VOL. XV. NO. 302. PORTLAND. OREGON, WEDNESDA Y EVENING, FEBRUARY 28, 1917. SIXTEEN PAGES. PRICE TWO CENTS VtSSSti ; COHTTEEOF HOUSE FAVORS ARMING GRAFT President Wilson's Request for Enlarged Authority in Handling Break With Ger many Is Partly Granted. MINORITY REPORTS ARE FILED BY FIVE MEMBERS Belief Is Expressed That the House Will Pass Bill Pro posed by Committee. By Carl I. Groat. Washington. Feb. 28. U. I'.) The house foreign affairs committee to day upheld President Wilsons request for power to meet the international situation but with two important re strictions. Authprlsation for use of "other In stnhnentalltles" anld from runs, gunners and money, was stricken from the original Flood bill, thus limiting tho president's authority to some ex tent. The second restriction was the in seftlon of a provision against use of tho war risk bureau tt Insure ships carrying- munitions. The latter provision may bring the whole armed ships and munitions questions into the present situation and develop complications when a vote tomes. Minority Beport riled. Those voting against the report were Representatives Hhackleford and Hud dleston, DemocratM. and Representatives Cooper and Porter. Republicans, all of whom filed a minority report. Representative Thompson also filed a minority report. As the house bill now stands. It provides for granting President Wil son guns, gunners and $100,000,000 the gun and gunners to be used to "protect ships and citizens of the United States against unlawful attack In their lawful and peaceful pursuits on the-high seas." Tho three proposed amendments to strip'. Wilson of. power to arm muni tion ships were voted down as a sop to the antlre munition ship crowd. The eommjUtea report provided against i Concluded oa re Thirteen. Column Three) CONGRESS TO ACT ON EXTENSION OF POWER Believes Request Will Be Al lowed When Country Has Declared Itself. Bjr John Edwin Nevln. -Washington. Feb. 28. r. X. S.) President Wilson waited today on con gress. He will take no additional , step to bring the general international " crisis caused by Germany's announce- menthol unrestricted submarine opera . tions being resumed and emphasised by the sinking of the laoonia, with t,ts toss of two American women,' to aMieid ntil congress shall express Itself. .-.The president, officials close to him say. believes that when the country has declared itself, congress will give him the power he has asked. . Thers has been no relaxation of the grim tension precipitated by the sink ing of the Laconia. None is Immedi ately looked for, but there was a gen erally growing belief In official quar ters this afternoon that the sinking of the Cunarder would not bo charac terised by the administration as an "act of war." . "Tho onus of the actual break will be placed on Germany," was the word quietly, passed out from official cir cles, - The president will arm Ameri can ships no matter what congress shall do and then he will wait to see What German submtrineawlll do, '(The address of the Imperial German chancellor yesterday was accepted In administration circles as a direct chal lenge. Because of Its .tone it Is be lieved that when the American lino resumes sailings next week its ships - will be in as great danger as are those ot the entente. But it was said that the president Is determined that these interrupted sailings shall be resumed, and it is certain that inasmuch as these liners are to be armed, they will - be considered subject to attack by German submarines. "We are moving step by step and moment, by ' moment," explained a cabinet member today. "Because of this, speculation Is unwise We must do as we think best, but cannot outline a policy that might be chanaed by some unforeseen development at a second's notice. We are hoping for the bes but are preparing for tho worst.", k taw -Against Drug f Starts Indian War , .".r ' Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 28. it. N, S.) Indians of the Unltah and the Ute , tribes o the Unltah reservation . .near here are in actual warfare and a number' have been wounded as a re sult of the enforcement of a law f or is1, bidding the use of peyote.: a drugtgtv r mf errecta similar to those produced 4 by cocaine and secured from a weed, according Ao Chief Big Eagle, who is iters to consult state officials In' an effort to check the hostilities. "A .' J .The Indians are divided 4nto " two i forces, ? tho .v-users Vof the , drug and r' those opposed to its uselvc,?. PRESIDENT WAITS FOR Purchase of LinntonvSite, Now Possible Military Bin Reported to Senate Makes Target Range Fund Available. Washington, Feb. 28. (WASHING TON BUREAU OF THE JOURNAL.) The military bill, reported to the seriate today by Senator Chamberlain, not only makes available for tbe next fiscal year the sum of $100,000, here tofore appropriated for a target range for Vancouver Barracks, but also widens its scope to permit the pur chase of a larger tract and to permit acquisition of the Llnnton site. The vocational training feature of the bill is considered valuable for experimen tal purposes. