The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972, December 26, 1914, Page 2, Image 2

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    THE OREGON DAILY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, 1914.
!
BUSINESS
FREEDOM
IS
T
BY THE PRESIDENT
Corporation Commissioner J,
, Davies Gives Clean Cut
Outline, - "
SCOPE OF NEW TRADE ACT
XaUat la to Open Up and Widen
IfMan for Business, Hot to
Hamper Business.
"Government and BuBinei1," was the
tbem of a notable address by Joseph
E. Pavles, commissioner of corpora
tions, recently delivered before Wil
liams college, Wllllamstown, Mass.,
under the auspices of the Edward Bog.
foundation.
The address has attracted much at
tention in the east, especially because
of . its clear exposition of important
' features of President Wilson's policies.
Commissioner Liavies said:
"Government originated partly, at
least I presume, in the need of the
primitive man, to find protection for
the things which he had produced or
seized. This protection, when crystal
lized by government into some degree
of permanence for the general good,
' established rights of property and ob
ligations. Property and obligations
are the subject-mutter of business. So
from the beginning government and
business have been closely interrelated.
The impelling motive in the origm of
government so far as business was
concerned was a . selfish one, the-need
of the individual for protection, which
'. developed into the conception in a
general way of the 'public good.' This
standard has persisted to the present
day in the relation of government te
business, to-wlt, the general good of
society. Even in those countries where
cartels are recognized by law, they are
proscribed where til direct effect is
to -oppress the public. The differences
tn the policies of government with
reference to business-arise out of dif
ferences as to What, constitutes the
itencral welfare 'or the public gjpod. In
some of the modern nations trie con
ception of the general good hate been
that the few may have great business
prosperity, in wtiich rnone high in gov
ernment should participate, and that
the general mass should participate
therein to the extent of having enough
, to eat and to wear and to live in a
manner consistent with their class.
This, of course. Is entirely consonant
. . with the oligarchical point of view in
government.
I . Industrial and Political Freedom.
j This nation, however, was conceived
in exactly the opposite conception of
; the uses and purposes of government.
: Freedom in political opportunity,
which is guaranteed by the constitu
tion, necessarily Involves freedom in
Industrial and financial opportunity.
Absolutism or tyranny in an indus
trial and financial way is as abhorrent
to our conception of government as
political absolutism. Monopoly is in
dustrial and financial monarchy. It is
the negation of democracy. The nec
essary corollary to the inalienable
right to the '.'pursuit,, of happiness" is
freedom in industrial opportunity. This
government, dedicated to equal oppor
tunity under the law for all men,
would be an empty shell and would
betray Its promise to mankind if un
der the guise of democracy it permit
ted industrial or financial oligarchy
to control its destinies and the welfare
of Its people.
Declaration of Business Independence.
The Sherman law was, therefore, the
declaration of industrial and financial
Independence. It alms to keep the
channels of trade free and open
through the processes of competition.
The judgment of the American people,
as voiced by the two great dominant
political parties, has declared that
this nation is committed to the prin
ciple that the channels of trade shall
be kept free and open through the
processes of regulated competition;
that industrial opportunity shall be
preserved; and that monopoly is
odious to' the spirit of republican In
stitutions. An Individualistic Bra.
This Judgment has come in spite of,
and perhaps on account of, the unusual
conditions surrounding the life of this
young nation. Machinery, division of
labor, large scale production, combina
tion, the development of international
trade, have created a new era within
the last century. It brought great op
portunities to the Individual. These
conditions . were accentuated in this
new virgin country and the processes
of wresting great fortunes out of the
bills and the mills developed minds and
men of great power and individualism.
It was but natural that men bred under
such conditions should chafe under any
restrictions placed upon their develop
ment. There came a breed of strong,
able men, and men honest according to
their lights, who became impatient
with . any consideration of govern
mental authority. The public sense of
the community took good natured and
tolerant cognizance of this spirit which
gave Impetus and developed such gi
gantic business enterprise and success.
Bestrletions Openly rought.
The restrictions sought to be Im
posed by government for the general
good were openly fought or covertly
avoided. It was but natural that grave
abuses should arise, and they did arise.
Other forces were, however, at work.
The school systems which the virtue
of the pioneer had so prodigally pro
vided, the press and other agencies of
Intelligence gradually developed a pub
lic conscience which Induced 'a revolt
and public condemnation of abuses of
financial ability and power. This re
volt was as extreme as it was intense.
The season of attack resulted in some
injustice, injustice is always dona in
effecting a change in the temper of
creat masses of men. There is iiwiv.
an era of the sealot before the era uf
io ouiiaer.
Change tn Attitude of Business.
