UfMIIMl 14 A I II li-RII P II A II A. L'J-t I f-. I J - I I If
Of CURRENT WEEK
Brief Resume Most Important
Daily News Items.
COMPILED FOR BUSY READERS
Events of Noted People, Governments
and Pacific Northwest and Other
I ...
Things Worth Knowing.
The Oregon house of representatives
has passed the "bone-dry" law by 63
to 7. It now goesto the senate.
The British government has tight
ened the German blockade which in
volves portions of the Danish and
1 Dutch coasts.
Robbers at Los Gatos, Cal., carry
away a safe from the office of the
newspaper ' Mail-News, containing
books and records and $5 in money.
Instead of building a fine club house
with money appropriated for that pur
pose, the Rocky Mountain club of New
York voted to Bend the money to relief
of the Belgians.
Special examinations will be held in
the universities of France before East
er ' for students belonging to contin
gents of the recruits of 1918, which
probably will be called to the army in
the spring.
An ordinance against cats running
at large in Portland will come up at
the next council meeting. Both advo
cates and opponents of the felines are
expected to appear before the meeting
in full force.
A petition in bankruptcy and for a
receiver against Van Frantzius Co.,
big stock brokerage house of Chi
cago, was filed by creditors, who al
lege that liabilities of $2,750,000 ex
ceed the assetB by about $1,000,000.
Russia Is experiencing famine in the
midst of plenty, according to an un
dated article in the London Times
from a correspondent in that country.
The article refers chiefly, but not ex
clusively, to Petrograd and Moscow.
General discussion of President Wil
son's world peace address is expected
in the senate soon, Senator Cummins
having given notice of his intention to
call up his resolution to' set aside
special time for debate on the subject.
The ceremony of saluting the en
tente allies' flag by Greece was car
ried out Monday in the Zappeion, in
accordance with the arrangement re
cently entered into between the Greek
government and the entente powers,
says a dispatch from Athens.
The new revenue bill, embracing ex
cess profits and increased inheritance
taxes, designed to produce $248,000,
000, and a bond issue not exceeding
$100,000,000 to meet the threatened
deficit next year, is reported by the
house ways and means committee.
Revelation of strong-arm methods,
of the employment of sluggers and
gunmen, of bitter warfare between
union factions, of intrigue and arson,
that all made up the conspiracy to
block building construction work in
Chicago, is made from the witness
stand in a Chicago court room.
Ex-President Taft, in an address at
Bangor, Me.,, declared President Wil
son's recent address to the senate was
"an epoch in the history of our foreign
policy, " and his advocacy of our par
ticipation in a world league was a
most powerful aid to its formation.
' Five hundred women invaded the
church of Rev. Paul Smith in San
Francisco Thursday to find out what he
proposed to do about women of the un
derworld in carrying out a vice cru
sade he has been leading. They took
the position that they were directly
Interested.
'. Groundwork for the expected attack
in the senate on President Wilson's
proposal that the United States join in
a league for peace was laid Thursday
in a resolution introduced by Senator
Borah reaffirming as a national policy
the doctrine of no entangling alliances
laid down by Washington and Jeffer
son.
' Flat denials were authorized by the
White House and Secretary Lansing of
published reports that Mr. Lansing is
preparing to resign.
Representations by the United StateB
for a fair trial for two Mexican priests
sentenced to death at Zacatecas on
charge of aiding Villa have been
successful. The American embassy in
Mexico City hag been informed that as
result they will not be tried under a
law which gives them no opportunity
for defense.
Sale of the Hill steamer Minnesota
was confirmed Thursday by L. W. Hill,
president of the Great Northern rail
road. The ship is said to have sold for
$2,750,000.
' Lewiston, Idaho A silver-tip fox
pelt estimated to be worth its size in
$100 bills is being exhibited in. the
Central Idaho country by John Hanson,
a Leeuburg mining man, who made the
lucky capture. It is two feet long
from tip to tip and almost black ex
cept for a snowball at the end of the
brush and a few white spines along
the back.
