The Oregon daily journal., January 02, 1915, Page 4, Image 4

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"TLj C inKI A I ';der one authority or another, and
I Pi IZ. , J J J I IN AM power . development , generally has
aw iwnrrnvrirvT 1 rwnr a pbh.
S. JACK8UM
. .'imMtaiMr.
....
iaoitoaett every fveain lexeapt nonpar I awl
w rrary ftanflay months at Toa JVwrsal Boll.
ln. Broadway and TumhlTI ta .. Pwrttand. O.
kotara tl tbf put tor tics at racliaatf. Or., for
traaamlaatne throat Um Mtts as 'saeos
-Ian matter. j
1 Vfl!LJSiV2r?. -.tSS?1 rt!J
' tbs nrfmlnr wttnt njtrtmit y went
SUKKJUM 4lVICitTWUMU( RJCPtlUtBXTATlTS
. Benlamta a KMtnar f5.. Brmurwtck Bide..
. ta. Fifth Ave.. Near Xerk.
BMc. rhtraem.
reovte a
BnUxrtvWuB term he mail a te aw -
im ua united I Mates r rnniiei
' - - : DAILY. ' . ; ,
Ob yew. .... .12.80 I Onei manrs. ......
mtr v Atrn artMnir
. Pee rait. WM,! finv axmth...... .
. , i . I, ,. , ;
-a
Every man, i however humble
his origin however inadequate
Ms education,: however poverty-stricken
hd environment,
can still be great, not perhaps
in the extent of his Influence,,
not tn the largeness of his
power, not in widely extend
ed reputation,! but In all that
makes true character -the dl
ineness of his life. Lyman
Abbott. S
no FEiinrs BILl j
T
rHE violent fight now being
made by water power inter
ests against the Ferris bill
creates wide interest in that
measure. In .brief, the provisions
of the bill with; some of the ob
jections urged vfy power interests
against it, are as follows:
The auther of the bill is a mem-
ber of congress, from, Oklahoma,
. 4 pat the bill's real father is Secre
tary Lane. The bill has passed, the
house and 'is now before' the sen
' ate, , where hearing in committee
! Is tn .progress. ; .
r t is intended to provide a per-
manent and . comprehensive scheme
Ibr dealing with water power sites
'and other public land used in
hydro-electric development, as a
substitute for the present unceri
tain and unsatisfactory system!
; The measure provides in substance
for leases-- of power sites, and
1 other necessary land, for terms not
j -longer than fifty years. Various
i provisions are. directed against mo
nopoly. One is ; that no contract
i shall be made with any one,, con-
sumer for excess of fifty per cent
V ol the hydro-electric energy - de
veloped, Combinations to limit the output
and -increase prices are forbidden.
The secretary of the interior is
authorized to collect rentals, at a
rate to be specified in the lease for
the public land used. These-rentals
to go to. the reclamation fund,
s and after use there, to be returned
&0 per cent, to j the state - within
which the jpower is developed, for
: school purposes and the construc
tion of public improvements. .
-Regulation, of the rates, to be
charged, and', of stock and bond is
' cues ' is provided for in all cases.
'..This regulation is left to the
, states in intra-state cases where
they have public service commis
( pions or other similar 'bodies au
thorized for the purpose; In states
where there are no such bodies.
the power of regulation is reserved
to the -secretary of the interior, or
, to such other ' authority as may
hereafter be designated by federal
law.
. Interstate development and trans
mission is held subject for such
regulation to" the secretary of the
- Interior, Or to such Bodies as may!
, be legally created. At the expira-
- tlon of the lease the United States
may take oyer the plant by spaying
' .substantially physical valuation. It
is specifically provided that" hoth-
v Ing is to be paid for "the value of
franchise, the good; will 'or profits
to be earned on pending contracts."
The government may at the end of
the lease, lease-' the property to
any -other private lessee, willing to
. pay its cost.
,No preferential right of renewal
la given the Jessee. Preference is
given municipal , development
throughout the entire bill. As for
example, states, counties and mu-
nicipalltles may be given the pref
erential right to lease desired parts
of the public domain, in the first
Instance. Municipalities are like
wise exempt from rental charge.
. . Among- the objections advanced
Is the general one tBet the whole
matter of regulation shtmld be left
to the states, and' that the federal
government should do no more
than assert the usual rights of a
land proprietor, j Take compensa
tion for its lands and let that be
the end of its interest,
f Objections are made to the pro
visions. Intended, to prevent monop-
' ly. It is said that the fifty per
cent-'sale limitation will hamper
; legitimate enterprise. Also the
'.provision, prohibiting sale of power
i to any distributing company.
The provision applying the prin
ciples of Interstate commerce regu
lation to companies operating in
1 more man one, state1 will, it is
said, unduly harass power devel
opment, since itjwill be then sub-
Jected o the dual . 'control ' of
state and federal government. At
, any rate. It is said, if the "United
"States is. to assume regulation of
Interstate - power development - it
should take In ill Interstate com
'. panles, "and not alone those wb.ich
are holding some portion of ' the
; publio: lands. J
' The Ferris bin" makes Import
ant : ' lnTprpvements over present
. conditions." ,
. There is nothing stable or' cer
tain in 'the present laws, with re
gard to power development on
public lands. Following .the agita
tion raised in the Roosevelt admin
istration against power grabs,
many withdrawals' were made nn-
stood Bull, awaiting the enactment
ot new legislation
-As- it is now, the power company-
is subject as to public' lands
to dual regulation by the secretary
of the Interior and secretary of ag
riculture. The latter controls
.where forest reserves artf being
where other lands are involved.
