,; ! .ov,-,,,, ilil fawwa : ; "Tfe Chaflehge' of ,:BvMSSct
" wyw . , - --.r -wi- " - - - ----- - ; a ; -i ; : . 5 : 1 p 1
. "No Favor Sways Us; No Fear SluaU Awe"
From First Statesman, March 28, 1851
THE STATESMAN PUBLISHING CO.
' Cbasles A. SntAGUZ - - ... Editor-Manager
StnxDOK F. Sackxtt - - . - . If oxcgfag Editor ,
Member ef the Associated Pre
The Associated Frees te eacJtielvely entitled to tit um tor publica
tion ot all news dispatches credited to It or not otherwise credited In
thla paper. j .
,. ADVERTISING
"1 , Portland Representative ,
V I' Oordoa & Bell, Security Building; Portland, Ore.
Eastern Advertising Representatives
- Bryant. OrlffKa Branson, fat, Chicago, New Torfc, Detroit
Boston, Atlanta.
Eniered at tk Po$tff fa at Salem, Oregon. Second-Close
Matter. Published every morning except Monday. Businet
office, tlS S. Commercial Street. -
SUBSCRIPTION BATES:
Mall Subscription Kates, In Advance. Within Oregon: Dally and
Sunday, 1 Mo. 69 cents; S Mo. $1.25; Mo. 2.2t; 1 year 14.00.
Etoealiere 10 cents per Mo or 5.ee for t year In advance.
By City Carrier: S cents a months S.eo a year In advance. Per
Copy t centa On trains and News Stands 6 cents.
Nailing on the Mortgage
ON reconsideration the senate passed the grange power
bill which is another step toward putting ths state in
the power business to the tune of $65,000,000 financed by a
blanket mortgage on the property of the state. At a time
when legislation is devoted to lifting burdens from property
owners and going as far as possible toward easing the mort
gage load from the backs of debtors the legislators are ad
vancing plans to put the biggest bond of all on the people
of Oregon. It is true that the people voted the power amend
ment last fall : but that does not make it rational legisla
tion. It is true that the bill calls for further popular vote
before bonds may be issued; but the power bill is merely
another part of the program of the wrecking crew who are
out to destroy private investment in utility services through
the weapon of public bonding power and public taxation.
"Without cost to the taxpayers", the shibboleth of the
George Joseph campaign, is merely the will-o'-the-wisp to
lead the people on. Oregon had the same golden pictures
painted for financing of irrigation "districts over a decade
ago; and now the legislature is expunging liens on property
of land owners in irrigation districts. The public ownership
program for the state may succeed; though political man
agement has not been conspicuously successful in most forms
of enterprise. If it fails however the burden falls right
back on the public through taxation. At the present time,
With Oregon having the largest indebtedness per capita of
any state in the union, save one, it is dangerous business to
pile on additional debt. Already the state's credit has suf
fered from the unwise fiscal policies of the state.
A companion bill which i3 likewise fraught with dan
ger is the one which calls for a bond issue of $3,000,000 to
duplicate some federal money for improvement of the Wil
lamette. This is in the face of the report of army engineers
that prospective savings do not warrant the expenditure on
.the river. The bait held up is power from the dams at one
or two points below Salem. In all probability this would be
high cost power. The stream flow fluctuates widely; the head
is low; the dam would be long and expensive. There is a pow
er generating surplus capacity at the present time. And
cheaper units may be installed in better situated mountain
streams.
The propaganda for "free power' has caused a general
hysteWa. The public and legislators have the jitters. Instead
of looking a business deal over critically the mass mind swal
lows the hokum and votes millions at the same time it is
chiseling dimes off of policemen's salaries and tradesmen's
due bills.
Let the grange and the political housewives stick to their
text and provide power "without cost to the taxpayers" ; and
i not only without cost, but also "without risk to the taxpay
' ers". The people of the state owe enough now in private in
public debt to engage their labors for a decade. If the grange
proponents were practical they would propose some plan for
acquiring the common stock -of existing utilities. But of
course that would not provide fresh jobs for engineers, con
tractors and material-men.