"Bone-Dry" Prohibition Law
Passes House by 53 to 7
Salem Callan, Kubli, Lewis, Mac-
kay, Schimpff, Stott and Willett
these are the names of the only mem
bers who voted against the bone-dry
prohibition bill Monday.
The bill went through the house late
in the afternoon after a four-hour
siege of oratory, by a vote of 63 to 7.
As soon as the vote had been taken
members of the house were served
with individual half-pint bottles of
loganberry juice, and the entire assem
bly rested while the bottles were
drained.
The bill, as passed, merely carries
into effect the constitutional amend
ment adoDted bv the neoDle at the No
vember election prohibiting the impor
tation of alcoholic liquors for beverage
purposes. It also remedies the exist
ing prohibition laws go that it will be
impossible to buy pure grain alcohol
excepting on prescription of a physi
cian or permit of a district attorney
Inasmuch as the measure carries an
emergency clause it will become a law
as soon as it is signed by the governor
probably before the end of the week.
Five days are allowed, however,
after the governor signs the bill, for
the express companies to deliver goods
already ordered or in transit.
Grange and Labor Merge Support
for Modified Consolidation Bills
Salem Representatives of the State
federation of labor, the State grange
and the Farmers' union, following a
long conference the first of the week,
issued a statement indicating their
combined attitudes on questions of leg
islation pending or proposed.
They suggest a form of consolida
tion for the offices relating . to labor,
modified from that suggested by the
consolidation committee; declare in
favor of state aid in marketing prob
lems and outline their position on var
ious other phases of the legislative sit
uation. "We, the organized farmers and la
borers of Oregon, are unanimously ask
ing your Bupport of the following,"
they say in a statement addressed to
the various members of the legislature.
Free Textbooks Rejected.
Salem Free text books in public
schools were voted down by the house
at noon Tuesday, 38 opposing the
measure, 22 favoring it and 4 absent.
The measure had been looked upon
with suspicion Bince its introduction,
and when it went to the committee it
was badly revamped before it saw the
light again. The section providing
that text books could be secured free
by other than public schools was but
one feature eliminated before the bat
tle on the floor was staged. Represen
tative Tichenor made a warm defense
of his bill, claiming that it was a bill
for the benefit of "the poor kids."
Limit Put on Commission.
Salem Representative Burdick has
introduced a bill in the house provid
ing a complete code of procedure for
the operation of a county government.
It defines the duties of county commis
sioners, who are empowered to esti
mate the amount of money to be raised
for county purposes and to make levies
in specified sums. The county court is
restricted under this bill from under
taking the erection of any courthouse
or other public buildings costing more
than $5000 without the approval of a
majority of the voters.
Hearing Likely This Week.
Salem A public hearing probably
will be held this week to consider the
provisions of the Eaton bill to increase
the rate of the state inheritance tax.
The Eaton bill, which follows the
outlines of Governor Withycombe's
message, increases the present rate,
but many members of the house be
lieve that it does not go far enough.
It would levy a tax of 1 per cent on all
bequeBts over $5000 and up to $20,000,
and 2 per cent on all above $20,000.
The first $5000, as under the present
law, 1b to be exempt.
Apprentice Limit Attacked.
Salem Representative Callan has
introduced a bill in the house intended
to make it unlawful to restrict the
number of persons learning a trade in
any given profession. Labor unionists
on the ground are opposing the meas
ure already. They say that it will
prevent them from enforcing their con
tracts with employers which fix the
ratio of apprentices to skilled mechan
ics employed in various industries oper
ating under closed-shop agreements.
Four Appropriations Submitted.
Salem Four appropriation bills
came into the house the first of the
week from the ways and means com
mittee, but did not get onto the calen
dar, as the house already had passed
that order of business. They provide
appropriations as follows: Oregon
National guard, $165,000; Naval mil
itia, $15,000; Insane hospital, $666,
936; Tuberculosis hospital, $75,562.
60; total, $902,493.60.
