OF CURRENT WEEK Brief Resume Most Important Daily News Items. COMPILED fOR BUSY READERS Events of Noted People, Governments and Pacific Northwest and Other Things Worth Knowing. Tuesday was the coldest day of this year in Oregon. Germany's food supply this winter is reported to be equal to that of the paBt two years. The car shortage is reported from New York as 60 per cent better than it was in November. Germany is raising a "home army" which includes every person in that country not in actual service. J. P. Morgan and other bankers are eubpenaed before the rules committee handling the "leak" resolution. Four army airplanes have crossed the border to search for tho two lost aviators who have not been heard from for over a week. Strikers and the Northwest ship building plant at Portland have settled their differences and the men have gone back to work. Cody, Wyo. Plans for erection here of a life-size equestrian statue of Col. William F. Cody, (Buffalo Bill), who died a week ago in Denver, were launched by city officials. Tuesday was the 72d birthday of Rear Admiral Charles D. SigBbee, who has been ill. He celebrated it by fitting up for breakfast and luncheon and reading congratulatory telegrams and letters. It was Baid that his con dition was greatly improved. Ways and means committee Demo crats met Wednesday and informally agreed on a revenue program embrac ing a bond issue of $289,000,000, an increase of the estate or inheritance tax to produce $22,000,000 and an 8 per cent tax on excess profits above 8 per cent on capital of corporations and partnerships. The condition of ex-Queen Liliuo kalani, of Havaii, is again critical, ac cording to advices received at San Francisco Wednesday from Honolulu. The ex-queen rallied from an indispo sition some months ago, but is now suffering from a goneral breakdown due to advancing age, it is Baid. She was born in 1838. New York Bouck White, pastor of the Church of Socila Revolution, au thor and college graduate, was indicted Wednesday, together with eight of his followers. They are charged with de stroying an American flag laBt June in the yard of their church. Flags of many natious were burned. Mr. White formerly held several prominent Brook lyn pastorates. Efforts to bring about harmony be tween Republicans and Progressives in New York produced a the first con spicuous result a stormy protest from George W. Perkins and Everett Colby, Progressive leaders, that Republican leaders were not acting in good faith. Later a statement declaring the charges unfounded was issued by mem bers of the Republican committee. The German government, according to an Amsterdam dispatch to Reuter's has confiscated all the organ pipes for the use of the government. Secretary of War Baker and Com mander Todd, head of the naval radio service, at a hearing before the house merchant marine committee on the Alexander bill to regulate radio com munication, advocated government monopoly of wireless telegraphy. The Greek government has formally accepted the ultimatum of the entente powers. In accordance with the agree ment made with the allies on Decem ber 1, King Constantine has delivered to the entente naval authorities six batteries of mountain guns. He gave orders to the troops to suppress all hostile demonstrations. The Berlin municipality, says Rou ter's correspondent, has announced that, notwithstanding the unfavorable conditions of production, it will be possible for every citizen to have one egg daily until January 31. Miss Margareta Washington, a great-great-grand-niece of George Washington, died at her home in Phil adelphia. She had a wide reputation among physicians and medical schools for her skill , in drawing anatomical sketches. The annual report of Armour & Co. shows net earnings of $20,100,000, or 20 per cent on capital stock and 14.7 per cent on investment. Gold amounting to $24,440,000 was received at the New York sub-treasury from Canada to the account of J. P. Morgan & Co. This makes a total in flow of $49,440,000 since January 1. A measure providing for a constitu tional amendment granting full suf- , rage to women and another providing for limited suffrage were passed by the North Dakota senate and now go to the house. ADMIRAL DEWEY IS CALLED Hero of Manila Bay Loses Battle With Grim Reaper. Washington, D. C. Admiral Dew ey, the Nation's Spanish war hero and by priority of grade the ranking naval officer of the world, died at his home here Tuesday night in his 80th year. He had not been conscious since Mon day, when he lapsed into coma, still believing that in a few days he would be back at his desk in the Navy de partment. General breakdown, accompanied by arterio sclerosis incident to old age, was the cause of his death. The dis ease had been gradually spreading its hold upon the powerful body for a year and a half, but the Admiral, proud of his physical vigor, had fought it off and even kept its existence a secret from most of his intimate friends. Mrs. Dewey and the Admiral's only son, George, were at the bedside. They had known that there was no Admiral George Dewey. WW hope. The Admiral died at 5:56 