In this time of stringency the state better await the
working-out of its newly inspired regulation bill befort it
takes the plunge off the deep end into sixty-five millions of
. fresh debt and political ownership.
' '
BITS for BREAKFAST
-By R. J. HENDRICKS-
Ratifying Conventions
IF the lower house of the national congress passes the
Blaine resolution for repeal of the 18th amendment, then
it will be submitted not to legislatures of the several states,
but to special constitutional conventions summoned to vote
on the particular issue. The terms of the Blaine resolution
specify this, but do not make any call for such state conven
tions, the machinery for which must be created by the
states.
It then becomes the duty of the several state legislatures
to enact legislation to convene such an assembly. The Oregon
senate voted down the Upton bill. If the national lower
house does pass the Blaine resolution before the Oregon leg
islature adjourns then it will be the clear duty of the Oregon
legislature to pass legislation either the revived Upton bill
or another measure on the subject.
The dries cannot afford to be other than good citizens.
Oregon has a right and duty to express itself through prop
er constitutional means on the proposed amendment. Oregon
voters on the clear-cut issue of retention or repeal of the
18th amendment will speak their voice; and the wets and
dries will have ample opportunity for conducting whatever
campaign they desire to control the convention. Though we
have consistently supported the 18th amendment, we have
never refused to give the people the opportunity to express
themselves again on this question. Presuming that the re
peal amendment is to be submitted, the Oregon legislators,
regardless of personal opinions on prohibition, should com
ply with the conditions which are thus imposed.
Just why the senators and representatives tax themselves to
present their presiding; officers with a bunch or silverware is one
of the mysteries ot hnman nature. The way men break their necks
to f et the honors one would think the prestige of the position would
be adequate compensation. But even In a hard times year like the
present when some of the legislators cam hardly house and teed
themselves through the session, they all jump like sheep to pungle
up real money tor a gift to the speaker or president ot the senate
for merely doing his duty. We'd like to be president of the senate
one year Just to make a grand gesture and tell the members to !
kMD their ftva nlnnka Instead of miklnr m. forfeit srlft nt if I
Salem's first street earsi
Is
(Continued from yesterday! )
T. H. Hubbard, one ot the stock
holders and directors, la the man
ager of the company's lines and
business.
"Following is a complete list
of the stockholders ot the Salem
Street Railway company, at the
present time:
Squire Farrar A Co., B. S. Lam
port, George B. Hatch, Ben Forst-
ner, George F. Smith, Joseph Al
bert, D. Grierson. P. 8. Knight,
Edward Weller, Wm. Brown, Geo.
W. Johnson, T. O. 8haw, Stelaer
& Blosser, John Knight, Wm. N.
Ladue, P. J. Lars en, Geo. J.
Pearce, Hugh MeNary, J. B.
Stnmp, George Williams, O. D.
Gabrielson, T. MeF. Pat ton,
Moores & Manning, O. W. Helleu
brand, Theo. Nolf, J. J. Dalrym
ple, J. H. McCormiek, R. P. Boise,
Gilbert Bros., Dan J. Fry, Geo. D.
Goodhue, Lunn A Brown, B M.
Walte, 8. T. Northcutt, J. W. Hod
son, John Moir, J. A. Baker, Lot
L. Pearce, Wm. England, H. W.
Cottle, N. H Burley, A. N. OU
bert, T. J. Croalse, J. A. Cook,
J. H. Bridgeford, Jon Ferguson,
W. W. Hutchinson, L. L. Row
land, A. E. Strang, Chas. B
Moores, John O. Wright, J. J
Shaw, C. L, Keller, 8. R. Jeesup,
Norrls Brown, John Q. Wilson,
Klinger A Beck, Monroe A Bell,
Rhoda A. Edes, 8. W. Church,
Ladd A Bush, T. H. Hubbard,
R. J. Hendricks, W. M? Kaiser,
H. S. Jordan, Angle MoCulloch,
G. B. A A. N. Moores, George A.
Conn, Cook A Miathorn, J. 8
Bridgeford, T. J. Cherrlngton, L.