Labor Against Prison Plan,
Salem Organized labor will oppose
the recommendation made in the re
port of the Prison survey commission
that the law prohibiting the sale of
convict-made goods on the open market
be repealed. Labor is strong against
such a proposal, but have counter pro
posal of their own, which, they be
lieve.will solve the problem of idleness
at the penitentiary.
Early Water Power Legislation
Asked in Memorial to Congress
Salem Early development of the
water-power resources of the nation is
something that this legislature wants
congress to provide.
The house, by unanimous vote.
adopted Senator Gill's joint memorial
urging upon congress "the absolute
and urgent necessity of the develop
ment of water power in order that the
natural resources may be utilized . to
create new wealth by the settlement
of lands, the development of agricul
ture, the establishment of manufac
tures of varied nature, the economy
and comfort of rail facilities of trans
portation, the means of transportation
enlarged and made cheaper, and traffic
congestion relieved by opening to navi
gation waterways incapable of use be
cause of natural obstructions remov
able by water-power development in
navigable streams, and adequate Na
tional defense may be aided, all of
which will contribute to the increase
and diversification of agriculture, com
merce and industry, and as a conse
quence promote economic security."
the memorial already had passed
the senate and now will go forward to
Washington with the view of impress
ing upon congress the vital interest of
the people of Oregon in the pending
water-power legislation.
The measure did not even evoke de
bate in the house, so well acquinated
and so satisfied were the members
with its provisions.
Five Days of Grace Likely.
Portland Within 30 days after the
"bone-dry" prohibition law is enacted
by the legislature and goes into effect
the express companies must banish
from the state of Oregon the last bot
tle of booze. Such is one provision of
the proposed act, but it must not be
construed as affording 30 additional
days to a thirsty public for stocking-up
purposes.
Five days' grace may be given, how
ever, if rumor is substantiated. Al
though the proposed law at present
contains no such clause, its insertion iB
anticipated.
"We have learned unofficially," said
A. P. Peterson, general agent of
Wells, Fargo & Co., "that a clause
may be added to house bill 100 permit
ting five days in which to dispose of
shipments en route to Portland or to
other points within the state at the
time of hte passage of the law."
If this provision is made, it will
amount to the extending of five days
of grace, in which packages of liquor
already at the express offices or in
transit may be claimed. The 30-day
provision of the law merely defines the
time in which the companies must re
move all undelivered consignments
from the state.
House Does Big Lot of Work.
Salem Thursday was one of the
busiest days that the house has had
since the session opened. A big grist
of bills was passed, an aggregate of 40
new bills was received, half a dozen
important memorials and resolutions
were disposed of and a big volume of
routine business was transacted.
The house ran twice through its reg
ular order of business and most of the
new bills were Bent to committees.
A big batch of committee reports
came in the morning and half a dozen
measures were sent to oblivion over
the indefinite postponement route.
The first lot of appropriaiton bills
came in from the ways and means
committee. They provide revenue for
the conduct of the executive, secretary
of state and treasury department, for
the special apprehenison of criminals,
the State Training school, the school
for the Deaf, the attorney General's
office and the Capitol and Supreme
court buildings.
Ashland Site Favored.
Salem The special committee of
the joint ways and means committee
named to investigate the feasibility of
transferring the Industrial school for
girls form Salem either to Weston,
Drain or Ashland probably will be able
to report next week.
The scheme had its Inception in the
mind of Representative Ashley, and he
was closely seconded by Representa
tive Childs, who is chairman of the
committee.
The Industrial school for girls has
asked for new buildings in the budget
and the School for feeble-minded also
has requested money for permanent
improvement in the way of new build
ings. Premium Cut Advised.
Salem Pure-bred livestock men of
Oregon, at their convention here, rec
ommended that the Oregon State Fair's
request for $50,000 for livestock pre
miums be cut to $40,000. They urged,
however, that a livestock coliseum be
built at the fair grounds. They also
went on record as favoring the Jones
bill for a tax on dogs, the money from
which would be used to reimburse own
ers of sheep that are killed by dogs.