But out of this, and partly because of
It, ana out or tne meittng pot of Ameri
can civilisation wherein a " breed f
younger men naturally came into con
trol of great enterprises, perhaps, and
partly for other reasons, there has
ben developed and has come Into our
national life, I believe, a new attitude
among the masters of great business
enterprise and finance. There has
com a recognition that the law must
be obeyed, and that personal Dunisn-
ment should be Imposed upon those
who Insist upon being outlaws under
the rules of fair dealing generally
recognized among honest business men.
The old spirit of vigorous individual
Ism has been tempered, too. bv a new
feeling - of social consciousness that
recognises an obligation to society
Seek to Understand taw.
The wise leaders of the business
world today are seeking more, not to
avoid the law. but to adhere strictly
PURPOSE
SOUGH
'This is
-AFTCR IT HAP 5PEMT $EVrau
N AM UNCOMFORTABLE GASEOUS 5TATE."
I FEEL-
-hi rr had rnallV
COMFORTAI3UE ANp ?UIIT;-
to it; not only to understand its let
ter, but to interpret and foresee the
spirit of its purpose. The day f or con
8tructive,,building had come. Passion
had subsided into the desire to build
equitably and fairly, both for th bene
fit of the social good and aisa to en
able' business to understand more
clearly what law and society de
manded. , It was under such conditions,
I believe, that the program - of the
president of the United States with
reference to so-called business legisla
tion was inaugurated.
The Trust Legislation.
The president delivered his message
to congress embodying his trust pro
gram on the 20th of January last. In
it he 'Bet forth his plan for the con
structive development of the law in so
wonderful a way and in such an in
imitable manner, and so forcefully,
that it immediately challenged the ad
miration and support of the whole bus
iness community of the nation. There
was scarcely a dissent, and so well
has the spirit of his message been
interpreted by congress that two great
constructive measures were placed
upon the statute books. The Federal
Trade Commission bill passed the
house of representatives without a
single dissenting vote, and with prac
tically a unanimous vote in the United
States .senate. There was . practically
unanimity of opinion, too, as to the
Clayton act.
This recent trust legislation was an
attempt, through substantive and ad
ministrative law, to make more clear
the things forbidden toy the law, to
provide for additional remedies to per
sons wronged by violations thereof, to
make property rights in corporations
more secure by the imposition of per
sonal guilt upon grafting officers of
corporations or upon officers of graft
ing corporations, and to furnish a ve
hicle for the more easy accommodation
of business methods and practices to
the requirements of the law and to
the forms of conduct laid down by so
ciety. X,aw Made Clear.
Certain practices, such as price dis
crimination, tying contracts, and un
fair methods of competition, were def
initely declared by statute to be un
lawful, so that the doubtful zone as
to . what constitutes restraint of trade
should be made the more clear for
the guidance of the business commu
nity. -
The statute of limitations was ex
tended wherever the government insti
tuted a suit under the anti-trust laws,
so as to enable the person wronged to
await the result of the government ac
tion and to avail himself -of the facts
therein disclosed without fear of his
right of action becomin outlawed by
the lapse of time, ihi Judgments In
suits of this kind procured by the gov
ernment were made available to pri
vate litigants, so that they became
prima xacie proof of the tacts therein
recited in suits to recoup damages
which private litigants may have suf
fered by reason of infractions of the
law.
Stockholders Made More Secure.
Personal guilt Is imputed to directors
or officers of corporations engaged in
interstate commerce who directly or in
directly defraud stockholders- to their
own enrichment.
The law as It now exists. In practi
cal effect, is explicitly defined and de
clared as to the rights of labor, and
proceedings in contempt cases are de
fined and stated to ti e end that the
rights of trial by -jury may be more
clearly safeguarded.
Interlocking stockholdings and di
rectorates are under certain conditions
prescribed. It is indicative of the dis
criminating wisdom and scientific care
with which these . intricate matters
were approached and treated by con
gress that these conditions are de
clared to be illegal where they "sub
stantially lessen competition," and
the determination of that fact, in all
the varying forms of a complicated in
dustrial and financial system, is left.
after due hearing had. to a special tri
bunal or trained experts familiar with
tne industry and business of the
country.
Interstate Trada Commission,
The necessity for an interstate trade
commission has been, recognized for
many years.
The idea has been urged by attor
neys general of the United States, by
United States senators, economists,
publicists and business men, but it
remained for the president of the
United States to give the Idea suf-
WOULDN'T IT MAKE THE EARTH
(Copyright. 1B14. International New, SorrloO
This Heat i)
MUOM rAtfP T HAP $?BtT 5EVERAL MILUOM
yar5 more m
MOLTEM STATE
-WiEM rr fimd rrV comfort ufw?