o'clock. President Wilson and Secre tary Daniels were notified at once and the news was flashed by wireless to American naval vessels and stations all over the world. The message carried orders that all flags be half masted. Washington, D. C. Admiral George Dewey, "hero of Minila Bay," fought and won the first great American naval battle againBt a foreign foe since the war of 1812. His whole life was full of honorable achievement from the days of the Civil war down to the time when, as the head of the general board, he began the last chapter of his work by laying plans for the defense of his country in time of war. His life was a striking examplification of the possibilities of a career based on the exact and intelli gent performance of every routine duty which molds a man on inflexible lines of duty and honor. One of the curious freaks of fortune in Dewey's case was that for perhaps the first and only time in his naval career he was disposed to protest against the edict of the Navy depart ment which carried him into the Far East, whore he was destined to per form the greatest feat of his life and to win imperishable renown. That was in 1898, when the war clouds were gathering and Dewey felt that he was being "shelved"; that the war with Spain was to bo fought out in the Guif of Mexico and in the Carib bean sea and that he would stand no chance of winning glory, for at that moment no throught whatever had been given to the Philippines. But he took his orders and, like a true sail or, obeyed them. The result is a page of history under date of May 1, 1898. Contrary to Spanish expectations, Dewey sailed into Manila Bay on the night of April 30 and in the morning of the next day he annihilated Mon tojo's squadron, 'destroying 11 war ships and capturing all other vessels and all the land batteries without the loss of a man on the American sido. Valdei Suspect is Held. Valdcz, Alaska Otto K'anti, who is under five charges of arson in connec tion with the fire here Jaunary 2, when most of the business section whs de stroyed, entailing a loss of $:t00,000, was ordered held, after a preliminary hearing Wednesday, to await the ac tion of the grand jury. His bonds were fixed at $17,000, in default of which he is in jail. The fire is said to have started in several buildings at once, and for at least one of those Kanti is declared to have been the agent Police Are Minute Men? Chicago Chief of Police Sohuettler Wednesday organized a squad of four expert riflemen, known as police "min ute men" who will be used in running down criminals. The squad of "min ute men" will be hastened to any sec tion of the city in a racing auotmobile when an important crime has been com mited. The squad is in charge of Lieutenant James Mooney and each member will be armed with a rille. "Shoot to kill," are the order. SBSBBBBBMBaWBSBBMBBnRKKHVHBnflKHaHJ (if o Q ' '4 to O 0 O 0 O :v li iiimm mm us nam MERGING BILL PROGRESSES Measure to Consolidate State Boards Makes Long Strides. Salem Further progress in the economy and consolidation program was made in the house Wednesday. By unanimous vote the house adopted the resolutions committee's resolution providing for the appointment of a committee of five members to "ex amine all feasible plans, to receive, prepare and report bills looking to ward the abolition, consolidation and merging of various states offices, boards and commissions in the interest of a more economical and efficient gov ernment. Speaker Stanfield appointed on the committee Representatives Brownell, Thomas, Ritner, Portwood and Porter. The resolution under which this ac tion was taken was a substitute for Representative Brownell's resolution, debated on the floor of the house Tues day, and providing for a consolidation program by the revision of the laws committee. Chairman Stott and other members of the revision committee protested against the Brownell plan because, they explained, it would throw addi tional work on a committee that al ready is one of the hardest worked committees of the legislature. The resolution seemed to be satis factory all around, and members who discussed it insisted that the commit tee should get to work right away. "I consider that I won my fight," commented Brownell. "What I want is an intelligent consolidation pro gram." In his argument on the floor Brown ell said that he was willing to give his time and his clerk's time to the consol idation work, and it is apparent that the speaker has taken him at his word by making him chairman of the com mittee. Employers' Association Presents Strict Anti-Boycott Measure Salem An anti-picketing, anti-banner, anti-boycott measure, submitted by Thomas McCusker, of the Employ ers' association, was put up to the Multnomah delegation for approval by Representative Kubli, of Multnomah, at a Bpecial meeting of the delegation at noon Monday. It carries an emer gency clause. After considerable discussion, the delegation decided to take a day to think it over. The measure is based on the present law prohibiting use of force or intimi dation to prevent any person from con tinuing at work, or from accepting employment. It