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars is appropriated for the training. One regiment of en listed men at the post is to beTwected. to be given three hours' trainings-each day in military instruction, and ix hours in pursuits useful to Industrial .life and citizenship. Secretary of War Baker has In formed Senator Chamberlain that the number and kind of troops to b sta tioned at Vancouver in the future and the question of withdrawal of lands of the Warm Spring Indian reserva tion for military maneuvers depend upon future developments of national defense. Further, he says, no reser vation of Oregon and California grant lands for military purposes is consid ered necessary. Senator Chamberlain suDmuiea inese mailers to tne war a group of pacifists by Presi department as suggestions made by dent Wnson thW afternoon. Maximum protection for this tcl tory through development of the arapy post' at Vancouver was the object of the chamber in its inquiries through Senator Chamberlain of the war de partment. Executive Secretary W. D. B. Dodson explained today. The sug gestions were made to put before the Vfar department officials the needs of tMs locality and the facilities for meeting them.. Ifhe suggestion regarding the Ore gon, & California grant lands was that in its ultimate program of defense the government might set asida a sec tion here and there of such lands - as are not adapted to agriculture or oth er uses, as centers for the military activities on this coast. It was not the plan to have these tracts Improved at this time, but merely to have them held In reserve for whatever emer gencies might arise. ALUS WANT Ul IN BY S E N ATO R-ELECT Hale of Maine, Returns From Study of War Conditions at I First Hand in Europe, New Tork, Feb. 28. (U. JM "The allies want us in the war, I,loyd George wants us in the war. Premier Briend wants us in the war,-- was the word brought to the T'nited States to day from Europe by Colonel Frederick Hale, United States "senator-elect from Maine, who arrived aboard the Amer ican liner Finland. Hale has been abroad several months studying war conditions before taking his seat in the next congress. I had a talk with L,loyd George be fore I left England," Hale said. "I also talked with Premier Brtand , of France, and other officials closely in touch with the conduct of the war. Without exception they are elated at the step which sent Count von Bern- storff back to Germany, and they be- llevo the next move will carrv the m Wr n S,d r the ailies. Moral Effect Is Desired. . "The moral effect of the American entry is all that Is hoped for by the Kuropean countries. They declare the spectacle of only a few American troops fighting trie German armies in Krance would have a tremendous moral effect, i no xeeiing in tne allied nations, toward the United States has changed greatly. The United States now Is (Concluded on Pag Thirteen. Column Two) German Detention Of Consuls Charged WAR WORD BROUGHT 1 that is not unqualifiedly and reserv V. B. Xnveetlgatee Unofficial Xeports edly American in this crisis has made That Three Officials and Two Clarke its,f th Kateer s a"y ara Xald Am Hoetersa, Herald All doubts about the neces- ' sity of the government s taking im Washington, Feb. 28. (U. P.) The mediate steps for the absolute protec state department admitted this after- tlon of merchant vessels should bo re noon it is investigating unofficial ad- moved by the unlawful sinking of the vices that three Amerlcs .i consuls and Laconia. So far as it is able Ger- two consular cierKs are Deing detained in? Germany until Germany is assured uerman consul roueuer was noi -ana Is not now detained by. order of this government at Havana, Cuba, while en route to Quito, Ecuador. H. C A."Damm, formerly consul at Alx-la-Chappetle; Joseph A. Wood, ex counsel at Chemnitz; Harold Swaters, ex-vlce consul at Berlin, and Ennis Brown and W. B. Wallace, ex-consular clerks at Mannheim and Madgeburg. respectively; are the consul officials concerned. . Some officials. , speaking pirtvately. Lsaid that if the reports, which were spread from tne Swiss legation be- fore even e state depae luew of them, are true, the case represents -merely, another piece of barbarous hostage practice, very . similar to the nnntimie holdinr of the Y-rrow.1.1- T"-r.. - ' . Sickness Detains' Three. .Washington. Feb. 28. (U. - P.) Three American - consuls remain In Germany today, according to the state department. They ares-'-f-r' V ''Ux Consul General i