At-,AihX abovev Wouldn't T
Got
t yj OUT THE
ficient impetus to cfause Its enactment
Into law.
Federal Trad Commission.
A business - tribunal is constituted
by the Federal trade commission act.
The commission will be a non-partisan
board composed of five men.
whose tenure of office shall be
seven years. Its membership, in the
wisdom of the president, will un
doubtedly be characterized by quali
ties of practical and extensive famil
iarity with business affairs, expert
knowledge of industry. Indisputable
integrity and that open quality of
mind and vision that seeks the pub
lic good, and that also would find the
substantial equities rather than tech
nicalities in the solution of fa situa
tion -which Involves the accommoda
tion of intricate industrial, financial
and business conditions to : the re
quirements of the social conscience.
Knowledge of Business Conditions.
The federal trade commission, so
constituted, holds promise of the great
est of service, not only to the country
at large, but to the business commun
ity.. Through Its agency a mass of in
formation will be gathered, coordinat
ed, classified and digested. The facts
will be of record and known to a body
of men charged with the enforcement
of the law in the complex industrial
and financial conditions of modern
business. This in and of itself consti
tutes insurance for the general nublic
of the observance of the law.
The members of this commission will
obtain therefrom not only a perspec
tive of , the constituent industries of
the country, but will have in the course
of time an Intimate understanding of
the constitution of the different Indus
tries, of their processes, their organiza
tion, the degree of centralization, their
needs and their relations to the local
and to the world's markets. This body
of coordinated Information will be
available to congress and to the pres
ident or tne united states, and is po
tential in possibilities of great good
in the public interest.
Business Men to Advise.
Indicative of the ! immediate and
constructive aid which may be afford
ed Dy tnis legislation are those pro
visions or the law which make avail
able to the courts in government suits
tms trade commission, constituted as
it will be of men expert in the prac
ticalities of industry, but . interested
solely in the public welfare. To take
testimony as a master in chancery.
and to advise with the court in the for
mation or decrees, this body of busi
ness experts is subject to call and
available to the courts. It brings to
the administration of the law not onlv
legal knowledge, but -expert knowledge
of economic conditions and industrial
processes which "may be 'prolific of
great good not only I to the business
interests Involved but to the govern
ment as well.
Aid to Business Readjustment.
The trade commission may also be
called In by the attorney general to
aid in the readjustment of business
so as to conform to the requirements
of the law. In connection with some
of the past practice of the department
of Justice, this provision of the law is
significant In the possibilities of bene
ficial use to which it; may be put. In
certain situations 'in the past, where
the government has brought suits in
equity to dissolve trusts or to restrain
certain practices in restraint of trade,
the defendants have frankly gone to
the department of justice, admitted
such practices, pleaded in extenuation
either lack of knowledge or pressure of
overpowering business necessity, and
have convinced the department of Jus
tice that there was no malicious intent
to violate the law, and a present sin
cere desire to comply with the require
ments of the law. I
In some such situations the attorney
general has in the past prescribed cer
tain conditions which the government
would exact in the reorganization of
business, to whicn, tne defendants have
acquiesced. Through their attorneys
the defendants have then gone Into
court and there entered their consent
to the entry of such a decree as the
government imposed. These are the so-
called consent decrees' spoken of in
connection with trust cases. This situ
ation holds within it great possibilities
in the accommodation of business to
the requirements of the law. It en
tails as well possibilities of great
abuse, and it involves grave and ser
ious responsibility on the part of tb
attorney general. It bas been exer
cised with great discernment in th
MAD
am eqiwxv uucomtortcsie
r I
EARTH j
past,' and It would not be at all strange
if in the future, as in the past, it might
be exercised with great reluctance.
Mon-Politlcal Body, i
The federal trade commission is a
continuous and non-po.litical body of
business experts. It Is' composed of
five men - who will be thoroughly
familiar with the business Conditions
from a practical point of view. It is
subject to the call of the attorney
general in a situation of this kind.
Its knowledge of the situations in
volved would certainly be coextensive
with the knowledge of the department
of Justice, and in the course: of time
its experience would be much greater.
Its recommendations would be accept
ed by the public, and would give
greater reassurance than If made by
'an individual alone, regardless of
the great extent of his ability or
probity. j
Ffelnir a continuous bodv. 'anil not
pcubject to possible political; change
of administration, there is assurance
also of greater continuity of purpose
and policy in such a situation, and In
the cours of time It is conceivable
that there would be built up a body
of administrative law that would be
consistent in its development, not
subject to political change, i and be
of the greatest of benefit to the busi
ness community as affording a means
whereby business methods might be
expeditiously accommodated , and re
adjusted to the requirements of the
law, which public ' policy demands.