goes much further, however, by prohibiting picketing of any kind, peaceable or otherwise. Want Troops Returned. Salem After a deal of high-flung oratory, Democratic senators profess ing to believe that criticism of Presi dent Wilson was intended, the senate Monday adopted Senator Lewis' joint memorial asking the President for the speedy return of Oregon troops on the Mexican border. What made the memorial obnoxious to Democratic political sensibilities appeared to be that it was addressed to the President, as well as a section reading: "Whereas, there is no im perative need for said members of the Oregon National Guard at said place, and it is the desire of the people of the state of Oregon that they be re turned to their homes. . ." , Whatever it was, the charge was made, first by Senator Garland, then by Senator Wilbur, and finally by Sen ator Strayer, all Democrats, that there was political significance in the re quest for the return of the troops. After an hour's talk, which sounded in spots like last fall's election cam paigning, the memorial was adopted, 20 votes to 9. It now goes to the house. Anti-Alien Law is Proposed. Salem, Or. Japanese ownership of land, so strenuous an issue in Califor nia a few years ago, is made an Ore gon issue by Senate bill No. 61, intro duced by Senator Wilbur. It prohibits aliens, who are not eligible for citizen ship, including Japanese, Chinese and Hindus, from owning land in Oregon, or from leasing land for more than three years. Associations or corpora tions, a majority of whose stock is so owned, are subject to the same restric tion. Land now owned by Japanese, Chinese or Hindus, is to escheat to the state on their death. Sterilization Is Up Again. Salem The issue of sterilization, voted down by the 1913 legislature, has been brought before the present legislature by Farrell. of Multnomah, who introduced a bill in the senate providing for sterilization of sexual perverts and feeble-minded persons. Sexual (wrverts, under this bill, can be sterilized only upon their consent. After sterilization they may be parol ed. Feeble-minded persons may be sterilized, after examination by a board of physicians and psychologists, upon the order of the county judge. 8-Hour Bill Appears. Salem Senator Gill Wednesdaydn troduced the expected eight-hour law for women. His measure, S. B. 78, change the word "ten" to "eight" in the 1909 law fixing the hours of day work for women, and reduce from 60 to 48 the number of hours a week that women employes may work. The rul ing of the Industrial Welfare commis sion permitting women to work 54 hour a week would be superseded by this amendment PRUDENCE (Copyright, by the Bobbs-MerrlU Com pany.) The parsonage girls enter tain a visiting minister, much to his discomfiture, and Carol rides a cow with disastrous results. Mr. Starr, a widower Method ist minister, has been assigned to the congregation at Mount Mark, Iowa. He and his daugh ter Prudence she is nineteen and the eldest of five girls have come on ahead to get the new parsonage ready for the younger members of the family. Of course the whole town, espe cially the Methodists, is very cu rious about the newcomers. In dividual members of the Ladies' Aid society drop in upon the family and "pump" the girls for all they're worth. But the Starrs rapidly adjust themselves to their new surroundings, and the father decides his brood Is old enough to participate in family prayers. Little Connie has Just finished hers much 'to the amusement of her elders. CHAPTER l Continued. ' So It was that the twins and Connie were alone for a while. , "You did a pretty good job, Connie," said Carol approvingly. "Yes, I think I did myself," was the complacent answer. "But I intended to put In, 'Keep us as the apple of thy eye, hold us in the hollow of thy hand,' and I forgot it until I had said 'Amen.' I had a notion to put In a postscript, but I believe that Isn't done." ' "Never mind," said Carol, "I'll use that in mine, tomorrow." , It cannot be said that this form of family worship was a great success. The twins were invariably stereotyped, cut and dried. They thanked the Lord for the beautiful morning, for kind friends, for health, and family, and par sonage. Connie always prayed in sen tences extracted from the pruyers of others she had often heard, and every time w(th nearly disastrous effect. But lutcr on the morning worship went better. The prayers of the chil dren changed became more personal, less flowery. They remembered that when they knelt they were at the feet of God, and speaking direct to him. ! The family had been in the new par sonage only three weeks, when a vis iting minister called on them. It was about ten minutes before the lunch eon hour at the time of his arrival. Mr. Starr was in the country, visiting, so the girls received him alone. It was an unfortunate day for the Starrs. Fairy had been at college all morning, and Prudence had been rummaging In the attic, getting It ready for a rainy day and winter playroom for the younger girls. She was dusty and tired. ; The luncheon hour arrived, and the girls came In from school, eager