Harris, Frankfort: Vicei Consul Carlson and, Vice Consul Entenmann, stuttgaart. They are ill and - at t' present unable to leave - Ger- ,. iDDVAM IMTCMnC uiiinu iiiiliiuu TO LAST DITGH Former Secretary of State Calls Upon Public to Con firm' President Wilson's Statement as to War. WOULD KEEP AMERICANS OFF BELLIGERENT SHIPS War Element Charged With Attempt to Manufacture Hostile Sentiment. President Gives Assurance. Washington, Feb. 28. (I. N. S.) "I have done, am now doing and will continue to do everything- in my power to keep the United States at peace." This was the assurance given The pacifist committee had pre- senated resolutions to the presl- dent urging him to keep this country out of war. "Nothing short of Invasion should be allowed to Involve & this country in the holocaust,'' the pacifists told the presl- dent. The group was headed by Jane Addams of Chicago, and included Miss Emily Green Balch, professor of economics, 3 Wellesley college; Joseph Can- non, representing mlneworkers and labor organizations of the west, and Dr. Frederick Lynch, executive secretary of the Church Peace union. Washington. Feb. 28. U. P.) Former Secretary of State Bryan will support tho administration In the event of war. But until war comes. phe told the United Press today, he will oppose "with all his resources' any steps that might lead to war. He insisted war should be decided on only by a. referendum vote. . . i Bryan discussed "general principles' freely. He wottfd "nCntiwever, "tie (Concluded oa Pace Tilc. Columa Seveii) GONGRESS IS TOLD TO mw ma w PRESIDENT IN New York Editorial Comment Indicates Laconia Sinking Iste&n "Overt Act." New Tork, Feb. ZS.(V. P.) New York editorial comment on the sink ing of tho Laconia and the interna tional si'- on in general follows: Under t heading "Time to Declare War," the Tribune says' "At lat the administration faces an "overt act' on Germany's part which It ran hardly explain away, "Mr. Wilson has. said manr times tnat he would not tolerate any more ch murders- He has pledged him- self again and agin to 'protect our people in their legitimate and peaceful pursuits on the seat..' Now the occa- sion has come which compels him to make his words good. If those words mean anything, the administration Is bound in honor to ask congress to de- dare war. Nothing short of a decla- ration of war will suffice." "Disgrace to Coagreea." World It is a disgrace to congress, it is a disgrace to the American people, it is a disgrace to the eternal principles- of the republic that there could have been an hour's wrangling and i haggling over tne question whether the - United States should maintain its honor or surrender abjectly to German ruthlessness. There has been enough of national humilation. A congress many is translating its threats into action. It is of greatest importance (Conttnued on Tate Kivc. Column Onet Dutch Ship in Port With 179 Survivors Newport News. Va Feb. 28. (L N. S.) With 179 survivors of ships sunk by German submarines aboard, tbe Dutch steamer Arm in do, from Rot terdam to Hampton Roads, arrived lM of flve 8eparllte attacks &nd wer DiCked uo in the Bav of biimv fr?anrt .It h. ,1 " 7r. r.JvTk 1 were British, two Norwegians ana -one it an an Universal Military ; I Training Retained Washington. Feb. : 2 s"- U. P.) The senate'..! military -? commute tndiv agreed to resort; the armv bill carrv i J ing an amendment providing for unl- I versa! t muitary traiaingv Vi : CRISIS Fund for Food Prices Inquiry. Wins in House Borland Amendment Providing $400,000 Passed, by Vote ot , 247 to 158. Washington, Feb. 28. (U. P.) The house today passed the Borland amendment to the sundry civil ' bill providing $400,000 wherewith the Fed eral Trade commission shall investi gate food prices. The vote on the amendment was 247 to 158, and the sundry civil measure itself passed without a record vote. ' 1 SEATTLE IS REMOVED BY INCREASING FARES Portland Tourists to East Must Pay $5,60 More if They Go via California, After April 1. Portland people pur chasing round-trip tickets for the east, with the return Journey routed through California, will have to pay $5.60 more than they have been paying hitherto. The railroads have decided on this means of removing the discrimination against Seattle, which city had charged before the Interstate Commerce com mission that the $6.60 "arbitrary" was an unscientific and oppressive factor In travel. The commission ruled that the dis crimination must cease, but left the ways and means with the carriers themselves. Inasmuch as the actual reasonableness of the fare Itself was not attacked, the railroad, rather than reduce the faro from Seattle, are rais ing the rate from Portland. Tariffs covering this readjustment will b out in a day or so, that the requisite 30 days' notice