Abolition of Unfair Competition. -
It has been frequently stated that
apart from control of natural re
sources or transportation the most
fertile sources of monopoly, lie in
practices of unfair competition. Some
of the great monopolies of the world
have been built up, not by efficiencies,
but by practices of unfairly driving
out competitors.
Price discrimination in one com
munity to drive out local competition,
which is recouped by exorbitant prices
In another community; tying con
tracts, bribery of employes, espionage.
and the like, are all practices which
the Independent business has to fear.
The smaller unit may be abundantly
equipped, by reason of superior Initia
tive and the personal equation, to
compete in production or distribution
with a large unit. It is helpless, how
ever, if the large unit be permitted to
resort to these unfair practices, which
can surely destroy it.
The greatest menace to the great
body of business men of this nation
lies in the practices of unfair compe
tion which are potential in large and
monopolistic rivals. Of the : 305,000
corporations of the United States,
296,000 have a capital, surplus and un
divided profits of a .million dollars or
less. But 1600 corporations have a
capitalization of five million i or over.
And yet 100 of these corporations . own
one seventh of the total property value
of the nation. j
The greatest menace to these 26,-
000 corporations of relatively smalt
capital, who constitute 95 per cent of
the business interests of the country.
i3 unfair methods of competition which
might be employed by their larger and
more powerful rivals, who might have
no scruples in the methods they might
employ. In this prohibition, therefor,
by the trade commission act of un
fair methods of competition can readi
ly be seen a piece of great and con
structive service to the great body of
business of the nation. Not since the
Sherman law itself was enacted has
there been. In my Judgment, so great
a safeguard erected by the law. to pre
serve the independence or small and ef
ficient concerns, and to preserve the
channels of trade free and open for the
benefit of the great body of business
men, as exists In this legislation.
This, rather brieriy put. is tho con
tribution to the preservation ofi indus
trial and financial 'freedom and) equal
ity, which is due to a greater degree
than to any other single contributing
cause to the constructive statesman
ship of the president of the United
States. ' .-
There have been attempts to trans
late this legislation into' terms of
menace to business. This arises either
from ignorance or perversity.: No hon
est business man can read and under
stand this legislation but will: conclude
that not only is there no suggestion
of war upon legitimate business, but
that there is indeed immediate and
great potential promise of distinct aid6
and service to legitimate enterprise
and industry. V
It is a translation, into law, of the
nurooses and hope of th president of
52
SALOONS
FAIL TO
RENEW LICENSE FOR
THE ENSUING YEAR
Number of Saloons Now Cut
Down to 325 as Compared
to 386:of Recent Date.
RECEIVE BELATED CHECK
Fred Frits. Zs One of Those Who Will
Go Out of Business on Bura
. side Street.
With all checks received and the
list revised, a total of 52 saloon pro
prietors failed to renew their licenses
for 1915 and will go out of business
January I. Added to this are those
which failed to make original appli
cations and those put out of business
by the council, staking a total of 61
fewer saloons in Portland than-there
were prior to December 1.
This cut the number of saloons
down to 325, as compared to 386 a
few months ago. In addition to this
there are nine less drug stores, res
taurants, grocery stores and wholesale
establishments in business, but as
these are not classified as saloons
they have no effect on the number of
saloons remaining.
Subtracting all that failed to pay,
went out of business or wore put out
by the council there are now 70 less
saloons, drug stores, etc This cuts
down the total number of places
where liquor Is handled from 434 to
364.
It was announced by License In
spector Hutchinson yesterday that 47
had failed to pay but the names of
several dealers were held back be
cause he had been notified that the
license money was forthcoming. The
money was not received this morning,
however, from those who had been ex
pected to pay and as a result the
number , was Increased - from 47 to 52.
A check mailed before 5 o'clock
Thursday afternoon was received from
C. H. Omar, 125 First street, this i
morning. His name was in the . list
of those that had failed to pay as
published in The Journal yesterday.
Among those to go out of business
January 1 Is the large saloon of Fred
Fritz. 240 Burnside street. This was
one of the oldest places in the city.
In addition to the list published
yesterday the following failed to pay
their license fee:
J. Michel, 461 Glisan street; O. E.
Quiggle, 66 North Sixth; George
Safford, 254 First; Sol Shapirer, 234
First; Fred Fritz, 240 Burnside, and
J. IL Krall. 95 Sixth street.
WILL DISCUSS THE TAX, LAWS
Officials Will Meet With the Legis
lators Monday Night.
C. A. Bigelow, commissioner of fi
nance, and City Attorney la ocne
arc. tn moot with tho Multnomah coun- .
ty legislature delegation next Monaayi
nijrht and discuss the proposed
changes in taxpaying dates. It has
been proposed to change the taxpayr
ing dates to later periods during the
year, which the city officials are not
in favor of. After a conference with
various officials this morning. Mayor
Albee delegated these two to repre
sent the city at the meeting Monday.