There . is no satisfactory present,
law on the subject, but the -whole
is under, rules and regulations as
prescribed by the departments-
Revocabl') permits are granted
for a period not longer than fifty
years, and in cases - of ' incomplete
homestead entries which are some
times necessary to utilize for power
sites or transmission lines, neither
the homesteader nor the govern
ment can grant any rights under
existing laws. There is much
doubt, also, as to the value of any
rights given when the same come
in conflict wtyh subsequent mineral
locations. u 1
SCUTTLE PLANS
HY these many proposals to
tinker - with the . initiative
and referendum? Is there
an atmosphere " of belief
that the time is now ripe for chang
ing the system?
The Non-Partlsan League has its
plan. Still another plan reduces
the number of initiative signatures
from eight to six and referendum
signatures from five to three, and
provides that the petitions shall
be kept in the offices of the county
clerk and two justices of the peace
where voters must go in order to
sign. Doubtless there will appear
other plans throwing around the
petitions difficulties and require
ments that would drive the sys
tem into complete disuse.
Some of the proposals may be
made with perfectly good Inten
tions. Some are not. There are
interests that would like to ' see
the system uprooted and destroyed.
A danger is that friends or the
system may unconscionsly permit
themselves, to. be used by its ene
mies for scuttle purposes.
The Journal believes that any
plan requiring the citiien to go
to the trouble of visiting tne court
house or an office of a j ustice of
the peace in order to, sign a peti
tion will place the initiative on a
precarious basis.
STATE HIGHWAY AID
NUMBER of prominent citi
zens, of Portland interested
in highway development are
assistihe a movement" ini
A
tiated at ; th recent convention in
this city of the state association of
County jadges and commissioners
for an increase of state aid for
highway ' purposes. The .' present
tax is one Quarter oL a milt. I
is proposed to increase it one mill
for the period of two years. .This
would raise approximately $2,500,
000 or $1,250,000 per year. The
appropriation . would be available
in 1916 and 1-917. '
Although Multnomah county
pays approximately one third of
the state tax it : is planned that
all ot , the state road money shall
be expended ,ln the other counties
of the state.
At first thought it may seem
peculiar that the county should
waive its share in the fulhd but the
reason is not altogether an unsel
fish one. It is based on- the prin
ciple that what is. of advantage
to the state at large is of benefit
to Portland. Her share in the
tax would come to her through
the. increase of trade and the gen
eral development of the state. It
is generally recognized that the
future prosperity of Portland lies
in the building up of the surround
ing country.
A tentative bill providing for the
increased, levy has been prepared
for submission to the Multnomah
county delegation and , if approved
by that body a measure will be in
troduced at tho coming session ot
the legislature.
' It is contemplated that the fund
raised by the tax shall be aHotted
to . the;.' different counties by tne
state, highway commission in erder
to avoid the "pork barrel" feature.
THE RIGHT OP SEARCH
U'
NLESS the British -govern
ment proves .lacking in tact,
there should be no strained
relations with the. United
States. This country is not I deny
ing the right ot ,search, which : be
longs to belligerents, but it is in
sisting that the right shall be ex
ercised not alone in behalf of the
allies, but also1 with due regard to
established rights of America's
neutral: commerce. '
It is stated that thirty American
ships and cargoes their value to
taling' millions, have been detained.
Our legitimate export trade has
been seriously handicapped, and
reimbursement for actual loss of
cargoes will not repair the dam
age. The acts of the British fleet
have caused many, exporters' to
limit their activities for fear ofJ
risks involved In shipments. 7
The protest sent to. London is
in effect a protest in behalf of all
fteutral commerce.. It does not
deny the right of the allies to make
and enforce rules regulating Jcom-
merce with Germany.' and Austria.
But it IS jdenial of any belligerent's
right to harrass the neutral com
merce of , a neutral nation by hold
ing up. ships and cargoes on mere
suspicion. , -
Confidence-iis expressed at Wash
ington that a mutual understand-
Ing which will reduce to a mini-
mum the ... necessity for extended
search on high seas will be reached.
What this country wants is not
immunity: from International laws,
but their enforcement in - a man
ner that win not hamper. American
commerce more than is actually
necessary. -' ' T
The United States; Is 'standing
for . the rights of peaceful nations
as against an abuse of rights of
belligerents. The" war of 18121; was
fought on that, issue. Then : the
United States did not: deny the
right of. Great; Britain to search
neutral merchantmen; for contra
band, but this country did deny
an -assumed right to board Ameri
can warships in search of British
subjects. C I
The right' of searjeh has been
the cause pf many j disputes be
tween nations.'. England should,
and probably wifl, see the folly of
abusing that, right, r
ANOTHER. LQST BATTLESHIP
A'
NOTHER British! battleship- of
consequence has; gone to the
bottom of the sea. As in the
case of the Audacious, there
is question as to whether the sink
ing agency was a mine or a Gerr
man submarine. j
The regularity with. ' which the
picking off of British, vessels Of
war happens, is proof that some
thing more than accident is at
work in the North jsca and the
English channel. It to' safe to as
sume that these frequent visita
tions upon -British warships are
due to, the highly organized and
extraordinary efficiency of the Ger
man war. machine of which the
German navy is a pairt. Further
proof is in the contemporaneous
dash, of German vessels in demon
strations on the English coast, the
transcendent achievements of the
Emden before her destruction and
the . signal work of the Karlsruhe
and other German rovers of the
sea. - - j
However, the seeming failure of
the British to retaliate with the
destruction of, ship for ship in no
sense indicts the British navy with
incompetency. That tiavy is ex
erting a prodigious influence on
the fortunes of , this wax. It has
Germany under virtual blockade,
in which it is well nigh impossible
for Germany to receive a depend
able stock" of provisions and sup
plies from the outside world. In
effect, the British navy is playing
a far greater part In the war than
has been played- by the 'compara
tively small British ,nny up to
the present, , for thej navy has
placed the whole German nation
under a status of practical siege.