Henderson, Robert Ford, F. J
Oatterlln. B. M. LaFore, Paul Ob
erheim, J. 0. Brown, O. O. Brown,
Charles Watt, R. I. Wallace,
Frank Davey, WUlls A Ohamber
11a, J. H. Albert, Chas. A. Gray,
George H. Sauberi.
By working night forces dnrlng
the closing day of the period, the
contractors had the line to the
Southern Pacific passenger depot
ready for operation on Tuesday,
January IB, lift, though Man
ager T. H. ("Tom') Hubbard had
experienced some difficulties in
getting his drivers and the horses
and mules accustomed to their
new work, and a few days passed
before everything was limbered
up and the system operating
smoothly.
antagonistic
ynsmg Dr. Join Wetfe. assistant to
the town's' klandertar eU Dr.
Threadceld. when ha tried to better
tftadltioaa. The young physldan re-
allncc also U pitiable plight ex the
tahabitants la the hands of the ell
doctor, vhe eaatiome hiss to he snore
sparing ta the ace of aeeaesarf
WctXsv etnaaoi at rac
naanltary conditions he
era ye here, prepared a step
lag the mmhealthr glstrScte. Urn,
the
STN0PSI3 ' I "Have you ever .thought Jaan,
The emu ttOe tewa of Ktc V" E!fm2L
stock Jolted ea. -rmsta elnmsfly.l V.t-Jn'or -
esateate to Jog atoag in m rat, meaicnt.
reacatlag thc lntcrfcrence el say. rfTT" TrnL-and nil
wheeeaght to change IU noaei.. , .
ef living. The people, therefore, I mmMlA ..v
MMMSJ w UM jwm mm u w w www
only keep our courage and our ala
cetityl U I can sec wj wayl
She broke la suddenly. :
Doa1 fe. Doat let them drive
joa out," .
Wolfe gut up abruptly. A strange
feeBnf of exultant and chivalrous
gmUt swept through bin. Ee fait
that he must cush at aamethfag,
swine his fists, hit ouL and shout
like a man heading a charge of
l ii V. ,Wm mtL wan tkoa.
vareacgou ccam lsasd hv tha thancht that he must
ass secsrMirftg Wolfe's rasoarchesl . m' -n m,. that ha
had ae right there, that Jess should
be alone.
Mr, Josiaa Crabbe was consid
ered to be the most eccentric man
ta Kavestock, la his early dare he
had been christened "The Atheist,
largely because ef hie violent sin
cerity and his naU-eavage way ox
throwing his sarcasms into tac
faces of his neighbors. Nor caa it
be denied that the title bad taken
Joelah Crabbc'a fancy. He eras
one of those men who had been
bora with a strong hatred of $31
humbug and make-believe, and he
had learned to hate early and to
hate weu. As for the name of
"Atheist," he had accepted ft with
a subtle and sneering satisfaction,
flaunted it, so to speak, with cynical
arrogance, and even used it as a
cap of darkness for the baffling and
the Polytechnic school, where the
state school for the deaf la now
Also np Center street to 14th, out
ltth street to Mornlngslde addi
tion, and still other extentions
were made.
a
That tall, the Capitol City Rail
way was organised, Incorporated
Nor. II, 1189, with fl5,00 cap
ital stock, the Incorporators be
ing Rev. P. 8. Knight, David
Simpson, Geo. W. Webb, Otto
Krausae, W. T. Gray, M. L. Cham
berlin and Louis Kuhn; capital
stock later Increased to $S0,000.
The first company could not se
cure financial resources fast
enough to satisfy property hold
ers in some sections including
along east State street; and Lou
is Kuhn, among the promoters of
the rival line, being manager for
the concern contracting for prison
labor making stoves at the pen
itentiary, was especially concern
ed in having street car connec
tion out that way and Rev. P. 8.
Knight was interested in town
disloyalty and
spvisseggeeta that he he warned
to alaseataaae or ae euscaargee.