to be up and away again. Still the grave young minister sut discoursing upon serious topics with the fidgety Pru dence and in spite of dust mid per spiration, she was good to look upon. Bev. Mr. Morgnn realized that and could not tear himself away. Finally rrmlonce sighed. ' "Do you like sweet corn, Mr. Mor gan?" This wos entirely out of the line of their conversation, and for a moment he faltered. "Sweet corn?" he repeated. ' "Yes, roasting ears, you know rooked on the cob." I Then he smiled. "Oh, yes, Indeed. Very much," he suld. ' "Well," she began her explanation rather drearily, "I was busy this morn ing and did not prepare much lunch eon. We are very fond of sweet corn, and I cooked an enormous panful. But that's aU we have for luncheon sweet corn and butter. We haven't even bread, because I am going to bake this afternoon, and we never eut It with sweet corn, anyhow Now, tf you care to eat sweet corn and butter, and canned peaches, we'd Just love to have you stay for luncheon with us." I Rev. Mr. Morgan was charmed, and said so. So Prudence rushed to the Vitchen, opened the peaches In hurry, and fished out a clean napkin for their guest Then they gathered about the table, five girls and the visiting min ister. It wa really a curious light that table. In the center stood a tall Vase of (oldenrod. On either side of the vase was a great platter piled high with sweet corn, on the cob I Around the table were six plates, with the nec essary silverware, and a glass of wa ter for each. There was also a small dish of peaches at each place, and an individual plate of butter. That was all except the napkins. But Prudence made no apologies. She was a daugh ter of the parsonage I She showed Rev. Mr. Morgan to his place as graciously and sweetly as though she were usher ing him In to a twenty-seven-course banquet. "Will you return thanks, Mr. Mor gan?" she said. And the girls bowed their heads, liev. Mr. Morgan cleared his throat, and began : "Our Father we thank thee for this table." There was more of the blessing, but the parsonage girls heard not one ad ditional phrase except Connie, who followed him conscientiously through every word. Carol burst into merry laughter, close upon his reverent "Amen" und after one awful glare nt her sister, Prudence joined in, and soon it was a rollicking group around the parsonage table. Mr. Morgnn him self smiled uncertainly. He was puz zled. More, he was embarrassed. But as soon as Carol could get her breath, she gasped out an explanation. "You were just right, Mr. Morgan to give thunks for the table 1 There's nothing on it to be thankful for!" And the whole family went off once more Into peals of laughter. Mr. Morgan had very little appetite that day. He did not seem to be so fond of sweet corn as he had assured Prudence. Ho talked very littjle, too. And us soon as possible he took his hat and walked hurriedly away. He never called at the parsonage again. A few weeks after this Carol distin guished herself again, und to her last ing mortification. A man living only six blocks from the parsonage hud gen erously offered Mr. Starr free pastur age for his pretty little Jersey in his broad meadow, and the offer was grate fully accepted. This meant that every evening the twins must walk after the cow, and every morning must take her back for the day's grazing. One evening, as they were starting out from the meadow homeward with the docile animal, Carol stopped and gazed at Bllnkie reflectively. 'Lark," she said, "I just believe to my soul that I could ride this cow. She's so gentle, and I'm such a good hand nt sticking on." 'Carol!" ejaculated Lark. "Think how It would look for a parsonage girl to go down the street rifling a cow." "But there's no one to see," protest ed Carol. And this was true. For the "Cows Have Such Funny Backs." parsonage was near the edge of town, and the girls passed only five houses on their way home from the meadow and all of them were well back from the road. Lark argued and pleaded, but Carol was firm. "I must try It," she insist ed, "and If it doesn't go well 1 can slide off. You can lead her. Lurk." The obliging Lark boosted her sister up, und Carol nimbly scrambled Into pluce, riding astride. "I've got to ride this way," she said. "Cows have such fuuny bucks I couldn't keep on any other way. If I see anyone coming, I'll slide for it." For a while all went well. Lnrk led Bllukie carefully, gazing about anx iously to see that no one approached. So they advanced to within two blocks of the parsonage. By this time Bllnkie concluded that she was being Imposed upon. She shook her head violently, and twitched the rope from Lark's hand, .gave a scornful toss of her dainty head, aud struck out madly for home. With great presence of mind, Carol fell flat upon the cow's nock, and hung on for dear life, while Lark, In terror, started out in pursuit. "Help! nelp!" she cried loudly. "Papa I Tapa I Papa !" In this way they turned In at the parsonage gate, which happily stood open. As luck would have It, Mr. Starr was standing at the door with two men who had been calling on him, and hear ing Lark's frantic