may be had before the fares actually become ef fective. It is rumored that transcontinental one-way summer excursion fares, both east bound and westbound, are to be higher this year than last by approxi mately $5. Official decision to this ef fect has not been reached by the rail roads, but it is known that they have been giving the subject much, consid eration of late. , - Murder Charge Made Against Chinaman Charles Lee Yin. officer of the Hop Sing tong, and one of the 12 men ar rested following the tong battle on North Fourth street Saturday when Irani Quong Fong. a Blng Kong-Bow Leong member, was killed, has been charged with murder in a complaint filed at police headquarters by Deputy District Attorney T. G. Ryan. Bail was fixed at $4000 and Charles Lee Tin will probably be released in that sum, as strenuous efforts to raise the money were being made to day. All the other prisoners have been released. There were no further developments in the tong war today. Both Chinese districts still are strongly guarded by the ipollce. Carver Gets More Bus Line Franchises Two more franchises to operate motor buses through the central east side and the Rose City Park district and on two routes of the west side, were granted to Stephen Carver of the Portland Trackless Car Co., by the city coufitil today. Two franchises for routes in other sections of the city have already been granted and a fran chlse to operate buses over a route to Linnton is - pending. The franchises passed today take effect in 30 days. Given Thirty Days On Plea of Guilty E. C. Ball, indicted by the federal authorities for perjury, and who had pleaded not guilty, changed his plea to guilty this morning in Judge Bean's court, and was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail and fined $100. He was taken by the United States mar shal to jail. Ball was charged with giving false testimony during the hearing of William and Milton Mar gulls, who were alleged to have shipped liquor into this state in vio lation of the interstate commerce act. Pago Pago Has Been Made Closed Port San Francisco, Feb. J8. (P. N. S.) Pago Pago, the American naval sta tion in the Sam o an group, has been ntads a closed port as a' result of the International crisis, according to of ficers of the steamer Ventura, which arrived yesterday from Sydney. The order went Into effect the day ot the break with Germany. A radio bulletin, published at Pago Pago by the United States officials, giving the American . residents their only news of the world . events, , was discontinued at the same time. Gehnan Naval Plane Bombed Transport Berlin,. via Sajrvllle .Wireless. Feb. 2.t(C. P.) A. German, 'naval plane in the 'Northern Aegean' sea success fully bombed a hostile transport ship. the' of fieal press agency :- announced today. - - .The machine -returned , safely In spite of violent; shelling and pur suit Dy two Hostile planes. " .,c;-.-v ARBITRARY AGAINST BENSON, IDAIJIS oIjRoTd BOARD Governor Withycombe Con firms Announcement Made 'Yesterday by The Journal; Says He Feels Better. SEES STRENGTHENING OF THE BIG BOND ISSUE Executive Wants Body to Or ganize and Get Work Started Soon. Salem. Or.. Feb. 28. Governor Withycombe has confirmed the an nouncement made yesterday by The j Journal of the personnel of the new highway commission. The new com missioners are E. J. Adan-a of Eugene, representing the first congressional district: W. L. Thompson of Pendle ton, representing tho second congres sional district, and 8. Benson of Port land, representing the third district. Mr. Adams was here yesterday con ferring with tho governor about high way matters, and the crjef executive will go to Portland this afternoon to confer with Mr. Thompson. Governor Withycombe exprfesed re lief that the highway commission has been appointed, as it has taken a load off his shoulders. He said he would have no recommendations to make to the commission as to the selection of a highway engineer or any other em ploye, but he wants the commission to get organized and to get work started as soon as possible. Says Bond Xsene Kelped. The governor expressed the opinion that tho personnel of the commission will add strength to the campaign to carry the $6,000,000 road bond issue. It Is expected that the commission will be organlxea In a few days. Com missioner Benson, who has been spend ing the winter in Southern California, has sent word that he will return to Oregon at once and enter upon his new duty. It is understood that Mr. Benson win It IS unaersiooa nat mr. oonun wm ebo?en chBirma ot The first task of the commission will be the selection of a highway en gineer who in the language of tbe act "hall be a competent civil engineer and Qualified by a technical training as well as practical' construction ex perience