FLUME BREAKS SECOND TIME
Xo Serious Damage Is Caused to
Big Conduit.
Although a long length erf the Mount
Hood Power company's flume near
Bull Run broke at midnight last night
no damage was done to the two big
conduits carrying Bull Run water to
Portland. This is the second treaa in
the flume within a month.
While millions of gallons of water
noured from the break, it ran into
a smau cree anu . u. - "
huge rons covering to two
lines. About 1,5 feet of the flume fell
IntO the canyon holding the structure.
a small creek and did not disturb the
. . v
TO RESUME TRAFFIC MOXDA
Morrison Street Cars Again to Use
Former Schedule.
After being partially closed to traf
fic since October 7, Morrison street.
between Fifth and bixtn, is to De ,
opened to trariic monoay. ii m ex
pected to resume streetcar traffic on
both tracks this afternoon. The street
has been partially blockaded owing to
a cave-In alongside the new Meier &
Frank company's building.
Big Damages Asked
Of "Movie Trust"
Suit Alleges 14 Big Concerns Are Vio
lating Sherman Anti-trust Law, Con
trol 95 Per Cent of Business.
New York. Dec. 26. Damages of $1,-
800,000 were asked here today by the
Film Rental company irom 14 of the
biggest moving picture concerns in tl.c
country in a suit filed, under ti e Wins
of the Sherman anti-trust law, in the
United States district i'ourt. Anion?
t'tc big concerns Involved were Pathe
Freres, be Vitagrapn company, the
Oeneml 111m company and the Motim
Fiiure Patents comnanv. The com-
plant asserted that the Motion Picture
Patents company controls ao per iu
cf th moving picture business.
SCHOOL FUNDS ASSIGNED
County School Superintendent Arm
strong has completed the assignment
of county hign scnooi tunas ror tne
districts of Gresham. Troutdale and
St. Johns, and warrants will be ready
for the districts In the near future.
St. Johns will receive $1637.50. Trout-
dale $240 and Oresham $1712.50. The
money is for the school term which
ended laBt June, and another distribu
tion will be made in February for the
present term. The money is distributed
on the basis of $40 each for the first
20 pupils, $30 each for the second 20
and $12.50 each for all additional pu
pils.
the United States, as voiced by him
repeatedly, to eradicate the evil, to
preserve that which is healthful, and
to establish a constitution' of peace,
within which and under which there
may come an era of good feeling be
tween publio opinion, business and
government, because of the adherence
of so-called big business to the law,
because of the protection of the public
by the law. and because of the disposi
tion under such conditions on the part
of government to cooperate tot develop
business and industrial prosperity to
the benefit and advantage of the whole
community.
Wants to Finish
Term in Prison
Man Informs Xtocal Police That , Xe
- Broke) Parol Issued at Boise,
Idaho.
"I want to finish my bit In the Boise
pen."
Peter Burns walked up to the desk
at police headquarters in the small
hours of the morning today and thus
informed Captain of Police Circle that j
he was a parole violator from the Boise :
penitentiary.
Burns said he had been sent up from
Lewlston for burglary, but had re
cently been paroled. He left the state
in violation of that parole, and said
he was tired of avoiding the officers.
He has been' locked up and the Boise
penitentiary officials were notified to
day. WOMAN'S HEAD HAD
BEN BEATEN BY CLUB;
BODY LAY IN A FIELD
Rabbit Hunters Make Ghast
ly Find Near Fashionable
Los Angeles Suburb.
Los Angeles. Dec 26. The finding
of the body of a young woman on the
La Brea ranch, close to the fashion
able "Wilshire district of Los Angeles,
confronted the police here with an
other murder mystery today. '
The woman apaprently had been dead
a month. The head had been beaten
with a club or other instrument and
the skull crushed.
There were two rings upon the
hands a thin wedding ring and a
plain signet ring. Aside from the
clothing, there was nothing else that
might aid identification.
Th body was that of a woman of
25 or 28 years. It was clad in a dark
green suit, silk lisle stockings, new
f 1o top shoes, and a small velvet hat
lay close by.
The body was found late yesterday
by a party of rabbit hunters, who no
tified the police. No progress toward
Identification had been made early to
day.
At the direction of Coroner Hartwell,
the body was taken today to an under
taking establishment, where it was
viewed by scores of persons with a
view to establishing Its Identity
Though little progress was made, two
clues were developed.
.One of the rings the woman wore
bore the initials "N. T. M." The Ini
tial "M." recalled to the police that
Mrs. Paula Marqnez, who generally
tallied with the description of the
woman, bas been missing for several
weeks. This provided the first due.