cries, they rushed to meet the wild procession, aud had the unique experience of seeing a parson age girl riding fiat on her stomach on the neck of a galloping Jersey, with another parsonage girl In mad pursuit Bllnkie stopped beside the barn, and turned her - head about Inquiringly. Carol slid to the ground, and burled her face Id her bands at light of the I two men with her father. Then, with never a word, she lit out for the house at top speed. The three men sat down on the ground and burst Into hearty laughter. Lark came upon them as they sat thus, and Lark was angry. She stamped her foot with a violence that must have hurt her. "I don't see anything to luugh at," she cried passionately, "It was awful, it was just awful ! Carrie might have been killed! It It " 'Tell us all about It, Lark," gasped " her father. And Lark did so, smiling a little herself, now that her fears were relieved. "Poor Carol," she said, she'll never live down the humilia tion. I must go and console her." In a little while Carol felt much bet ter. But she talked it over with Pru dence very seriously. "I hope you understand, Prudence, that 1 shall never have anything more to do with Bllnkie! She can die of starvation for all I care. I'll never take her to and from the pasture again. I couldn't do it! Such rank ingrati tude as that cow displayed was never equaled, I am certain." "I suppose you'll quit using milk and cream, too," suggested Prudence. "Oh, well," said Carol more toler antly, "I don't want to be too hard on Blinkle, for after all it was partly my own fault. So I won't go that far. But I must draw the line somewhere! Hereafter Bllnkie and I meet as strangers !" CHAPTER III. The Ladies' Aid. Now, this really was a crisis in the life of the parsonage family. The girls had met, separately, every member of the Ladles' Aid. But this was their first combined movement upon the par sonage, and Prudence and Fairy real ized that much depended on the suc cess of the day. As girls, the whole Methodist church pronounced the young Starrs charming. But as par sonage people well, they were obliged to reserve judgment. And as for Pru dence having entire charge of the household, it must be acknowledged that every Individual Lady looked forward to this meeting with eager nessthey wanted to "size up" the sit uation. They were coming to see for themselves! Yes, it was undoubtedly a crisis. "There'll be a crowd, of course," said Fairy. "We'll just leave the doors between the front rooms open." "Yes, but we'll close the dining-room doors. Then we'll have the refresh ments all out on the table, and when we are ready we'll just fling back the doors carelessly and there you are!" So the table was prettily decorated with flowers, and great plates of sand wiches and cake were placed upon It In the center was an enormous punch bowl, borrowed from the Averys, full of lemonade. Glasses were properly arranged on the trays, and piles of nicely home-laundered napkins were scattered here and there. The girls felt that the dining room was a credit to them, and to the Methodist church entire. From every nook and corner of the house they hunted out chairs and stools, anticipating a real run upon the parsonage. Nor were they disappoint ed. The twins and Connie were not even arrayed in their plain little ging hams, clean, before the first arrivals were ushered up Into the front bed room, ordlnurily occupied by Prudence and Fairy. "There's Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Prentiss, and Mrs." began Connie, listening Intently to the voices In the next room. "Yes," whispered Carol, "peek through the keyhole, Lark, and see If Mrs. Prentiss Is looking under the bed for dust. They say she" "You'd better not let Prudence catch you repeating" "There's Mrs. Stone, and Mrs. Davis, and" "They sny Mrs. Dnvls only belongs to the Ladles' Aid for the sake of the refreshments, and " "Carol ! Prudence will punish yon." "Well, I don't believe It," protested Carol. "I'm just tellng you what I've heard other people say." "We aren't allowed to repeat gos sip," urged Lark. "No, and I think It's a shame, too, for It's awfully funny. Minnie Drake told me that Miss Varne Joined the Methodist church as soon as she heard the new minister was a widower, so she" "Carol 1" Carol whirled around sharply, and flushed, and swallowed hard. For Pru dence was Just behind her. "I I I" bat she could get no fur ther. Upon occasion Prudence was quite terrible. "So I heard," she said dryly, but her eyes were hard. "Now run up stairs and out to the field, or to the barn, and play. And, Carol, be sure and remind me of that speech tonight I might forget It." The girls ran quickly out, Carol well in the lead. "No wedding fee for me," she mumbled bitterly. "Somehow I Just can't help repeating " "You don't want to," said Lark, not without sympathy. "You think It's such fun, you know." "Well, anyhow, I'm sure I won't get any cake tonight It seems to me Pru dence is very harsh sometimes." "You can appeal to father, If you like." Do you think that Prudenc I bit too young to handle th youngster with proper discipline: tTO BE CONTINUED.)