in highway work. His salary is to be fixed by the com mission but is not to exceed $5000 a year. The commission will also have the appointment of his assistants and the fixing of their compensation. Cost Xs Xdmlted. It Is provided, however, that the total cost in any one year for main taining the department shall not ex ceed 10 per cent of the total funds available that year. xne nignway engineer is to oe me executive officer of the commission, j is lo nave general supervision over all matters pertaining to state I nighway construction. Applications for engineer have been coming in ever since the law was parsed. Among those whose names have been prominently mentioned in con nection with the place are: Herbert Nunn, county highway engineer of Multnomah county; Representative Laurgaard of Multnomah county. City Commissioner Dieck and City Engi neer Dater of Portland. Eeserve Bank May Place Branch Here Merita of This City as Site Will Be' Znlly Zavestigated as Well as Those of Seattle aad Spokane. That the merits of Portland as a site for the proposed branch of the federal reserve bank will be fully in vestigated aa well as those of Spokane and Seattle, which are also aspirants for the Institution, Is the statement made today by C. J. Shepherd, assist ant cashier of the federal reserve bank at San Francisco. Mr. Shepherd has just returned from a business trip to Seattle, where he practically established a branch bank during the late "financial un- pleasantness" in that city. He also visited Spokane to see what the peo- pie there watned to do with a branch bank. "It will probably be some time," says Mr. Shepherd, "before announce ment will be made regarding the se lection of a site for the branch bank. All sites will be investigated." While at Seattle Mr. Shepherd of fered to take all the rediscount notes that the banks there had to offer, but there was plenty of money available at home and no notes were offered. Battery A Captain, 0. W. Helme, Resigns Captain C. W. Helme. who com manded Battery A. Field Artillery. Oregon National Guard, while in the federal service on the border, has re signed, his resignation to take effect Immediately. It will - require some weeks to close up his accounts and release him. Captain Helme was elect ed to command the battery last year a few weeks before being called out. Poet Scout Dies at Home in New York 1 New Tork. Feb. 28 (I. JC &) John Wallace Crawford. "rCaptaln Jack. the poet scout. Is dead at his borne here today.- He was 70 years of age and died 'from pneumonia. , , -vi," -f :. r X- i v.- : ..- :X -.?' SBENSQN (top) ndW.L. Thompson, two members . of the new state high way . commission named by Governor. ft II J slf, j . . . Protest at Mayors Message Is Sent Prominent women representing Ger man speaking societies and churches of Portland sent Mayor Albee a set of resolutions protesting against a tele gram the mayor had sent to the Oregon congressional delegation in doming Vresident Wilsons German policy regarding submarine warfare. The resolutions embodying the pro test were adopted at a meeting held at the German house yesterday. Mayor Albce's telegram urged that honor bo first consideration In the 'present crisis elm affecting American rirhi on ti. Mrk t considerable Interest to 'be manifested Dy iocal erman-Amerlcan circles, Strahorn Will Come To Talk Business Klamath Falls. Or., Feb. 28. To set tle final details regarding the contract for construction of the Klamath Falls Dairy link of the Oregon-California railroad, Robert E. Strahorn will ar rive from San Francisco Thursday eve nlng. When the sale of the $3000 mu- ! nlcipal railroad bonds was effected to the Bpitrer-Korick company of Toledo. Ohio, Monday night, a clause was in serted allowing the city opportunity to retract Its action within 14 days, if i desirable. Mayor Crisler therefore wired Stra horn asking that he appear and make definite arrangements before this 14 day period has elapsed. Postoff ice Force Changes Places A three-cornered change In the Port- i land postofflce force has been- made by is been 'urnian j Postmaster Myers in pursuance of the t postmaster general's -recommendation.? ' that employes exchange positions from j time to time In order that they may obtain opportunity for broader and more comprehensive training in their work. M. K. Wlgton, formerly In the par cel post section. Is now examiner of postofflce stations. C. O. Stone, who vacates that position, now has L. B. Simmons' job as paying teller lrr the money order department.. Simmons now has Wlgton's job. Salaries paid all three positions after the change are the same, according to Myers. Police Surgeon Calls Harry Thaw Wreck Philadelphia. Feb. 28. (I. N. a) Following testa made by New Tork alienists. Dr.. John Wanamaker, well known