"r. W'T '""M3 11 1 ""s rf'.gm.'.;,J IIJlJJIIL'lll)HL II )J.L "
OMLY EVENING EDITION
I WEATHFR FORECAST-.
Tonight and Sunday occasional
rains.
DAILY EVENING EDITION
Money makes the mare go, and
East Oregonlan advertising makes
business come.
VOL. 18.
PENDLETOX, ORECiOX, SATURDAY, MAKCII 25, 11)05.
NO. 531fi
ASSESSMENT
E
Assessor Strain Replies to an
Attack Made Upon Him by
the Baker City Herald.
HE URGES GllfcAT HEED
UNIFORM VALUATIONS.
Mr. Strain Shown Up tlie Sophistry of
the Herald" I'ocdtion and tho Un
fairness of Jim Attack He -Is Not
Only Willing, .But Anxious it Meet
Baker County's Assessor and the
Railroad Officials in Open 4ebate
"All Property Should lie Assessed
According to Earning Capacity."
In the fight which Assessor Strain
Is making lor a higher assessment for
railroad property he has evidently
.struck home In Baker county, Judg
ing from .an Interview with the as
sessor of that county, which appeared
In the Baker City Herald a few days
ago. In It he was vehemently at
tacked Cor !enilng- a olrcular letter
to a number of citizens of that coun
ty. When seen this jnornlng and
asked concerning the letter and the
object of Its circulation, Mr. Strain
said:
"Tea, 4 have mailed out several
hundred letters to the taxpayers of
Baker county. It Is my Intention to
Bend this letter to the various rail
road counties of the state. The peo
ple of my own county and of the
other counties receiving this letter are
entitled to a candid explanation of
my purpose. We are having a little
litigation 'in this county with the O.
R. ft N. They have given but one
Important reason why their assess
ment should be cat. ' That reason Is
that other counties have assessed the
O. It. & N. property at less than 1
have done. All property should be
assessed at a uniform rate throughout
the state. This Is especially true now
since the passage of the recent law
providing for a pro rata divi
sion among the counties of tax on
livestock, according to the time It is
Itept In -each county.
"Therefore, In order to accomplish
uniformity of valuations of railroad
jvroperty and of all property, one of
two things must happen: I must
either reduce my railroad assessment
to meet outside counties, or they must
raise theirs up to mine.
-The .object of my circular letter Is
to present my side of the case to the
people of the state, as well as to their
official.
"lart Tin-in Meet Me."
"If the assessor of Baker county, or
of any other county, thinks my as.
sessmiMit of S 12.675 per mile Is too
high, let him arrange a public meet
ing between himself and me. If the
railroad people feel that I am mis
representing them, let them meet me
before the board of equalization, or
before an audience of Baker county
taxpayers. In this way thepenple can
hear their own assessor, or the offi
cials of the railroad as well as my
eelf. "A to the Herald article, I am In
clined to believe that the editor has
spoken without due consideration, for
. many of his statements are erroneous.
For instance, he says that the O. R.
& N. is now three years behind In
the payment of their taxes in Uma
tilla county. The facts are that the
company Is behind hut one year. They
did not puy their 1903 tax. but It was
not collectable until March, 1904. The
1403 tax Is now in litigation with the
county successful In the circuit court,
and the case will come up for settle
ment by the supreme court In May,
or about fourteen months after the
taxes were due.
"Then, again, the Herald article as
serts that the W. ft C. R railroad as
litigating its tax. But as a matter of
fact, that road has paid Its tax prompt
ly both years In time to get the dis
count. The assessment of the W. &
C. R. Is 15940 per mile against S12.
675 for the O. R. & N. But the earn
ing capacity of the W. & C. R. Is only
about $1500 per mile, whereas that
of the O. R. & N. is 14600 per mile.
Basis: Should Bo Earning Capacity.
"In this connection I wish to state
my position In relation to the assess
ment of property, which Is that Its
value should be measured by Its earn
ing capacity. This policy will gener
ally Impose a light tax on a new rail
road or a new venture of any Rind
and a fair equitable tax on well es
tablished, profitable Investments. This
Albert Bell Captured.
Tncoma, March 25. Albert
Bell, bunk swindler and mall
thief, who escaped from the
federal prison on McNeil's
Island Wednesday, was captur-
ed at noon, hiding In the hay
in the prison barn.
AGAIN
policy I bellevt will encourage the
building of new roads and of new en
terprises of all kinds. However, It Is
the only equitable method of arriv
ing at a true valuation of property
for purposes of taxation.