There is evidence
is, in . fact, becoming
concerned about the
that Berlin
measurably
future food
supply. With increasing frequency,
reports are reaching jthe outside
world of government and news
paper efforts to secure! the closest1
economy among the people. A re
cent statemenf was the advice by
a German newspaper that . there
be a minimum use of meat among
non-combatants so that, there might
be the fullest supply for the sol
diers at the front. J
It has also been urged in Ger
many that potatoes be cooked with
the skins on, ahd that potato
flour .be mixed in making bread,
all of which is acknowledgment
that German authorities 'expect the
war to be of long duration, and
that the virtual closing of German
ports by the British navy is viewed
in Berlin with a large and Increas
ing measure of solicitude.
It seems an .impossible under
taking to batter the great German
war machine into submission. Back
of its present farflung battle
front are trenches and defenses
that increase invulnerability with
every step.
But there is no army that can
withstand starvation. : Hunger Is
one ejhemy that cannon and bayo
nets .nd shrapnel cannot conquer
or resist. After Sheridan so deso
lated the Shenandoah valley- that
it was no longer a ' granary for
Lee's army, and when Sherman
had reduced the South to starva
tion in his march to the sea, fur
ther resistence was Impossible and
Appomattox came.
In war, the commissariat is. as
essential as men , and guns, and
Lee's surrender came after weeks
on short rations and when at times
there was not a pound of meat in
the food supply. The incident of
the gift of a case of fine hams to
Lee senses the effect of starvation
on an army, when the great south
ern commander, amid tears of
thankfulness, ordered the meat di
vided among the starving men in
the ranks.
The formidable factorship of the
British navy, in spite of .the, fre
quent: loss of a warship from at
tack ; by German submarines, is
plainly apparent. It is holding the
German navy at bay. and blockad
ing German : ports, while! at the
same time keeping the trade lanes
of the seven oceans open to Brit
ish merchant fleets. That navy. In
spite of ib apparent inactivity, is
one of. the most 'formidable fac-p
tors with which ; Germany has to
contend in the great war.
. RADIATING HO AOS,
I
N AGRICULTURAL, communities
where there r is. an r absence of
manufacturing enterprises : the
town or city is supported by
the trade of the farmers of the
surrounding -country. Good roads
that afford the farmer ; means for
marketing; to the best; advantage
benefit the .towns where they do
their trading. . ' . ' ' ; ; :
. It has been well said that a sys
tem - of good roads out of a. city
may mean, for, a large part, of the
population, the difference .. between
fresh food and the cold storage
warehouse. '' i
A concrete example : of the' im
portance of ; radiating . roads to? a
city, is furnished by Charlotte,
North Carolina.
This city Is the county seat of
Mecklenburg county which was the
first in that state to take up the
improvement of highways on the
radiating : plan.: During the ten
years from 1 890 to 1910 the popu
lation of the county increased fifty
seven per cent as compared with a
thirty-sir per -cent increase1 in ' the
state as an , entirety. The popula
tion of Charlotte increased 194 per
cent, a more rapid rate of growth
than was shown by any other city
In ' the state of, relatively the same
size. The value of farm lands also
increased proportionally.
Letters From the People
(Communication cent te The Journal for
pablieatioe In thia department abonld be writ
ten on only one aide ot tne paper. boa Id not
exceed 300 -wortls la length and moat be ac
companied or the name and addrera of toe
aender. It tne writer does not desire to
kave tbo name pobUahed, be should ao state.)
"Dlaeaasloii 1 the greateat ef an reform
ers. It ranoaallaea everything It torch ea. It
roha principles of aU falsa aanctlty and
throws them back oa tbetr reasonableness. It
they bae bo reasonableness, it rnttilesaly
crushes them oat) ef existence and art np lta
own TonclasionS' la tneir stead." Woodrow
Wlson. I . 4
. p. -
Taxing Jthe Aged. .
Oregon City, Dec SO. the Editor
of The Journal---Some time ago arti
cles appeared la The Journal on tax
revision. . One point It seems to me
has constantly been overlooked , for
which other countries have made pro
vision; that is old age. Regard should
be taken of old age. Worthy people
that liava been an asset to the country,
that have given their best, reared and
educated their children and supported
every worthy cause, deserve considera
tion. Having arrived at the age ot
60 or. over, when feebleness of body
prevents them from longer following
their occupations and they are depend
ent upon the little that by exercising
the greatest economy they have been
able to lay -aside for the rainy day,
some provision : should - b made to
lighten their burden. : Is it right that
they should keep on payingtaxes on
every dollar they possess jti their
means are limited? , .
For example, ; let us say an old
couple or a widow, or widower.'have a
modest little home worth about $2000,
and besides this money on interest or
income property from which they real
ize an annual Income of about $200 or
$300. They surely need this income to
live on. If nearly one half or more
must, be paid as tax, they will have
to draw so heavily on their little capi
tal that it will soon be consumed. And
what thenT It would be only justice
If $4000 or $5000jworth of their prop
erty might be exempt- from taxation,
and an income tax? of the rich would
make up the deficit. This would ma
terially Lighten their burdens and their
worry in old age.
