman of the Woodmen fin ance committee, the sum of $1,047.58, which was contributed by camps of Woodmen of th.,Wwld, -circles , of the Women of Woodcraft and from the re sult of t ntertainments, etc. The proceedings of the general com mittee seem to me to have been held behind closed doors. They had in charge a public trust, a public proposition to which the public contribute, or, in other woros, an uregon monument to Orego soldiers to be built by Oregon money. The excuse that Vermont granite wa desirable or necessary and that the con tract was let to an outside party for both the bronse statue and the granite base for a much greater sum than th same could be furnished by our local dealers seems to me to need Some bet ter explanation than. that furnished by the chairman of the general committee. Why JTo Call for Public Bids? Why were bids not publicly adver tised for? Why were our local manu facturrs not allowed to bid? They claim they went several times for that purpose to the committee's headquarters, but were turned down. Why did the committee pay $5,000 for the bronze statue when our local 'firms claim they can furnish identically the same statue (from plans adopted by the committee) for $2.0007 Why pay the sum of $15,000 for a monument that can be built from Oregon granite for from $8,000 to $9,000, or from Vermont granite for from $10, 000 to $11,000? Why Is not Oregon gran ite good enough, and if so, could not the committee have executed a much more elaborate monument for the same money? We would like to know the reasons why, In good, plain American, so we can all understand it. The apparent; arbitrary action of the general committee in refusing to allow our own people to bid on the work looks bad: We don t like it. and the least the committee can do is to publish a plain statement of facts showing up their work in detail, as In our Judgment they are bound to do as the custodians and spenders of public funds, yours respect fully. C. V. COOPER. Chairman Jl nance Committee. Councilman Sharkey Heads Volunlecr Fire Brigade-Telegraph Com-' -panics Bothered By Fallen '' Wires. CASHIER HELD UP BY MASKED ROBBERS (Journal Special Service.) Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 2. Cashier Wheeler of the Cumberland Telegraph company, while working on his payroll at 5 o'clock this morning, wan held up and compelled to open the vault by two masxed men wno secured $3,000 and then escaped. The office Is in the heart of the city and brilliantly lighted. Many Dersens were In the building at the time. The robbers' task was made easier by a heavy rain which kept many early pe destrians oft the street. The cashier took two shots at the fleeing robbers, but -they were Ineffective.. Every ave nue from the city Is guarded. The river front along the east ban It of the Willamette was again threatened by fire last night when the plant of the Standard Box company, between Wash-, Ington and Alder streets, together with the adjoining docks, many thousand feet of lumber and several adjoining build ings, were totally consumed bythe flames. - Not In Tny months has there been such a spectacular wase in Portland. As soon as the alarm -was r-ng in, at 8:47 o'clock, the sky became Illuminated and for three hours the reflection ot the flames Was vividly portrayed In xthe black clouds overhead. To the fact that ' the firemen worked like Trojan and that there was no wind, is due the con-. fining of the flames. .Had, the .fir n occurred' three", hours later, when a rather stiff breeze blew up, it is likely that the river front for many blocks would have been swept clean. One of the lessons taurht bv the blase Is the value a fire boat would have been. Had this been In service it Is likely that by prompt work the large streams from the turret nozxles would have extinguished the Are before the other apparatus could have got their hose laid. The consensus of opinion , among firemen and insurance men id that the fircboat would have been of -more service than the entire depart ment at a conflagration like that of last night The origin of the fire is unknown. A. H. Smith, the night watchman, was startled by a sudden blase near the boilers. Before an alarm could be turned In and the apparatus reach the plant the factory ' was enveloped In flames. The dry kiln- and warehouses; were filled with stock and refuse, dry lumber and oil soaked woodwork about the maohlnery proved spleridld fuel. -The double-deck docks surrounding the mill were stacked high with lumber, so piled that the flames soon spread throughout. When the department arrived the sit uation Indeed- looked hopeless. The Standard mill was a mass - of flames . with, the C R. Davis woodyard and docks to the south and those of the - White company on the north. . Then there were many, . frame , structures across East Water street and it was seen that only Herculean efforts would prevent the spread of the blase. Chief Campbell and Holden at once . sent in : calls for many -other pieces of appar- atus and In a short time every available man was at work. ' . The greatest efforts were made to pre vent the flames crossing Washington and Water streets for near-by were the fireside Wood company's docks, the Hammond Packing company's building. Spicer's feed mill, the Central hotel and other structures. In spite of thetr efforts the department was unable to keep the . fire from the Knott rooming house on the corner of East Washington and Water streets. The flames gutted this building nd now only the bare walls are stand- -' lng. However, the occupants had plenty of time to escape. This hotel was a two story frame structure owned by Miss . Carrie Elwert and ' leased by a man named Elliott. : It was a landmark, hav- ' ing been built by Levi Knott .31 years ago. North of the Knott, house are many frame shacks resting on piling, besides , scowhouses beached on the bank. The flames whirled and leaped many feet Into the air and burning embers were carried long distances. -. The . firemen directed much of their effort to preventing the tire Igniting these frame buildings and also moving from the docks to the north. All these structures were kept well wet down and as a result, they were saved ' and the flame were confined to the -Standard plant and the Knott building.' Soon after the fire started the heavily loaded docks about the box factory fell (Continued on Page Two.) XIOHT-HOTJ ZJLW HOT OOOD. .(Continued on Pag Two.) "-. v (Journal Special Service.) San Francisco, Nov. t. The United States court of appeals this morning de cided that the eight-hour law does not PPly to: Alaska or1 f either territories. The suit wss brought by Charles Moses, a carpenter employed on a government contract in Alaska Moses claimed over time and won "his - suit against the United State Id the district court at Seattle, , 1 .' - -- SAN FRANCISCO FOR THE FRAY , 'f, (Journal fpeclal Service.) San Francisco.. Nov. 2.-The, Repub licans closed their campaign today with meeting all over the city and a great parade. Candidate Crocker stopped his carriage at several points and talked to crowds.' 'All fs practically given up to politics today,, and there promisee to be the biggest contest at the polls tomor row that this city has ever seen. - The Democrats close their nd of it tonight with a huge mass meeting at the pavilion. All three of the candidates have come out with cards announcing their cer tainty of victory. . . ' . The labor vote is a gnes, an-1 t-iil.iv it can be said with probable trutii that It wilt be about evenly rplit l.i.ri Schmlts and I.an..A f'ril U f-n exit today by th ")ns"rvt!vi- ! -t Schmits Is in fair rhawe win, --t the rest of the, ticket irilt.Lt i put - -r v : V'