"As to uttendlng the assessors' con
vention at Arlington two years ago,'
I think I gave a very good reason
at that time for my absence. It will
be remembered that that convention
wns called quite lute In the season,
after other property had been assessed
at the various rates prevailing In the
different counties. Consequently, It
was Impossible to fix a uniform value
on railroad property while other
property was mot so assessed.
"As to the recent assessors' conven
tion in Portland, it will be remem
bered thut I prepared a paper, which
was published In the Portland Jour
nal, and which set forth my views as
strongly as I am able to present them.
"Now, then, I propose to meet any
representative of the railroad, or any
of their friends or apologists before
the taxpayers of Baker county or of
any other county, and discuss this
matter fane to face with the taxpayers
as Jury. Finally, as a proof of the
Justice of my valuation of the O. R &
N. property, I desire to cite the fact
they are fighting the payment of their
tax In this county solely upon tech
nicalities. They have never produced
any proof which even tends to show
that their assessment is too high.
NEW TRIAL FOR CURTIS JCTT.
Caleb (Powers Will Soon Be Tried On-
Fourth Time.
Frankfort, Ky., March 25. The .ap
pellate court today granted a new
trial for Curtis Jett, under sentence
of death for the murder of 3. B.
Marram at Jackson court, and also
overruled the petition of the state
for a rehearing of the rase of Caleb
Powers, convicted of complicity in
the assassination of Governor Qoebel,
and granted a new trial. Powers
will soon be tried for the 4ourth
time.
A
POSTAL CARD CAMPAIGN
AGAINST SAVINGS BANK.
One. of the Strongest Financial 'Con
crnm In Cincinnati In Undergoing
a Great Strain, Hot Promises to
Meet All Claims, and Aim to In
atltutc Investigation Through the
Medium of the PoKtal Department
Offers of Assistance.
Cincinnati, March 25. The run
which started yesterday on the Cnion
Savings Bank & Trust company, one
of the strongest financial concerns
this city, continued today. The bank
Is crowded and the police maintain
order. All demands are promptly
met.
The bank has received many offers
of n smI stance.
Officers of the bunk assert the run
was started by malicious rumors -deliberately
started by means of postal
cards, and will request the postal an
thoiities to Investigate.
Wll
INVESTIGATE THE U. P.
Ktocklavidcrs Are Dissatisfied Willi
Harriiuan.
New 'York, March 25. There 1s
talk today of a protective committee
of Union Pacific stockholders to In
vestigate the property and the Har-
rimnn management. It Is believed
that the Investigation will show that
the contnol rests elsewhere than In
the hands of Harrtmnn and his
friends, and an appeal may be made
under the laws of Utah, under which
the company is organized, to put the
real owners 1n control. The law per
mits the ousting of a minority man
agement on 39 days' notice. The sell
ing of the Union Pacific and South
ern Pacific, which recently unsettled
the stock market, Is traced to Har
rlman, according to good authorities.
It was said that, realizing his loss of
control, he wns liquidating his hold
ings regardless of the consequences.
Morgan and Rockefeller brokers
have quietly absorbed the Union Pa
cific stock thrown over by the Har
rlinan brokers, and It la beginning to
dawn in the street that Harrlman no
longer represents the Rockefeller In
terests, as Intimately as he once did.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON CONCERT.
McMlnn's Orchestra at Mush- Hall at
4 O'clock.
McMlnn's orchestra will give its
regular Sunday afternoon concert in
Music hall tomorrow commencing at
2 p. m. The following Is the pro
gram that will be followed:
March "A Night Off."
Selection from Thannhauser.
"St. Louis Rag."
Overture "Orpheus."
Thombone solo "Nazareth," (sa
cred), Frank Hayes.
March "On Jersey Shore."
No admission Is charged for admis
sion to the concert, and the .public Is
MALICIOUSLY
STARTED
Invited to attend,
IKE INTRIGUES IN
MONGOLIA SCARE RUSSIA
Their Emissaries Active Among
missions by Russian
Authorities Admit tfie loss of Nearly
and Sickness, Wounds and Prisoners Peace News In Russia Cause
Unbounded Thanksgiving Among the People Reported Terms of
' Peace Would Cede Liao Tung Pe nlnwila to Japan, and Concede Her
the Protectorate or Korea Maxim Gorky Will Be Prosecuted on the
diarge of Sedition.
St. Petersburg, March 25. The re
tirement of the bulk of Llnevitch's
force northward continues.
A Russian correspondent warns St.
Petersburg authorities of the dangers
of Japanese activity in Mongolia,
where he says their emissaries are
enlisting the Llmaa and arousing
their old warlike spirit.