It may be said, let .their children
take care of them when their last dol
lar is consumed. In most cases. It is
hard enough for the children' to bear
their own burdens and rear their own
families. Or the children may be dead.
Some children may be able to support
the old father, or mother, or both; but
neglect to do their duty. They do not
realize what they have cost their par
ents. Or doing something for the par
ents may make- them feel that they are
an .awful ' burden and that they had
better hurry 'up and die. Such bread
tastes bitter.. Old people, as a last
resort, may go to the poorhouse; but
who wishes to spend the last days of
his life there? Not ambitious and self
respecting people.
We establish institutions for various
needy classes We pay big pensions
to soldiers. But worthy old people
vho have . been a valuable assets to
their country are i overlooked.
The legislature should work out
some plan to lighten the burden for
deserving old people, either in exempt
ing part of their property from; taxa
tion, or enacting a law similar to that
of other countries, where a special tax
is-levied for the purpose of giving aid
to the aged. O. SCHUL.TZ.
Unemployment and Conscription.
Amity, Or., Dec 31. To the Editor
of The Journal I have been thinking
for some time about the idle men of
this state and country. At last I have
settled on a plan that I think would
work, i'a great many cases at least.
In the first place, we all know' that
this country is in need of a larger
army than it now has; secondly, we all
hate to say, .but it is true, that we
ha-ie over 100,000 unemployed in this
country. My plan is to enlarge our
army with the surplus nen we have
in our large cities. Of pourse, ?some
people will say that It would be im
possible, because the men would not
Join. I do not mean to leave, it up to
the men. The thing to do is to enact
laws which will compel them to Join.
The men.could enlist for three years,
but only serve six months out of each
year. The rest of their time could be
put in as profitably as possible. In
this way the upkeep would be cut in
two. . ...
This plan probably would not work
very satisfactorily in the case of fc
married man; but If all of the single
men were given a place In the service,
the married men would have work the
year around. Until the government
does step in and do something bf the
sort, the poor workingman is going on
m the same old path that he has trod
en for the past 50 years. In this en
lightened time a citizen of the United
States should be ,tnore than a slave.
Shall the time ever come?
O. C. HENDERSON."
Money and ljaborj .
Clackamas, Or.' Jan. L To the
Editor of The Journal) In ,The Jour
nal of December .28 appeared an arti
cle signed "E. B.," on the unemployed
and money, which gives a very good
description of the present congestion
of the financial situation In our na
tlon as well as in the whole world.
Money is the medium of exchange be
tween two values. Money represents
the value between ' that which you
have and that which you warit to ex
change for that; which you have hot,
Man has his strength and intelligence
r to- exchange for his bread. But as he
Is not able to carry a grocery store
or wheat field, he has to find some
thing that will represent the value of
his labor so as to exchange it for the
necessaries of ' life; hence, money.
Money Is only a I representative of
value to. the laboring man and : if he
Is - paid in any kind of money which
wiliepay for his living ' I am sure he
wiitinot complain, whether it be gold,
silver or paper money.
- If congress ' would Issae "the old
greenbacks to onethtrd of the value
of all property, public or private, for
public improvements, it would . give
all men work, and business- would
brighten up. People would begin to
look at life with a little more Interest
A FEW SMILES:
A man who. -with, his wife. Is em
ployed ,on a truck farm In New Jer
sey, found himself In a bad predic-
ame&t. ; when ' in at-
the onslaughts - of a
savage dog, assist-?
ance came In the
shape of .his wife.
When the woman
came up the dog had
fastened his teeth in
the calf -of her husband's leg and was
holding .on for dear lifeJ Seizing a
stone; in the road the man's wife was
about' ta hurl it, when the husband,.
With whmiertnl nrasuiiM if mtnrt T
of mind.
shouted: .
,-Jdary! Mary! Don't throw the
stone .at the dog.. Throw it at me!"
T want to- be excused,' said the
worried looking Juryman, addressing
tne judge. I owe a man $25 that 1
borrowed, and as he
is . leaving town to
day for some years
I want to catch him
-I before he gets to the
train and pay him
the money."
fTou- are ex
cused. said his
honor, in icy tones. i"l don't want any
body on the Jury who can 'He like
that."
The sailor had been
showlne the
lady visitor over th
sly p. In thanking
him she said
I see that by the
rules of ' your ship
tips are forbidden."
"Lor1 "bless . yer
'eart, ma'am," re
plied Jack, "so were
the apples, in the Garaen ot iaen.'
and the world .would grow better. It
all depends on man himself- Man Is
his own destiny.
i
MRS, VIOLA BURR.
Sc. John's Cemetery Tract.
' St! I Johns, Or, December ZO, 1914.
To j tne. Editor of The Journal
Touj have : commented . editori
ally on the disparity between the as
sessed valuation and the selling price
of the proposed St. Johns cemetery
tract.: This agitation is proper and
we hope will result ' in good. Person
ally I am opposed to this purchase at
this time and have so expressed my
self fief ore the council. However, it
may be said that the people of St.
Johnsl are paying much more than this
price when they purchased lots else
where. Besides an- equal additional
amount for the extra expenses of
funerals depending on the great dis
tance necessary to go. . .