Patrolman McFarland said that he
saw a woman, answering the descrip
tion of the victim, quarreling violently
- "" Tv. T T .1 T7
i la-r luul
found. This, he said, was about two
months ago. His statement furnished
the second lead upon which . the offi
cers are working.
Doctors who examined the body dif
fered upon the probable length of time
the woman had been dead. Their esti
mates varied from five weeks to as
many months.
All Identifying marks had been cut
from the woman's clothing.
Terre Haute Mayor,
'Judge, Sheriff Held
Indictments Charging' Conspiracy to
Corrupt an Sleotlon riled Against
Officials of Indiana City.
Terre Haute, Ind., Dec. 26. Mayor
' Don Roberta, Circuit Judge Redmond,
gh rtff shea and cu Judge 8mith
der d to federal authorl-
, indictments charging con-
! spiracy to corrupt an election. More
. tfn y100 indlctments on similar
charges were returned and 60 arrests
already have been made.
National Guard
Captain Is Sued
Harry E- "Williams, formerly captain
in company F, O. N. G.. brought snif
in the state circuit court this after
noon asking $50,000 damages from L.
A. Bowman, an officer In the organi
zation. The complaint 'alleges that on the
evening of December 23, Bowman In
the- presence of other guard officers,
made the statement that Williams is
not eligible to' electifli as captain of
the company by reason of being in ar
rears to the state. It is also alleged
that he made other uncomplimentary
remarks about him.- Williams, it is
stated, was discharged as captain of
company F in August of 1912, and
turned over property In his charge to
the state.
Word Eefiles His
Election Contest
Sheriff Tom Word through his at
torney. Paul Barrens, this afternoon
filed In the circuit court a new petition
j Itr VrSiV?
filed-today is under the corrupt prac-
tices act and contains the same allega
tions as the one thrown out of court
by Judge Kavanaugh recently which
was filed under the statute of 1854.
HOME DAMAGED BY FIRE
Fire damaged the beautiful new resi
dence Of Charles T. Bnardman at 1624
Savler street about noon today. A
defective flue was responsible for the
blaze, which burned the roof and did
considerable damage In the upper
rooms. While the firemen estimate
the damage at about $500. Mr. Board-
man believes it Is greater. Mr. Board
man Is with the firm of Ames, Harris
& Neville.
WHITE FUNERAL IS HELD
The funeral of Johnson White, who
died at The Dalles on Thursday, was
held this afternoon, with services at
Finley's undertaking parlors at 2:30
and interment in Riverview cemetery.
Mr. White was 73 years old -and a
veteran of the Civil war. He had gone
to The Dalles to visit his brother, Wil
son White, and was taken ill suddenly.
HOW THE PRICE JUMPS
WHEN PUBLIC WANTS
TO BOY, AGAIN SHOWN
Property Wbrtb $33,33 Per
Acre for Assessment Pur
poses Rises to $1600.
NO COMMENT IS NEEDED
Well Known Taxpayer Indicates That
rigores Speak for Themselves; An
other Tract Zs Hot Considered.
Another striklnr xamnl r t
great and sudden increau in th vin
of land when offered to the public is
biiuwu oi Dt jeans. At a recent meet
ing of the city council of St. Johns It
Was decided on motion of Councilman
Davis that that city purchase five acres
iuro or less or tne uatton tract north
east of the city for cemetery purposes
at a price of $1600 per acre.
All the councllraen voted yes with
the exception of jCouncilmen Chadwick
and Munson, who were recorded
against the motion
An offer made by O. E. Learned of
- acres in uiei northeast section of
the city near the city limits at $2000
per acre with certain terms of purchase
was laid upon the table.
The Gatton tract, it la renorted. He
in section 36, township-2 north, range
1 west, being a portion of a. tract of
13.5a acres. According to the books of
the county assessor this 13.65 acre
tract is assessed at $460 or approxi
mately $33.33 per acre. For assessment
purposes the land is valued at $33.33
per acre, but when wanted for public
use the price ascends to $1600 per acre.
-It would seem," said a well known
taxpayer, "that further comment Is
unnecessary." ,
Grand Jury Eeturns
New Indictment
W. B. Holman Charged With Torgery;
E. C. Curry Accused; Vot Trne Bills
Returned. j
Tne grand Jury this morning re
turned Indictments against 'W. B. Hoi
man charging forgery and uttering a
forged check. Holman. who was a a
laookeeper at Harricburg, is alleged
to have received a check from Minor
Lewis in a deal for a saloon and to
have changed the name of the bank
on which the check was drawn with
out authority from Lewis.