Despite the eeeamaaUy feeling
towards the capable yeeng doctor.
the Rot. Robert Flamming Is Is.
by hie efldency la minia-
tcring to the sick. Wdfe'e erne la.
eat to keep Bghfia la tae
friendship ead eaeemgesaeat of
lovely ead vlvacioas Jess Uascau.
Wolfe shows Dr. Threedgold the
germs he found la the
well-water ef a house where there
Is a ease ef diphtheria. The narrow-
minded Thrcaageid, afssJd to face
facts ead fearing Wolfe may usurp
his posttioa, resents the. younger
man's "Interference". Wolfe warns
ef a terrible calamity should ty
phcid fever or cholera strike Nave
stock. Net wishing to appear supe
rior, Wolfe taraa ever bis findings
to Threadgeld to do with ee he
pteasce. Later, the ell doctor tells
tie wife a convincing tale of how
he put Wolfe ta his place. She urges
him to barn Wolfe's papra. Wolfe
longs for someone to talk to bet la
met with Insolence and anfricndli.
neea everywhere. Even at home
with the Thread gelds, the atmos
phere is strained. For comfort, he
visits Moor Farm, Jose heme and
the one place he Is welcome. He
comes upoa Jess breaking la a
frisky colt.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Jess turned to meet Wolfe and
insisted that he stay for ten,
Oa the other aide of the rough
wooden table sat Jess, her hands ta
her lap, her eyes fixed oa Wolfs's
face. Tea was over, end they had
been talking, much longer, too, than
either of them imagined. Jess's face
had assumed a grave and mysteri
ous maturity. She was no longer
the rough-riding girt Her heed was
poised intently above the white
lines ef her aHm throat.
"It must be hateful for you down
ttierc"
Wolfe stared at a patch of blue
sky. This gaunt, strong, and rather
silent man had found himself pour.
tnc out his loneliness into Jess's
Up.
"Yea, in a way."
"But it w&l get better when
you have been there longer."
1 am wondering whether it Is
worth it."
"What!"
back as broad as a door was bead.
lng between two rows of dwarf
French beans. He had a great blu
patch ecj.his brown trousers. His
forearms were the colour of eon.
A t "
per, ana so was ais necx, that was
criss-crossed with a multitude of
wrinkles Wiry grey hair stood out
aggressively under the brim of
haymakera hat.
"Morning, Adam."
"Morning, sir."
Adam Grinchwas Josiah CrabW.
one friend. They were keen, la
conic, hard-faced men, the one a
Freethinker, the other a rigid Cel.
mist. Bow they contrived to suf .
far each ether no one had been able
to explain. Clinch had been with
Joelah Crabbe for thirty years.
They never agreed. They war
never peute. aba yet they auiui
each ether bice the twe rrlaeW
of a mill.
"Any aews, Adaraf"
"Nothing of value, sL
Grinch appeared to speak be
tween hie spread legs as he stoop,
ed. He did not Step Catherine?
There was a news item in The ioU u that section.
enraging of bis enemies.
Josiah Crabbe had set himself to
treble the money that had eome to
him from bis sleek humbug of
father, and he had done it in the
face of malice, fear, and all man
ner of interference. People had
tried to keep the grim little man
under, to, snarl him out of coun
tenance, to crowd him into a cor
ner. He had provoked and courted
antagonism. People had struck
him, and he had bided his time and
then struck back, and with such
f erode us ugliness that men had
learned to leave him alone. He was
cynical, shrewd, utterly fearless,
scrupulously fair when he
treated with honour.
This house of hia at the foot of
Peachy HH1 was the counterpart of
its owner, a square, long-headed,
grey-stone house that turned
contemptuous back to Navestock
town. A high stone wall set with
glass shot It la with its octbuHd-l
inge and garden. The only entrance
was by iron-barred gates backed
with sheet iron so that no one
could look through. Very few peo
ple went in and oat, nor was there
a glimpse to be had of the garden.