The council of the city-of St. Johns
Is not responsible for either the ex
aggerated price or the very low as
sessment valuation. All the boosters
of St. Johns axid Portland, including
The Journal, are ta some extent re
sponsible for the price asked. We have
heard for years how this peninsula
Is the Manhattan Island of this future
New York city of the Pacific and the
Gatton place Is right at the extrem
ity., Mr. Gatton settled here, I believe,
in 18 S3. He has waited some tjrru for
his unearned increment at that. Now
as a socialist, the writer does not con
sider an Individual is entitled to any
unearned Increment. ; But, as The Jour
nal does not object to the principles
of the capitalistic game, why become
excited at the mere size ' of the other
fellow's winnings?
But,'' by all means, let us have a
proper; assessment and a law to pro
vide ror taking property for public
use at a reasonable advance over as
sessed valuation. y
a: W. VTNCEHT.
Opposes Paying for Holidays.
i-oruana, Jan. l. ao tne Jaiitor or
The Journal. I am a taxpayer that
inaorses me ,view or commissioner
Brewster that holidays are too numer
ous. I believe "the laborer is worthy
of his hire," and that "he that will
not work neither shall he eat." I am
prompted to write because our paid
public servants teachers, city and
county officials, firemen and police
men are constantly receiving money i
for which they do not labor They
O TPsTa a I XMJ O TTtS f t SB rW rtlM Tl CS TM TV maja, wa
are always clamoring for more pay
and getting more holidays.
Why should any man or woman be
paid when he takes a holiday? Is it
not a fact that when a person accepts
money as pay when he has rendered
no service therefor he is on the
plane of the pauper?
Make It a rule that no public ser
vant of the classes mentioned shall
be paid when not on actual .duty, and
we shall find quite a change in this
viewpoint and -also as to their .actions
regarding holidays. ' -'''
How - are we ever going to reduce
taxes if ' we are constantly going to
give public servants pay for hoi. days
and when we are continually, giving
A l - 1 IT 3 1 . . I
iiieiu mure nouu.ya xatsro-is mucn
talk about efficiency and economy in
administration, but I fail to know
where in any instance we are get
ting it. Any man. who has once been
employed - as a servant .in .a public
capacity, as a rule, is unfitted to hold
a job in a private capacity. My opin
ion is that we as taxpayers are "cul
tivating snobbery.
JOHN TEN EYCK.
- , A New Wondsr.
From the Philadelphia ledger.
With mtovlng pictures taken of bat
tles between men and sharks below
the surface of the deep, with vessels
running hundreds of -miles under wa
ter and submarine signaling by means
of bells, the aquatic underworld is a
lessening .mystery; -and iiow an im
proved diving suit of an aluminum al
loy has made a new record for depth
at 312 feet in Long Island sound with
out discomfort to the wearer and with
only' 80 seconds instead of an hour
taken to return to the surface. Ap
parently the diver could have gone in
definitely lower with ease had the
depth of the water permitted.
A new and fascinating chapter In
the exploration of the treasures of
the sea's bottom seems . to be opened
by the .'device, and the discovery, and
salvage of wrecks a; thought irreclaim
able is a probable result The prob
lem of those who would tunnel, under
rivers and channels or build railway
bridges across straits and estuaries Is
greatly simplified, and the mortal; risk
of the ailment known to caisson work
ers as "the bends is for the deep sea
diver minimized, if not abolished. In
this age of the progressive conquest
of the empyrean it is an impressive
fact that submarine navigation- and ex
ploration are developing pari passu
with. . the science of flying, and the
last element (if we except interstellar
ether) Is yielding to the boldly inquisi
tive spirit of mankind.
aaai--aaaaa---iaBBiIaaasB--
Can Schmitz (Tome Back? -'
From the Los Angeles Express.
Inspired by the success of such men
as Penrose and; Gannon, former Mayor
Eugene Ev Schmitz has flung his broad
brimmed hat into the- political arena
and will try for election as mayor of
San Francisco. - He probably feels that
if a Penrose or a Cannon can "get-by."
there is no reason why a Schm Its can
not succeed equally well. -
'Schmitz promises to bring back: the
F3 I t '
PERTINENT COMMENT
SMALL CHANGE
Many a man has had a hard fall by
'jumping at conclusion. .
i -
Why not put a war - tax on cigar
bands? They make: very poor smok
ing. . - . .
i
A liar of the 42-centimeter class is
'the man who says he knows all about
women, i
In Europe! there was a red Christ-
mas ana ujiy. number 1 or fat crave-
as s
yards.
ViUeer
i - i
as It may x seem, many a
young man si goose Js cooked by a
chicken. . i j '
' I " . I -Some
folks' are so literary that they
do not care f&r history in the making,
but will , buy it of the book agent
later on. .; -
',
' Some Christinas pipes are so beauti
ful that It seems a shame there Is
nothing better than tobacco to smoke
in them. -. j .
I :
European soldiers, will not care
much about havinsr outdoor siwninr
porches after-their experience in the.
!,
In order to attain world wide peace,
let every nation build submarines and
then open the stopcocks where the
ocean is deepest.
In one respect a newspaper man is
like a preacher. He usually has to
nave a call to another job in order to
get a raise in salary.
SUBMARINES AND
iS'orman Draper in Colljer Weekly.
In a broad sense, the Germans long
ago decided upon" three distinct meth
ods of making their submarines of
more value. In the first place, a num
ber Of merchant and war vessels were
constructed so that they could carry.
without difficulty, submarines from
one part of the sea to another as deck
loaos. That idea, however, was not
entirely original with the Germans. I
have personal knowledge of one case
where the united States government
transported a submarine to the Phil
ippine islands on an army transport.
in little vessel was hoisted to th
forward deck of the transport, sim
ple feat, and securely fastened there.