police surgeon, declared today that Harry K. Thaw Is a physical and mental wreck. . Dr. Wanamaker was assigned by Captain, of Le tec tires Tate as expert. . Thaw collapsed dur ing the examination and his -condition today is serious. y - . m 4 Hog Prices Again : Break All Records Chicago, Feb.;.ll. OX. v:p.) Hogs sold for $13.55 on tbe local market today v. This . is an advance of ,'20 cents - per" hundred over - yesterday's top and the. highest, price ever paid on tne Chicago maraet. ; . . r - i Puss Sticks in Flue and Loses 8 of Its Lives Police, Humane Society and Chim ney Sweep Combine to Eject Feline From Its Perch. A grain , sack full of brickbats let down from the roof, with a policeman guiding the destinies of the instru ment by reaching through a stove hole In the kitchen, was the means of dislodging ah obstinate cat from Its hiding-place deep in a chimney at the home of Mr. Harry Balle. 87 Kast Twenty-fourth street. Tuesday after noon. The est either fell into the chimney or entered it through the fireplace Sunday night. When Mrs. Balls arose Tuesday she heard the walls of the Im prisoned feline. She discovered Tabby wedged deep in the chimney. The Humane society was notified, and one of its officers Monday spent three hours in vain ef fort to release .the cat. Every means that sympathetic by standers could suggest was adopted, to secure the caff release. Water was poured down the chimney, from the roof. Hot fires were bulltin an effort to smoke the cat out. Hooks attached to ropes were let down, and an effort was made to drive it out through the fireplace opening. In desperation Mrs. Balle called the police. Motorcycle Patrolmen Bales and Coulter took down the kitchen stove pipe, but the cat remained se cure. A chimney sweep appeared, pro cured a grain sack and weighted 't with brick bats. By this time Bay King and Ben Trenkman arrived from police headquarters to assist. The chimney sweep lowered the sack of bricks with a rooe. letting the mass fall squarely on the feline. Three times the bricks rose and fell. Each time a terrific squall resounded from the chimney. Suddenly a mass of oot and crum bled cement tumbled down. An Instant later a disheveled, gaunt cat. its hair singed In some places and soaked in others, dropped to the bottom. The cat hit the ground and In three Jumps was out of sight, going straight east towards Mount Scott. It was a black and white stray and Mrs. Balle said she had noticed it In the neighborhood several days before its strange incarceration. No one knows how the cat got In the chimney. INIQUITOUS BEAN BILL PRESAGES- IMMENSE LOSS JUHIS STATE Measure Opens Way for the S. P, to Secure Lands Now Worth $45,750,000, The Railroad's Prayer, Intoned by the recent legislature by direction of Bean of Lane, means much. In the answering, for the Southern Pacific, or for the people of Oregon, as the case may be. It means a profit to the railroad company of approxima tely $45,760,000, h-eded by con- should its pleading)i be gress end th courts, in line with the arguments of Mr. Bean, and the con tentions of thn Southern Pacific It means the loss at 39.261,250 to the common school fund of the state of Oregon. It means the loss of $9,621,250 to the port districts of the grant land counties itjL F"" It means the loss of 118,522.800 to the federal reclamation fund, a por tion of which, at least, probably would be spjnt in Oregon. Settlers Would Be Barred. It means more than all this. It means, should Its provisions obtain, that nearly 1,150,000 acres of land will not be given free to those settlers who have been watting for 40 years and more for an opportunity to carve homes out of the empire granted to the Oregon & California railroad, which empire tbe company has held sequestered for nearly half a century. In round numbers the Oregon California land grant contains 2,300.- 000 acres of land. Since the passase of the Chamberlain-Ferris act, revest ing these lands In the federal gov ernment, . tbe agents of the govern ment have been at work classifying the vast holding as the act directed. At th most conservative estimate half of the tract will come within the (Co Deluded on Pag NlB. Column tunr) Gerard and Party Start for America Corunna. Spain. Feb. 28. (I. N. S.