Josiah Crabbe himself was part
of the picture, a little, lean, skull-
faced man, with black eyes that
gleamed and twinkled ta a dead
white face. He looked as dry and
aa tough as a piece of leather, and
hie teeth were as perfect aa the
teeth of a boy. Scrupulously neat
Statesman of Friday of the fol
lowing week readier in part:
"The great success ot the street
railway, which la already indi
cated beyond expectation, has
aroused the people to the full
sense ot the faot that it is a great
convenience and a vast influence
in building vp the city along its
route. Accordingly there is a com
mendable effort made to have it
extended la different directions,
and in some cases with success.
The residents along Commereial
street have raised a bonus ot $100
to hare the line built north (to
North Mill creek), and the com
pany has accepted the proposi
tion and will bund right off. . .
There remains but $110 of the
Center street bonus now."
S
The line was soon extended to
North Mill creek, and. later, en
out to Highland addition, even to
Daily Health Talks
Bv ROYAL S. COPE!. AND, M. D.
By ROYAL S. COPELAND, M. D.
United State Senator from New York.
Tormor OommUttonor ef Hcellh,
Note fork Oft.
EVEN THOUGH some appear to
target it, everybody knows the
alnhtherla Is a ereveatanle disease.
tt is prevented by lmmunlasiflo.j
This la
vale.
A Lane county tax group condemns the governor and treasurer
tor borrowing two million dollars from banks on the ground that
It was consummated "without proper publicity". In our opinion there
was so darn much publicity about the state's needing to borrow
.money that we came near not getting it at all. The Lane county
group ought to subscribe to one ot the Eugene dailies and keep np
with the news. j: .
J
The best simile we hare noticed la connection with this local
scrip is that it is like catching a snowball ion a hot day. It is a race
to get rid ot it before it melts. Some ot the local firms that out of
the goodness ot their heart agreed to take some ot the local scrip
which has been floated around here soon found it piled up la their
tills. There Is a limit even en a merchant's being a "good feUow.
, j .
v
pushed by the
lnjecttoa ot a
substance ceiled
tenia .antMesr-
ta". Is eptte of
this almost cer
tain means of
protection, diph
theria eta pro.
vans among chfl.
erca.
Thle caa be
orplstocd by the
reludlee ef
many persons
against inocula-
nr. Oooelani tlona. Whether It
la toxm-anti-tox-
to. or something else. Its use le
feared.
Children who are exposed to the
germs et diphtheria wis oedtraet
diphtheria unless they toss ess tm
muntty against the disease, Few
children possess a natural tmmuatty
against the disease ead protection
can be had only by inoculation.
1 vs I
Diphtheria "TexoteT
Just what Representative Paulus thought a national constitu-
f.lnna.1 nwntfna jtAnlit tik maat nmitnl atMtnnmlM nrntMam, 4a
Jseyoni . ttSj, Congress and the state legislatures haven't made much When the latter Is need three la.
. . et sT dent oa the 'dlfticultlesr" "" ' " " f ' ''."" '"" ' " "' " "jtenoMrare1 - aitea e weekly 'tater
Now comes tae important aa
aeoncement et the New York City
department ot health. The good
news comes that marked . Improve
ments have been made la the prep
aration of diphtheria toxour. Tox
oid ta now perfected and era be
used ta place of diphtheria toxin
anti -toxin as a preventive of this
disease.-'-.
When they learn about It, parents
wCt welcome this change, Toxoid is
less iirttattng, less patnrol
to admmlster taasT tosna-eatUtexta.
But when toxoid is used, enlr
injections are aeoeesarr. These
The Capitol City Railway peo
ple went the pioneer company one
better constructed and equipped
electric lines to the prison, the
state fair grounds by way of the
Fairgrounds road, etc This was
one ot the first electric street
railway systems In the TJnlted
States or anywhere la the world.
Not a great deal ot time elapsed
before there was a consolidation,
and all lines were electrified.
-w w
None ef the first stockholders
made any profits, excepting indi
rectly by reason ot the growth of
the eityi and few if any were
heard to complain.
H
roiiowea many changes; sev
eral new ownerships, from time
to time. Finally, all the lines went
over to a subsidiary company ot
the Southern Pacific railroad.
that waa building many lnterur
baa systems in California, aad is
operating them still. In the ease
Of the Lob Angeles section over
1000 miles of such lines.