Enormous Military Supplies.
St. Petersburg, March 26. The
publication by the Army Organ to
day of figures showing the strength
of the forces dispatched to the Far
East, haa created a sensation In mil
itary circles, and the war office is
being freely criticised for revealing
military secrets.
The figures given show that up to
March 12 the war office had dis
patched 1J.097 officers, 761,467 men.
146.408 fiorses, 1521 guns and 726,
321 tons of ammunition and sup
plies to the front, declaring that
their transportation has strained
the Siberian railway to Its utmost
capacity.
The Army Organ admits that the
Russian troops In the Far East at the
beginning of the war did not exceed
60,000, and denies that Russian of
ficials failed to properly estimate the
strength of Japanese military re
sources, but frankly admits that the
talents of the Japanese officers and
wonderful spirits of the Japanese sol
diers were miscalculated.
Based on these figures. It is esti
mated the Russian losses in killed,
wounded, prisoners and sick reach
600.000, leaving the Russian effect
ive strength now at 300,000.
Skirmishing Along tlie Front.
St. Petersburg, March 25. Llne
vitch reports under yesterday's date:
"A Russian patrol was fired upon
by Japanese cavalry. Our Infantry
is occupying the village of PuIJuachu.
There has been no change of posi
tion of the armies during the day.
Murch 23 detachments of Russian
cavalry repulsed a force of Japanese
cavalry. at Shuan Ing Ausa. The
same day the Russians repulsed the
Japanese at Nan Shen Tsl."
Russian Position Hopeless.
Kobe, Japan, March 24. Richard
Little, correspondent of the Chicago
News, and three other foreign war
correspondents, arrived as prisoners
of war on the Awa Maru today. They
are well treated and will probably be
released soon.
Little says the battle of Mukden
was a splendid affair on the Russian
side as well as the Japanese. Several
villages were taken and retaken sev
tral times.
Little and his companions are sur
prised to learn the Russians have not
asked for an armstlce, and say the
Russian position In the field Is hope
less; that Kuropntkln has lost all his
heavy guns and the railway line.
Mukden is not much damaged. The
Japanese refrained from setting fire
0. B. & N. OFFICIALS VISIT PENDLETON
H. M. Adams, assistant general
freight agent of the O. R. A N. and
J. H. O'Neill, traveling passenger
agent of the same system, are In the
city this afternoon from Walla Walla
on a tour of the lines. Mr. Aoams
is elntert over the prospects for heavy
wheat crop and heavy wool clip in
Umatilla county this year, and, ex
presses surprise at the remarkable
Improvement In the breed of sheep
In this county.
"Ten years ago six and seven
pounds per fleece were considered
good averages for range sheep In
Eastern Oregon and now they tell me
you are shearing sheep In this coun
ty that average 12 pounds each.
"This Is the most remarkable story
I have listened to for many a dny. It
proves what can be done by Intelli
gent husbandry and systematic la
bor. It costs no more to care for
one of your Rnmbouillets shearing
12 pounds thnn It did to care for a
scrub shearing six pounds, and you
have twice the weight of mutton and
twice the weight of wool on the same
hoof. It reids like a romance and
yet I do not doubt It, when I think
of the wonderful progress made In
other Industrial lines In your coun
the Lamas Damaging Ad
Military Department.
One-half Million Men by Death
to any part. The tombs of the Man
churia kings are practically undam
aged. Captain Judson and Surgeon Colo
nel Harvard, American attaches, also
captured at Mukden, arrived this
morning.
Modifying the Censorship.
St. Petersburg, March 26. The
preliminary press censorship on
books In Russian as well aa in for
eign languages, has been removed
End of War in a Fortnight.
London, March 25. From what Is
considered a source of undoubted
authenticity comes the statement to
day that the end of the Russian-Japanese
war will be an accomplished
fact in a fortnight. Dispatches from
St. Petersburg lend an air of prob
ability to rumors that Russia haa de
cided to Initiate peace negotiations.
Reported Terms of Peace. '
St. Petersburg, March 25. Reports
that peace is about to be negotiated
with Japan are spreading throughout
the .country and everywhere the peo
ple are falling on their knees in
thanksgiving.
It Is said the terms on which the
war will be ended Include a Japanese
protectorate over Korea, its .lease of
Llao Tung peninsula, and 'the mak
ing of a free port of Vladivostok.
Russia, It Is said, will give Japan
1600,000,000 stock In the the E.ist
China railroad and other China rail
road stock and grant Japan fishing
and hunting rights in the Island of
Sakhalin and In Kamchatka penin
sula. Helping Pay the BiUa.