-- Former Ambassador to Germany James W. Gerard and his American diplomatic party are on the last leg of their homeward Journey today. A great public reception was tendered the Americans when they boarded the Spanish steamer Infanta Isabella, which sailed yeeterdayr Van Dyke olns Gerard. . New Tork, Feb. 28. (I. N. S.) It was reported that Dr. Henry Van Dyke, resigned minister to the Neth erlands, was aboard the liner Finland, which arrived today, but passengers stated that at the last moment he can. celed his sailing and went to fipaln to join the party of ex-Ambassador Ger ard.1 who has taken passage on the epanisn unsr Infanta Isabella. Norwegian Liner to Sail for ; Christiania New Tork. Feb." 2t (f. Wl S.) Tbe Norwegian-American line, steam er - Kristtnlafjord ; cleared -today for Christiania with, a general cro, hot with no passengers. She will take the northern route, touching at ' Halifax, to avoid tne submarine sons... .. COUNCIL ract; I ' ; r - ' Pearson Construction Co; Is Awarded Work . of Elimi nating Grade Crossings Along 0-W. R. & N.m; PROPERTY OWNERS PUT UP STRONG OBJECTIONS Threat Is .Made to Invoke Aiti of Courts Because Prop-y-erty Owners Assessed,!; . The city council today awarded - the contract for the elimination of grade. crossings over the O-W, R: & tC '. tracks from East Thirty-seventy street and Sandy boulevard .to the city limits, to tho Pearson Cpnstrue- . tion company, for $50. 47.50. This it .. the largest project i handled by the : city in years and Involves the ellmlna- tlon of seven grade crossings and th ; -construction of that number of via v ducts across the tracks of the rail- road company in the eastern part T the city. The award was made In the f ace o threats of injunctions to hold up the , project, and over the protests t A., ,- Shapiro who said he represented a : large number of small home owners In ' the district. Henry Howltt aald that he would seek an Injunction to pre--""" vent the signing of the contract. . V. Wants Actios Bsfenred. "A Mr. Shapiro, who presented a petl tion signed by about 125 property owners In the Rose City Park district, ; ; asked that action toward awarding the contract be delayed nntll June, tilt . said that the principle of assessing .a . part of the cost of the work to prop- erty owners wu wrong. After thj . meeting he declared that It was pro posea to nave a charter amendment ' providing for the cost of railroad via ' duct construction being paid entjrclf oy tne railroad companies. In taking thi action, member ot the council explained that tha city had ' -expended approximately 170.00 on the - ; project to date and that contracture! relationship between the ctty and the ' railroad company necessitated proceed tng with the work. r " Will H. Daly, commissioner of juh He-.utilities; said that while he Was op- : posed to the present charter provision requiring property owners ' to pay a part of the coat, it had been adopted - by the people and the council's only recourse was to proceed. .r ! Cost About agoo,000. a i While the contract price la S0G. : 457.50. the cost or the entire rojecz, : including damages to property, n . glneerlng, etc., will be approximately : . $600,000. The O-W. n. ic N., and the .Portland . t T; Railway, Light & Power company, are ; to pay 60 per cent of this amount, the city 20 per eent end 20 per cent Is to be assessed to property owner ' In the district affected. About 14 00o J ,ots "r to b assessed, and according, to Commissioner . Uleck. the average itmrBriiitni I'vr ioi win be approxi mately $8. ' .. Austria Denies Her: Diver Sank the Law Washington, Feb. 28 (T. N. S.)- The Austrian government today notW fled tbe state department that the " American schooner Lyman IL Law , was not sunk by an Austrian subma rine. In a note transmitted througn Ambassador Penfleld the foreign min later said that all commanders of Aue trlan submarines have been heard from and that none reported tbe at tack on the American craft. The captain of the law in : re porting the sinking, explained that the submarine bore neither flag nor num ber. -',$'. This fact, coupled with the fact that the attack occurred m the Medi terranean; led to official belief that the warship was Austrian. The Law's captain reported that" several of the submarine's crsw wer Release of Sailors Held Up by Malady Oermaa Yrses Bareas Says Qaaraatlae' . - Xeaenres rorbld Tsrrowaals Frisoa, ers Zteavtag Oarmaay for a While, . Berlin, via Kayvllle wireless. Feb! 28. (U. P.) "The release of the Tar- ? rowdale - prisoners, though orderel some time ago, unfortunately cannot be carried out for the moment aa in the , place of their residence a case of in factious malady occurred," said a . statement by tbe press bureau Mon day. . ; Thia, in the interest of neutral . countries, necessitates quarantine ' measures for a number of people about ''. to leave Germany. It Is hoped that quarantine will be of short duration' only. American citizens are safe and H well." Prosperty of City - :il Is Reflected by:v Bank Clearings . Portland bank clearings for t February reflect prosperity- with " the greatest increase In bust- i r reus ever shown in the local a financial field. Total ." banJc ', 4 - clearings for the month wers i ' $3l,4S.6.13, while those for a tbe aame month a year 'a go were$3,04a7.2t,-;,:? " ' ; i-V