The concern proposed the same
(Tarn to Page f)
and dean, he dressed always in
"Staying oa la Navestock. Meet I black, and in a style that was some
of the people want to get rid of me. I twenty years out of date. The
t am a nuisance. Perhaps you would J plumpest parts ef him were his
not understand why." hands. They were white, deft, aad
She watched him with grave, re-1 almost generous, with nothing sag
fieetire eyes. Igestive of the claws ef a bird.
"Do yea mean they want tel One morning la A agnst old
turn you out ef Navestock?" 1 Crabbe came out for hie
"I have no doubt about it." I morning walk. He would toddle
"Because you discovered things ? I few etepe, aad thea step to scan
"Because I have tried to tell j the grass or the paths. Scenetimes
eome people the truth." he took snuff, using a little geld
She remained ta thought a me-1 (naif-box with ea emerald set in
ment, and thea her face blaxed up. the Ud. His chief desire appeared
"How mean and cowardly! But to be the discovery of a daisy root
you wont let them?" In the lawn, er some tiny green
"Let them do what!" needle ef grass thrusting itself out
"Drive you out." lot the gravel of the path.
He eat back, looking at her with I Josiah Crabbe moved oa. At the
nrond Intcntneiia. lnd f nt iU viw wft
"Anyone grumbling 1"
"Not aa I've heard."
"People sickt"
Not up our way. Heard there's
that there diphthery down in the
town.-
Josiaa Crabbe seemed pleased. ;
That's good. Let the fools eaten
tt Make them yell eome day. HoVs
TurreH, have ye heard!"
"Beea talking to some of his tea.
ante about Threadg old's man."
"Threatening 'em, of course.
That's Terrell! I want him te
threatea me, Adam, but darn hia,
ha woat do it Well see, well see."
Josiah Crabbe took snuff, with
aa air of elaborate enjoyment.
"Stubborn sort of young nun ,
this Wolfe."
"Stiff aa glae, sir."
"They want to get rid of him.
Dont I know them!"
"He'a a straight man, sir, saved
or doomed."
"Hum. Seen him, Adam?"
"Often."
"Eh?"
"Big lean man. Looks as though
he could hit hard. Looks yon
straight in the face. Dont do
much talking."
"They'll kick him out, Adam,
they'll kick him out."
"I've heard Threadgold's afraid
of him. He's learned a powerful
lot about Navestock, so they say."
"What about Peachy HilL
Adamt"
"Never see the gentleman up out
way much. Reckon he leaves weO
alone. If s down by the river."
Josiah Crabbe took more snuff.
"A dirty town this, Adam."
"FnU o' sin, sir."
"Dirt."
"Dirt's a sin."
"Wants someone with e broom
and a bucket. Thla man Wolfe!
Make a confounded rumpus, turn
the place upside down. Drive Tur.
reu and the rest of 'em mad,
Humph."
"They wont let him. sir. Be sure
of that."
"Horn they! They wont let
him. That strikes me ee Queen,
iam, very queer."
He toddled up and down, chock-
ling to himself in a grim, dry way.
Then no stopped, and turned te
stare at the patch la Adam's
trousers.
"Keep your ears open, Adam."
"What for, air?"
"About thla man Wolfe."
"Very well, sir."
"I may want to have a weed
with him. He's the kind ef man
who might doctor me.
Grinch looked round ever one
shoulder.
"Not feeling ffl, sir?"
TUT You're aa ass, Grinch. I
never felt bettor ta my life."
(Te Be CeHaesQ
CeprrirM. I IX 07 Kskert M. stcBriet a Ce.
aotualif
are given twe we she apart
Bvery ohnd snoots be given pro
tection sgalast diphtheria beoautt
the dreaded disease is ever preeect
It Is eaeeed by a germ oaaed' tie
-dJptheria twcOae". This mar be
found ta operant taatol mfik er ether
food, or It amy be transmitted from
one person te saetner by sneezias
coughing or klmtng.