London, March 25. An Exchange
Telegraph dispatch from St. Peters
burg states that the czar has order
ed the payment of 500.000 rubles to
ward the expense of keeping the
Russian prisoners held by the Japan
ese. Morgan May Loan to Russia.
St. Petersburg, March 25. It is re-
ported that J. P. Morgan has Inti-
mated !to Russia that he can arrange
for a loan which could be secured by
the hypothetlcation of valuable for
est lands.
Russian Squadron Enters Caiutl.
Port Raid, March 25. Admiral Ne
bogatoff's division of the second Pa
cific squadron, which arrived from
Crete yesterday, entered the canal
this mornmg.
Win Prosecute Gorky.
St. Petersburg, March 25. The au
thorities have definitely decided to
prosecute Maxim Gorky, charged
with drawing up proclamations with
the object of overthrowing the gov
ernment and disturbing the - public
order. The penalty Is three years'
Imprisonment in a fortress. Gorky
ty and Eastern Oregon."
Mr. Adams assures the people of
Pendleton that his department is
ready to assist Umatilla county In
any possible way to Increase business,
widen out the industrial possibilities
or bring new enterprises Into the
county. .
Mr. O'Neill, who Is known by every
man, woman and child along the O.
R. N. system has been busy for the
past three weeks since the tourist
rush began, learning the names of the
tourists' babies an danswerlng ques
tions of the great northwest, the
Mecca of the crowds now coming
Westward.
He believes Umatilla county will
receive Its share of the substantial
settlers that are 'now leaving the
crowded Eastern states and hopes to
be able to direct many of them to
this county to become cttlxens. His
department Is one of the busiest on
the system at this time and the busy
days have not yet arrived.
He believes Portland will take care
of the Immense crowds in a graceful
manner and will do all In his power
to direct the homeseeker to that sec
tion of the state best suited to his
ability and occupation.
is still at Riga and In broken health.
Rojestvensky Kails.
London, March 35. A dispatch to
Lloyds from Tana Tav, Madagascar,
says the Rojestvensky fleet sailed
from there today, destination un
known.
Internal Ixiun Called For.
St. Petersburg, March 25. By Im
perial decrees Issued today, the new
Internal war loan of $100,000,000,
will be issued at 5 per cent. Half
the loan will be offered for public
subscription.
WARNED ABOUT ANARCHISTS.
"Gobllnsl Get y' Ef ' Don't Watch
Out."
Madrid, March 26. The govern
ment authorities have received word
from the New Tork police that two
dangerous anarchists have embark
ed from that point bound for Barce
lona. The police at Barcelona are
instructed to keep careful watch for
them.
GRAIN MARKETS.
Quota ttons From An Points Handling
Umatilla Produce.
Chicago, March 25. May wheat
opened at 11.12 H and closed at
$1.13. Corn closed at 49 and oats
38 .
Dry Goods Company Burned Out.
Columbus, O., March 25. Fire
which burned all night has destroyed
the building of the Columbus Dry
Goods company, and damaged ad
Joining property, entailing a total loss
of 1250,000.
$21,552 Relief Fund.
Brockton, Mass., March 25. The
relief fund for the benefit of the suf
ferers from Monday's explosion and
fire In the Grover shoe factory has
reached 121,652.
10 E
PREPARATIONS BEING MADE
FOR MAY DAY PICNIC,
(Governor Chamberlain to Be One of
tlie Speakers of the Day Elabor
ate Basket Dinner Surpassing Any
Former Effort Will Be Served
Citizens' Club Will Prepare Excel
lent Program for Echo Picnic and
Invite Pendleton to Attend.
In the next four weeks the Cltl'
zen's club of Echo expects to com.
plete arrangements for the most
elaborate country picnic ever witness
ed in Umatilla county, to be held at
Echo on May 1.
The club Is now in communication
with the Mormon band of La Grande,
and hopes to secure this organization
j to furnish music for the occasl
on.
The Mormon band consists of 28
pieces and is one of the leading
musical organization in Oregon.
Aside from the musical program,
literary exercises will be rendered
and leading speakers of the state, in
cluding possibly Governor Chamber
lain will be present.
One of the most complete basket
dinners ever served In the country Is
to be prepared for the occasion.
Those who remember the basket din
ner given by the women of Echo at
the picnic last spring can estimate
their ability as entertainers. The
people of Pendleton and surrounding
country are cordially Invited to attend
and take part In this May Day event
Rioting in Crete-
Athena March 26. Reports from
Crete state that rioting has broken
out there owing to disputes which
have arisen over the efforts to unite
Crete and Greece. A number of peo
pie were injured, and the situation
is serious.