On the way across the Pacific ocean
the .transport met one storm after an
other. Any . one of them would have
sent to the bottom the submarine had
it attempted the trip alone.
; The idea was productive of a result
as startling as it was simple. Several
ships were selected. ; In their plans al
terations Were made, which when com
pleted would allow . submarines of the
smaller types to be carried Inside the
hull.
Water tight compartments of the
proper size were designed for both
sides of the ships selected; one of
these compartments with a set. of
doors, opening outward. A series of
pumps, ducts connecting the two com
partments and sluices, which when
opened would permit the gradual en
trance , of sea water to the j compart
ments, completed the arrangement.
The idea was that each compart
ment would be filled with the sam
quantity of water, thereby keeping the
ship on an even keel. The doors fitted
to one would be opened. -That accom
plished a submarine could be taken
into the.' compartment and the doers
closed. Then the pumps would be fcet
to working so that as the water in the
compartment occupied by the subma
rine was drawn off in order that the
tiny warcraft might be made stable.
the "mother .ihip," as they have been
called,, would- still keep ah even keel.
When; and where this arrangement
was first tested by . the German gov-
l erriment I am unable to state positive-
iv t hv nin to believe, howeve-
i ,., - t a,, teutoii in th Baltic km.
about two years aso.
Since : the ' war several German ves
sels, formerly merchantmen, have been
transformed .into the two, varieties of
"mother ships" I have' described.
As, another method of increasing the
range of ' the average submarine' a
number ; of locations were determined
; aced snould le fatherland engage in
'
udoti where eecret oases migni De
a war. Tne urttisn aamiraxty naa ad
mitted 4Jais that one of the secret
German submarine bases is unaoubt
edly located somewhere upon the Ves
teraalen islands, to the northwest of
Norway. ''-
In order to effect the destruction ot
the Audacious, had her position been
known . to the Germans, it would have
been a simple matter to send out a
"mother ship" to a point 40 or 60
miles away and there the submarine
could have been readily turned out
within striking distance.
Naval men generally are of the opin
ion that a torpedo fired by a subma
rine sank the Audacious. But how the
submarine managed to reach that part
THRIFT IN BUILDING ILLUSTRATED
By John M. Osklson.
A member of the ' Kansas legisla
ture has been studying the old prob
lem of preventing-fire waste in this
country. He wants an answer to the
question: Way does fire cause a loss
of more than $5,000,000 a year in
Chicago and only, $150,000 a year in
Berlin, which ; approximately has the
same population? .
"In the United States," this Kansas
man says,, "we regard fire as a mis
fortune and sympathize with the man
who has one. Over there they regard
fire as a crime and they investigate
and: punish the man who is guilty of
allowing it" i '
By. a recent actual demonstration
in Chicago it was proved tjaat a mod
est home could be built of brick, and
made practically fireproof at a cost
of only ,2 per cent more .Chan the
same house could 1 be built Of wood
that in a fire would, be totally de
stroyed within 10 minutes. Two cot
tages were put-up one of brick and
the other of wood, the brtck cottage
costing $640 and the wooden cottage
$S29 and then both were set on fire
"good old times." He will be the "same
sort of a mayor as before" which
ought to be a sufficient indication of
the sort of administration the people
ot San Francisco could expect if they
were .foolish enough to allow Dim to
sneak back Into power.
Tb "good old times" were the days
of "Ruef, . of French "restaurants" pro
tected by a ring' of politicians that
would put to shame eve - Tammany
Hall, of bartered municipal franchises,
of grafting supervisors and of a wids
cpen tenderloin. k ' ' .
It Is unthinkable that any large num
ber j of . San Francisco's citizens will
welcome a return of times such, as ex
isted during the Schmltz-Ruef regime.
One severejesson sucbf as they experi
enced cannot soon iave been forgot
ten. If the Schmitz candidacy per
sists, the better elements' of the city"
will combine? tot adjminlster a rebuke
so pronounced and' so emphatic as to
leave no doubt In the minds of anyone
as to where San Francisco stands wita
regard to civic decency. l. . ; . -
AND NEWS IN BRIEF
OREGON SIDELIGHTS
- The stork outdistanced th ertm
Teaper in the city of Baker in 1914,
there being. 814 births. In the' city and
178 deaths."
" An improvement ! club has been. or
ganized at Cascadla, which has, taken'
tin as its - first task that ot making
good the road leading in from Sweet
kiiome. j
.!
' The humane city officials of Pen
dleton have had saad spread down the
middle of the principal paved streets
Sn order to give horses a better footing
during the slippery season.
Hood River county's commissioner!",
after a three days' session , with tax
payers, have pruned the budget by
slicing $700 each from the county li
brary and the iSar Jb tancisco lair ex
hibit items.
Eugene Guard: Mrs. K. S. ("Grand
ma ) Munra, who founded the Hoffman-hotel
in Eugene 35 years ago,
left today for her home in Portland.
She has been visiting friends in Eu
gene. She is nearly 4 years old.
a
The Fossil Journal begins the year
Joyfully, thus: "The past year has
been a good one for Fossil and Wheeier
county, and the. next is going to be
better. Every wind that blows points
to exceptionally high prices for every
thing that grows on otr farms and
.stock 'ranches, and the great bulk of
ur people are closely connected with
the land. Large crops have been put
in, and these will be added to in ihe
spring. Surely our lines are cast in
pleasant places."