The grand Jury Indicted E. C. Cur
ry on charge of obtaining money by
false pretenses and uttering a check
to which the name of his father had
been signed; Lim Tong. alias Lum
Tong Yeng, alias Chin Lum. on a
charge of assaulting Jen Pow with a
knife during a recent tong war. and
Armlt Woodrum on a non-support
charge. Four not true bills and a se
cret indictment were also returned.
Japanese Situation
Worse, Says Raker
Congressman Bays He "Will Vake An
other Attempt to Have Xxclnslon Bill
Beported Out of Souse Soon.
Washington, Dec 26. Representa
tive Raker of California announced this
afternoon that he would make another
attempt to have the Raker exclusion
bill reported out of the house immigra
tion committee before the present ses
sion of congress ends. Raker said the
Japanese immigration situation on the
Pacific coast was constantly growing
worse
German Attack Cease.
London, Dec. 26. The Russian ac
count that the Germans have been re
pulsed In the fighting on the Bzura
river, in Poland, was regarded -here
this afternoon as having been con
firmed by the Berlin statement that
kaiser's troops had ceased their attack
in that region. The Russians had pre
viously admitted that the Germans
crossed the river but it was conjec
tured that they were subsequently
beaten there.
Austrian
Emperor
Is Near Breakdown
He Is Said to Be Deeply Depressed by
the TaUure of Austria's Campaign
Against Servla; "Physicians Worried.
London, Dec 2. That the Vienna
court physicians fear the emperor of
Austria la on the verge of a break
down was stated in a dispatch received
here this afternoon from Berne, Swit
zerland. The message added that pri
vate Information had reached Berne to
the effect that his majesty was deeply
depressed by the Austrian forces' re
cent severe reverse in Servla.
Will Form Community Club.
For the purpose of forming a com
munity club citizens of the Greeley
street district of the Peninsula will
meet tonight at 8 o'clock at the home
of J. P; O'Neill,; 1175 Burrage street.
All Interested in that neighborhood
are expected andi requested to be pres
ent. Dan J. Gregory and Amos Moore
are the committee In charge of ar
rangements for jthe meeting.
Young Field to Wed.
New York, Deb. 26. Marshall Field,
21 years old. heir of Chicago's late
i merchant king, ; obtained a license
I here today to ! marry Miss Evelyn
I Marshall. 25. Field gave his resi
! dence as Southampton, England. He
! recently inherited a majority of his
father's estate.
Salt Lake Capitalist Dead.
Salt Lake City. Utah. Dec. 26.
Aaron Keyser, prominent Utah pio
neer stockman and capitalist, died at
his home here today, aged B5 years.
lie came to Utah in 1870 and was
S identified with many industries,
i U-t !
Auto HitH Streetcar.
Oakland, Cal.,j Dec. 2. Their au
tomobile hitting a streetcar, i Miss
I Fannie Ross w as killed, G. E. Ram
say was so badly hurt that he may
jdie, and C. A. Dornburg was slightly
I injured.
1
flow Rutoiians Celebrated.
Oregon City. Dec. 26. "Holy Russia,
or The Religion! of the Russian Em-
plr," will be the subject that Kv. C.
Vi Robinson, factor of St. Paul's Epis
copal church, will talk of at T:30 p. m.
Sunday. : Rev., Mr, Robinson will give
special attention to tbo Russians.' ob
servance of Christmas,
Muts Flayed Santa
To 6976 Children
- " lis - -
HBaaaaMBSBSBj a.
Youngsters to Vumber f B7e,TCriTsn
Jrreseats at Armory I and Bemalnde
at Headquarters ater. jj':.
The Mats clayed Santa Clans to a
total of 6976 children, said; Monrpe
Goldstein of the Muts' comtnltteo to
day. Five thousand seven hundred and
sixty-nine presents were given at the
Armory Christmas celebration Thurs
day afternoon. Four hundred and six
ty-two more were given at :Sthe Mats'
headquarters Thursday evening and
yesterday. Three hundred and tw'o bas
kets of candy, nuts and frul and 443
gift packages were distributed today.
This is by far the greatest Christmas
effort In behalf of children ;W needy
l amines ever mado in Portland. ;"
GO TO EUROPE, SjUDY
THROWING OF BOMBS
1
Former Lieutenant Scott, Ar
rested for Photographing
Forts, Released,
ri'nltM Treii Lraieil WImO
San Francisco Dec iithnl..i,
the war department at Washington
caused the arrest of RileyijfScott, a
ueuienant in tne United States,
aerial corps, for wrltlag a story for
the Sunset magazine f rom ;observa
tions. and because of tikitiiimniii
taken showing the alleged weakness
" riinma canai rortncatlons.
w.nirj uunson toaay ocaered the
release of Scott anil th niMn.im .r
the case against him for six: months.
presumably so he may go t Europe
m Biuuy aeroplane fighting and
bomb-throwing there and renort tuu-fe
to government officials. s4
The suspension of the prosecution
against Scott also means the) suspen-
njun ior me same length Of time of
the cases against Charles 'X. Fields,
editor of the Sunset magazine; Rob
ert Fowler, aviator, and Roy Duhem,
photographer. Together with Scott,
these men are charged with violation
of the government's, laws against tak
ing photographs of fortifications.