Primary School Burned.
Sacramento, Cul., March 25. The
Lincoln primary school at Fourth
and O streets, burned at an early
hour this morning. Loss. $25,000,
fully Insured. Presumably the work
of the work of tramps.
Wil l, TRY HUNTINGTON HERE.
Baker County Case Removed on a
a Change of Venue.
The case of A. H. Huntington, ex
sheriff of Baker county, has been
transferred from that Judicial district
to this and will In all probability be
tried here, before Judge EIUb, at the
June term. The change of venue
was granted by Judge Robert Eakln,
before the creation of the new Judi
cial district by the legislature. The
circuit Judge of that district Is now
Samuel White, who, during part of the
Huntington trial was the district at
torney, and as such prosecuted the
ex-sherlff. Huntington Is accused of
defaulting to the extent of something
over $10,000.
Colfax. Wash., had 2121 population
in 1900. It Is now somewhat over
2700.
MM
COM
C
RETIRING
PERMANENTLY
His Health is Badly Broken
and is Said to Be the Cause
of His Retirement.
IS NOT DETERMINED WHO
WILL BE HIS SUCCESSOR.
Taft Is Acting Secretary of State and
'tlie President's Chief Advisor No
Developmental In Halation to the
Venezuelan Trouble Today -Twenty-three
Graduates of the Govern
ment Naval Medical School Ad
dressed by President Roosevelt
Secretary Hay Arrives at the A so re
Somewhat Improved.
Washington, March 25. It la stat
ed on the best authority that Secre
tary Hay will not resume his place
in the cabinet on his return from hla
present vacation. Ill health la the
sole cause of his determination to
retire.
The president Is now canvassing the
names of several eminent gentlemen
with a view to asking one to become
Hay's successor. Among those con
sidered are Joseph H. Choate and
Whltelaw Reid. Hay's friends had.
Hoped a few weeks' rest and change
of air and scenes would enable the
secretary to resume his place at the
head of the state department, but
that hope has now been abandoned.
Hay at the Aaorea
London, March 25. A dispatch
from Pantadelgada, Azores, states
the steamer Cretic has arrived there
with Secretary Hay aboard. Hay ia
feeling well, though keeping to his
stateroom. The dispatch reports a
comfortable passage.
No Developments.
Washington, March 263. Secretary
Taft, who Is acting in an advisory ca
pacity to the president on affairs of
state, had a conference with the
president this afternoon on the Vene
zuelan situation. On leaving, Mr.
Taft said there were no developments
today. Addresses Graduate. J
Washington, March 25. President
Roosevelt this morning presented di
plomas to 23 graduates of the Gov
ernment Naval Medical school, fol
lowing the ceremony with a 10-mln-ute
address.
Maurice Barrymore Dead.
New York, March 25. Maurice
Barrymore, the actor, who has been
an Inmate of the Long Island Actors'
home for the past six years, died this
morning of paresis. He was father
of Miss Ethel Barrymore, and Jack
Barrymore. the well known actors.
REMOVAL OF LAND OFFICE.
Will Bo Transferred July 1 From Or
egon City to Portland.
Portland, March 25. President
Roosevelt has signed the order di
recting the removal of the land office
at Oregon City to Portland. The date
at which the change Is to be made Is
left to the discretion of the commis
sioner of the general land office. It
is believed that the change will go
into effect on July 1, at which time
the offices and equipment will be
installed In new quarters at Portland.
The announcement of the order for
the removal came as somewhat of a
surprise to Senator Fulton, who is
said to have regarded the matter as
deferred Indefinitely. Th,ls opinion
was based on the fact that no action
was taken on the matter when the
change was advocated by himself and
Senator Mitchell a year or so ago. In
the opinion of the senator the change
was made by the administration for
reasons of economy purely.
REEF TRUST INVESTIGATION.
Grand Jury Trying to Get. at Whole
sale and Retail Beef Prices.
Chicago. March 25. L. M. Byles,
private secretary of Nelson Morris,
a Cudahy manager, was among the
witnesses summoned today by ths
grand Jury conducting the beef In
vestigation. Wholesale meat dealers
are also being subpoenaed. It Is
understood the Jury Is seeking to get
at the prices of beef, both wholesale
and retail. The Jury has adjourned
until Monday.
Building Collapsed.
St. Louis, March 25. Ths
Washington state building,
which Is being wrecked on the
World's Fair grounds, collaps
ed at noon as the result of high
winds. Three workmen were
seriously Injured.