"MOTHER SHIPS"
of the sea has completely mystified
them. The solution of the puzzle
would seem to lie. in the . "mother
ship ' or the secret base.
The United States government, how
ever, has plans in its possession for
tne construction of submarines which
will be capable by reason of their size
speed and armament, to do many of the
things now considered Impossible.
These new submarines, bids for which
were to be opened this December, will
be the largest and most powerful ever
constructed. They will be able to ac
company a fleet wherever it may go
even across the ocean. .Such a feat
would not be attempted with any of the
submarines now in commission. Also,
tne new vessels will be capable of
maintaining the same speed as tor
pedo boats or cruisers. They will be
able to attain a speed of 30 knots on
the. surface of the water. When so
operating they will be as efficient as
the present torpedo boats or destroy
ers. They win be able to dive at a
minute's notice and consequently will
be able to fight as well beneath the
surface as on it .
Since the beginning of the war in
Europe, - United States navy officers
have come .to realize that not enough
attention has been paid to the develop
ment of the submarine. When the
new vessels are completed, though'.
the United States will have at its com
mand a weapon of offense and defense
that will surpass anything ever de
vised. . .
The new submarines will be many
times as effective as the submarines
of Germany carried about from place
to place in "mother ships. .
But the Germans, realizing the hith
erto undreamed-of efficiency of the
submarines, are making plans to build
vessels which will be practically on a
par. with the boats the United States
is about to construct. The plant of
the Krupps, at Essen, Germany, is
known to have the plans for building
rifles for these new submarines.
Tne submarines of ' Germany -have
been formed Unto flotillas. Just: ho
many of these- warcraft. the kaiser
possesses Is unknown, -Figures have
been given 'but undoubtedly they are
inaccurate, so l shall not repeat them
It is known, however, that in 1912 more
that $5,000,000 was devoted to the sub
marine branch of the German navy. A
still larger sum was appropriated in
1913. For 1914 the records are, of
course, incomplete. -
Countless experts agree that the sub
marines', will eventually sound the
knell of the big, ponderous battleship
if they have not already done so. What
battleship can protect itself from an
enemy it cannot see? Submarines un
doubtedly will be the dominant factor
in future battles and hostile operations
between fleets Just as they are now
totally .supreme in their own field of
"poaching." But there are some oper
ations In which, under present condi
tions,, they cannot become efficient
For example, under prevailing condi
tions it is impossible for submarines
to cover the landing of a force of
troops. Battleships and cruisers "are
necessary for that. Nor can a sub
marine carry sufficiently heavy guns
to be of any real worth in bombarding
a port.. And it cannot be effective as
a commerce destroyer. -
under identical conditions. The fire
department came in a normal time.
The result? In the brick cottage 20
per cent damage was done, according
to the estimate of insurance adjust
ers, but the frame cottage won re
ported a total loss.
Surely the teaching ja -Obvious! If
you can build or buy g fire-resisting
home at 2 per cent 'more! cost than
that of a fire trap, the difference! In
cost of insurance will bring you .out
more than even. Thafs the purely
financial side it pays to save fire
waste,
Th saving in human" lives in build
ing safely Is another factor that needs
no emphasis. Home buyers and build
ers will place the safety of their fam
ilies above every consideration . of ex
pense when they realize what indif
ference means.
When our people find out that . it
is both safer and more economical to
build so that fires won't occur, the
tremendous waste from this source
wUi be topped. You, who are figur
ing on' a home Can" do most to keep
down the figures, of fire waste.
The Ragtime Muse
Moratorium,
Tes, friend, your favor of .the 1st
Has reached me. I regret to say t-
Prepare yourself to hear the worst
That just at present I ean-'t pay.
Since Europe" s in Its war immersed'
I have postponed my. settling day.
My reasons you may plainly see;
If not. consult the president
He says that we must neutral be.
Tou are of Austrian descent;
No matter how remote, from me
No aid financial shall be lent
T6 any nation now at war, s
The ten bones that to you I owe,
I know not what, you'd use them for
To buy a gun. for all I know, -Or
do some deed men would abhor
No discord for tbia land I'll sowl : .
y:i :.'.--
How do you like my little plan?. ' '
A subterfuge, you think. Well, then.
Since- I'm no tired business man,
.-I'll change my' mind and pay the ten.
Let jHhers dodge . as best they can,
I will assist my fellow men. -
By ; Frad Xockley. Special Staff Writer sf
lot Journal, -f
On December 12. ISSoJ the leuls
lattve, assembly of: Oregon territory
passed an act authorizing the bold
ing of a constitutional convention to
prepare, a constitution for the sUt
of Oregon. Delegates were, elected
and met at Salem on August 17, 1857.
and during the ensutne dava nreoared
a constitution which was; adopted by
me yeopie on .November 9,-1857.? -
Arfjoav over the names of: the S a del
egates and you will find such .names
as, E.-D. Shattuck, A; L. ;LoveJoy, R.
P. Boise, p. P. prim, Jesse Applegate.
Df lazon Smiths M. P. Deady L. it.