Fowler drove an aaronlan nv,r tha
Panama canal while Duhera .took pho-
lograpns and cott made observations
for a story which was published, to
gether with the photographs, in the
Sunset magazine. - j'
United States District, Attorney
Preston was evasive regarding the sig
nificance of the let-up tn the caso
by the government, but , information
from a reliable authority Iwaa to the
effect that It was for thej-purpose of
sending Scott to Europe' Scott la'
said to be an expert at throwing bombs
from' aerial machines. He will leave
immediately for Europe's ' battle lines.
ASHORE ON SCOTCH COAST
London, Dec. . 26. Disabled in a
North sea gale, a Hull steamship was
ashore today at the entrance to Peter
head harbor, on the Scotch doast. The
crew ha dbeen saved bi five f ri-
cuers were drowned In SacoompIIsh-
tng It.
Yillistas Leave Harder.
Naco, Ariz., Dec. 26. he Villlsta
troops at the international border re
tired today to a position Out of gun
shot of this town. It as believed
that before night the ffhtire Villa
force under General Mavtrena would
be at its new post.
AMUSEME
EXTRA
HEILIG
THUTII
Brodv7 at Taylor
TODAT Z.art Time Tomorrow -
Continuous u.
10 BX.BVZB BEEiS 100
Motion .Pictures
OREATKHT BARGAIN "KVER
PRESENTED XO fOKTLANt) PUBLIC
Seats Selling aSI'-IOc
Think of it Las Than 10 a ImI
HP I I f! Broadway at Taylar
Six night bacinaing Hast Xoaday
Matloea Wad., FrLj Sat.
DAVIS WAHFIEtD
la "THE aT7CTX0ME&"' -CTtntBg
and Mats. ti. $1.50, fl T5e, Me.
SEATS MOW BELLING
BAKER
THEATBS -Mala
S, A-(MO
Oeo. lm Bakar. Kn
Last time tonight the Komonn Bakar Plr--.
m- In "LEAH J.E8CHHA."
Tba remarkable tory of a rlrl borrlar
plared by Mr. Flrke. ETuJngi: 25c, S5c.
&0C. ?5e. Bnx !. Wad. Mat. ail Mat ea
eept box), 25c. Friday and Saturday Mati
nee. 20e, 60c. Next werk, starting. R'lDd'T
matinee "Tba Haj a venation of Aunt Itary'
Bakar Thmitre tl-kta auod In Tba Journal
Trade and Circulation Con lea t to ene Vote oa
eerr cent of taluw. ' -.
Malu ii- Kroa.lwar ai Htark. A-1020
THE BELL rAJtlLT (9)
In an A rtlatlr Mimical Of fwlna.
ATOM COMEDY FOTT
KcEAY AHDINE
KOLB A- HASLAH .
ALEXANDER BROS,'
HAL FHAKCIS
LEO ZARX.EL TEIO
lADI l is a.aa.
ar Mishf
AJ tihowa
BEST SHOW 11 i own
E. E. CUTE, tha frat Eoallah oonodiaa,.
and f Its other featura acta.
600 Choice Seata Kaaerved as Xeaoeat for
First Mifht Show. .
Pnfai J Afternoon ......."....lOo, 15
a a aw
.le, ta
HAT1NE DAILY 230
Broadway and Aider .
"Oa Where tha Crowd Ooea"
Week Dee. CI Waiter E. How la 'la aad
Out": 10 Bon Amor Araha; Larry Comer;
Wayne Trio; Seltrah as Beltraht. Joe. Calla
han in "Facea of History." Boxes and first '
row baiooar reserved. J hones stain 83f, A-
8234.
RIVER 8TEAMKR3
Night Boat toThe Dalles
Steamer State of Washington
Leaves Taylor St. Dock 11 J. tn. Mondays.
Vfedneadsy and frldaya. for Tba Dalies. Lla.
Hood Hirer. White Salmon. CndcrwoodV Carl
eon. Sieenoo. Ketnrnlng, leaves The ailea
Sundas, Wednesdays, sod Fridays at T a, ax.
f rttaiit sod uaseenfers, tare SI. 00. Including
berth a sight trip, those Mais SIS.
ACCUSED AI1AIT0