"Carriers" a Meomoe
Those persons who carry 1
of diphtheria, taoagh not
suffering from the disease, are a
constant menace te society. Tacf
are called diphtheria "carriers", ft
is estimated that one or twe per cent
of the general population are cn
riere.
Within the past year there has
beea a marked redaction to the nmn.
ef children recotvtng diphtheria
Inoculations. Ta consequence, health
authorities fear a marked Increase
diphtheria. This Is disturbing.
If you have not given year chad
this protection against a eertoea aad
often fatal disease, you are doing
htm a great Injustice. I am confi
dent tt ta a mistake te aegteet this
simple precaution
IX yea have essststss bocanso yea
reared the Utile snfl toils Irjtrtlffft.
may be catered ef tae secety
aad greater itmptlatty ef the toxoid
treatment Yea caa be s scars! at
protection sgasnet thla disease bp
Immediate Immunisation, regardless
of which agent la used. Do net delay
any longer. Ccaeatt with year phy.
stctaa er local beard ef health station
for advice as te the procedure.
Aasweee to Health Qeeriee
Business Man. Q. I have a gaB
bladder disturbance and cannot seem
te Cad out Just what foods I should
eat te avoid the attacks. Can
help me
A For fuS particulars sead a self
addreeeed, etatneet envelope aad Jt
neat your cusstion.
rfT?tfiJlf &V.fV fy-feej
The Safety
Valve - -
Letters from
Statesman Readers
To the Bdltor:
My past experience with The
Statesmaa leads me to believe
that yoa would not be Intention
ally misleading, but I wish to call
attention to information la your
editorial of Sunday that is by ae
means the whole truth.
Yoa state that school enroll
ment Increased XI betweea
1911 aad ISSx, but neglected to
point out that high school enroll
ment Increased 10 during the
same period. While most elemen
tary schools could handle their
slight increase with little more
cost, the suddea doubling ot high
school enrollment entailed build
ing programs and other expensive
expansion. Ot course, high school
costs are more than elementary
costs, Just as college costs are
above high school costs. Et
cost of llTUrrnjrthe liome in
creases with age.
Your figures about taxation are
also mial ceding. You quote the
money raised for school purposes
m 11x1 and llll. My figures are
for levies tor these Years but are
substantially the same. But you
omit all reference to taxes oa mo
tor fuel, vehicle licenses, inher
itance, latanglblee aad la comes
and excise taxes. Of the TOTAL
TAXES, according to my figures,
schools received Sl.f la 1121
and 20 la 1121 or aa actual de
crease of 1.1 for the decade.
i-wonder if the HM7,7U.2I
of taxes (and this must mean the
amount levied, not collected) is
not of at least equal value to the
$lt,l$.2if.OO spent in one year
in this state for cigarettes? In
the same year $27,277,170.00 was
spent tor amusements and small
luxuries, and $7.C7,982.00 for
Jewelry and cosmetics. For every
dollar spent for education tire is
spent tor automobiles.
Your statement that all school
oosts were declining during this
period merely shows your ignor
ance. It is true that some Items
declined, but these Items were a
trivial part ot the total school ex
penses. I doubt if members of
The Statesman family found per
sonal living expenses cheaper un
til quite recently. EvideuUy the
cost of operation ot The States
man plant has not declined appre
ciably. Toe many costs, like inter
est are fixed costs.
Nevertheless, had I the author
ity the legislature now has, I
think 1 could reduce school costs
considerably in some places. There
are inequalities la efficiency, in
equalities la ability to support
education etc The principal pro
posals for remedy so tar proposed
would increase these inequalities
and inefficiencies and PASS THE
BUCK to those already most har
rassed. Wisely the majority ot the
members ot the legislature have
voted dowa most of these meas
ures which have consumed the
time that should have beea avail-
anie icr constructive measures
like the hill providing for a vote
on the county unit plan. Certain
ly there should be some form of
ceniraiixatioa to smooth out the
inequalities, reduce unnecessary
overhead expense, provide
GREATER PER PUPIL OPPOR-
TUIUTX AT DECREASED PER
IL COST. The other da in
Washington senate UNANIMOUS
LY voted td increase the sUtes
share la educational expense from
T IO 0.