Grover, I.- R, Moores.- Georra . Wil
liams. W. H Tockwood and others
equally well known. Of that goodly
company all: have . gone tb - their re
ward but one. v: H. Pockwood, one
or tne rounders of Auburn. Baker
county s tlrst county seat.! now a res'
Ident of the lown of Baker, is. the
only surviving delegate. He came ho
tne coast as an enlisted soldier :ia
tne military escort of General Wils
in 1849. In speaking of his experi
ences in California durlnr the davs
when the eyes of the world were oa
tne California gold fields.! he say si
uur company left Sacramento an
crossed the -valley. .1 remember a
ing only one or two small cabins On
the road to Suisln, where there wast a
Mexican ranch, and none from , there
to wenieia. ; i . ,
vve found great cracks in . tne
earth from drought. There wer wild
oats as far s you could ee( and cat
tle and horses in immense: herds. Wild
geese and brants were to be seen In
countless numbers feeding on the wild
oats. The winter rains had Just bav
gun to fall jand traveling 'was diffi
cult At Sonoma we found a few
members of ithe second dragoons who
had come In from Mexico with Major
uranam s command. Carrtain A.-:J.
Smith cameiln WHh some first dra
goons. Our soldiers-' Quarters was . lo
cated In an adobe building belonging
to General Vallejo who. with his wife.
daughter and' son resided In a part
of the same, building.' The building
irontea on the plaza. It; was two .
stories high, had a driveway between
the corner stories and was enclosed
by an adobe wall behind, making; a !
large yard or corral. At night our:
nuraes enp muies were ariven inroufa e
the driveway Into the corral and out 1.
every morning to feed on the plains .
below Sonoma. I presume the old
building still stands. I f i t
"General .Vallejo, governor f Cali
fornia under Spanish rule, was a" fin
old gentleman, a fine old-style Cas
tillian. . His family were Catholics,
and 1 remember seeing them often
going to mass, it seemed to me then
that the old mission bells ! at Sonoma
were the sweetest toned bells -I ever:
heard, and I still think so. ' r'
"There were -about 25 or 30 soldiers
there. Lieutenant Page, j afterwards
famous as a Confederate i general'' in
the Civil war,: was in command. . He
was a martinet in the matter ; of roll
calls. .The last call for the day, re-,
treat, was S:30 p. m. As It was oft n
very dark and rainy the men did not.,
like it. The lieutenant was prompt
In coming to hear tie repoft from the
sergeant as to those present or ; ab-
"It began to happen that rockn wonlFl
go singing through the ait about the
trme the lieutenant wa,s ito appear.
Carrying a lantprn .dld no good: th
rocks still kept comings until the
lieutenant, not wishing ti- take any
more chanres of heing hit, dlsoensed
with- the 8:30 p. m. retreat roll calt
If was Jur.t .as well, for there were
but few men andi.no calling of VmV
roll would', keep tbem from deserting
to the mines If they wished : to do
"General. Perslf or F.v Smith was Afi
command of the. Pacifli dlvJslon H
was srUh 'General Scott in Mexico, and
a noted man, Soon after our arrival
at Sonoma the geftraV' wanted aTjnai;
to look after his-quarters,! a servant.
He sent for roe and told roe what hs
wanted. He said I would be relieved.
from guard duty, drill and other do-
tles of a soldier. I said I wished t
be excused, ntf A preferred ft soldier
duty. I had enlisted for that, though
I thanked him for the offer. Instead
of taking offense at my blunt refusal
he talked with mn a while" and fin
ished up by complimenting me on my
refusal. During the bnsuins months,
while at- Sonoma, r he -seemed to; feel
fen interest in me.
"A servant to antotfleer such as be
was, would have had many perquisites
and a very easy time, but had-never"
been, nor did .1 intend to become one.
Colonel Joe Hooker was adjutant gen
eral and Lieutenant Alfred Pleasanton
aid-de-camp. Colonel Hooker was a
very fine looking of fWt and es
pecially fo when mounted! on norse-i
back. Pleasanton was a small, effeml--;
hate looking of fleer but .he made a
fine appearance On horseback. After
wards, in the Civil war, hef became a
noted cavalry general, v i -I
was, orderly at the general eourt-
martlal which 'was held at Sonoma In
the soring of 1850. at whlfh. General
Joe Hooker was tried for some breach f
Of. military discipline- General W. H.,
Hallock was- tudse advocate of thaV
court -martial. . riooKer wats a iiki
IrMklng man. He was appointed t
West Point from his f native state.
Massachusetts. He was graduated in
1837 at the aape of 25, In I the same
class With Jabal Early "and. Braxton
Bragg. He. was assigned tot the First
artillery, and served in Florida a4
later in "Maine. In ,fh Mexican war
he served as aide to General -Persi-
fer F. Smith and alsdt to General Gid
eon j. Pillow. He, served jwlth dis
tinction -and was breveted aa lieuten
ant colonel. In 1848 he was promoted
to a captaincy,: Frorn 1843yto ;185l
he was . assistant adjutant general of
the Pacific division. He resigned In
February, 1853. i He was ai civil -en
gineer In California lintll the Civil
war Broke out. t He was mads brtga-
idler general of volunteers, v
"You know what be did m reorgan
izing the army of the Potwmac and 1
oh . the Peninsular campaign. -S- Hla
bravery In leading the charge at Look- j
out Mountain in ine oaiiie uaong n
ciouas woo nini inc ureTei; vi mmjvr
reireral In the regular. army. He re-
red from active service In 3 868."
The Way oi It.V .l
From the New-Y6rk Frees, ;
"I proptsed to my stenograph ertr",
"rou didn t!" , , - t
."Don't get excited, - I only proposed
she" should be assister to me.f . .
The Sunday ! Journal
The Creat Home I Newipaper.
consists abf . -1
., . ..... . . i'
Five pews sections replete with
' illustrated features.
Illustrated magazine of - quality.
Woman's . pages of rare merit
: Pictorial v news supplement :
Superb comic section, - '
, 5 Cents the Copy