Ia this state the state wishes ta
reverse this process. It seems. The
governor la his fine talk last
sight spoke eloquently of the dif
ficulties of the state aad even of
the counties, but he ta like The
Statesman sad many others la
taat he has neither kaewledge
or conception of taa sUffinaitua
ot local districts. He weald free
the
property tax, and relieve the
counties, but what of the local
districts? Has anyone yet had the
statesmanship to even propose
substitute taxation for local dis
tricts? There hare been taxes on
motor fuel, licenses, inheritance,
income. Intangibles and excise
taxes, and there are other taxes
proposed. Where does the local
district come in for relief?
On the other hand. It has been
proposed to cut the elementary
school fund that goes to local dis
tricts, to cut the county school
fund that goes to local districts,
to cut the tuition fund that helps
equalise the load around high
school districts and gives equal
opportunity in educatioa. The
height ot asinlnity is the Gordon
bill to cut local levies because the
state has shirked its duties and
has less to cut
Don't worry. Local levies have
beea cut aad will be cut
by those who know consid
erably more about local eon-
dltlona than Mr. Gordon,
or The Statesman. Mr. Gordon.
The Statesman and others have
forgotten that CUTTING COUN
TY LEVIES WILL FORCE IN
CREASE, RATHER THAN DE
CREASE OF LOCAL BURDENS.
To suddenly cut such equallxlag
revenue Will FORCE LOCAL DIS
TRICTS TO INCREASE TAXA
Tiurf wherever that ts .nosaibie.
M .
ana euewnere there win be fur
ther inflation ot warranted In
debtednesa.
Many schools would be closed
entirely by aueh a measure, thus
adding te the army of the unem
ployed, over half ot the unem
ployed now are youths that ought
co do in school instead of keep
ing heads of families la the bread
lines.
I am glad The Statesmaa com
mits itself ae "opposed to legle-
lative bins that will wreck the
schools er. make blind slashes at
expenditures." The Oordoa bill at
a blind slash. Let local budget
committees' who are by ao means
bono ee the slashing. Practically
all the bills ee tar considered hare
beea tor - blind slashes, merely
PASSING THE- BUCK further
dowa to those needing help most.
Now that the deck has finally
beea about cleared for construct.
Ive action, lafs ail get togsther
Let's pass any bills looking to
ward centralization, equalizatloi
and reduction of overhead like
the county unit bill. It Is mcrelr
permissive legislation, can do no
harm and might do much good.
Let's get behind the best bills for
substitute taxation, subordinat
ing our personal interests and
prejudices to relieve the propertr
tax of its excessive and unjust
share. If possible Include ths
school taxpayer In. this relief.
I have been working and vot
ing for equalisation aad substi
tute taxation, and reduction ot
overhead expense and will contin
ue to do so.
H. E. TOBIB.
To The Citizens
of Salem:
I believe in honesty, fair
dealing and Justice, and I have
faith In the citizens of Salem.
especially those who have pat
their . shoulder to the wheel
and have helped to make this
the beautiful little city that It
Is. Our merchants and busi
ness men' are doinsr their best
to get along In these moneyless
times.
X believe the photographic
business leads the list In poor
business during sueh times as
we are now passing throngs,
and the fact that department
stores are adding the photo
graphic business to their now
too many lines, does not create
the beet ot feeling among toe
fraternity. I know that the
photographers In the Pacific
Northwest will join me in tar
ing that it is "unfair" In prac
tice and In principle.
Your local photographers
most eat and If yon have any
dollars te spend for photos,
spend them with your regular
photographers. That is the way
he biVm hta tlvlar It Is to
your Interest aad his, aad ben
efits Salem.
I respectfully submit the
foregoing for your careful
thought aad consideration.
H. D. TROVER
stste or the burden of rhe ( t emtctnirttr
(Fee? tarty years ia taa photo
fa Salem.)
J