The stockmen are opposed to the Agri
cultural commission, as proposed in
House bill 172.
Board Would Get Rise.
Salem Representative Mann intro
duced a bill in the house fixing the sal
aries of Multnomah county commis
sioners at $3000 a year and requiring
them to give all their time to the
work. Their present salary is $1800
a year, but they do not have to be on
the job all the time. Efforts were
made to get the whole Multnomah
county delegation back of the bill, but
they refused to take action.
OF llHE
ETHEL HUESTON
ILLUSTRATED BY
W.C.TANNE
(Copyright, by the
IT WAS A LUSCIOUS APPLE THAT GOT OLD MOTHER
EVE INTO TROUBLE, AND APPLES IT IS THAT MAKE
TROUBLE FOR CONNIE AND THE TWINS.
Mr. Starr, a widower Methodist minister, has been assigned to the
congregation at Mount Mark, la. He has five daughters, -Prudence, the
eldest, who keeps house; Fairy, Carol and Lark. who are twins, and
Constance. Their advent stirs the curiosity of all Mount Mark, and
members of the Ladies' Aid lose no time In getting acquainted and
asking a million questions. Prudence, who is nineteen, has her hands
full with the mischievous twins and Connie, but is moved to defend
them valiantly when some of the good ladies of the congregation sug
gest that an older woman is needed to run the family.
CHAPTER 111 Continued.
"Indeed they are not," cried Pru
dence loyally. "They are young, lively,
mischievous, I know and I am glad of
it. But I have lived with them ever
since they were born, and I ought to
know them. They are unselfish, they
are sympathetic, they are always gen
erous. They do foolish and Irritating
things but never things that are hate
ful and mean. They are all right at
heart, and that Is all that counts. They
are not bad girls 1 What have they
done today? They were exasperating,
and humiliating, too, but what did they
do that was really mean? They em
barrassed and mortified me, but not
Intentionally I I can't punish them for
the effect on me, you knowl Would
that be Just or fair? At heart, they
meant no harm."
' It must be confessed that there were
many serious faces among the Ladles.
Some cheeks were flushed, some eyes
were downcast, some Hps were com
pressed and some were trembling. Ev
ery mother there was asking in her
heart, "Did I punish my children just
for the effect on me? Did I judge my
children by what was in their hearts,
or just by the trouble they made me?"
And the silence lasted so long that
It became awkward. Finally Mrs. Pren
tiss crossed the room and stood by
Prudence's side. She laid a hand ten
derly on the young girl's arm, and said
In a voice that was slightly tremulous :
"I believe you are right, my dear. It
Is what girls are at heart that really
counts. I believe your sisters are all
you say they are. And one thing I am
very sure of they are happy girls to
have a sister so patient and loving and
Just. Not all real mothers have as
much to their credit 1"
CHAPTER IV.
A Secret Society.
Carol and Lark, In keeping with
their twinshlp, were the dearest chums
and comrades. To them the great,
rambling barn back of the parsonage
was a most delightful place. It had a
big cowshed on one side, and horse
stalls on the other, with a "heavenly"
haymow over all, and with "chutes" for
the descent of hay and twins I
i Now the twins had a secret society
of which they were the founders, the
officers and the membership body. Its
name was Skull and Crossbones. Lark
furnished the brain power for the or
ganization, but her sister was an en
thusiastic and energetic second. Car
ol's club name was Lady Gwendolyn,
and Lark's was Sir Alfred Angelcourt
ordinarily, although subject to frequent
change. The old barn saw stirring
times after the coming of the new par
sonage family.
"Hark 1 Hark !" sounded a hissing
whisper from the corncrib, and Connie,
eavesdropping outside the barn, shiv
ered sympathetically.
"What Is it I Oh, what Is It?" wailed
the unfortunate lady.
! "Look! Look! Run for your life 1"
, Then while Connie clutched the barn
door In a frenzy, there was a sound of
rattling corn as the twins scrambled
upward, a silence, a low thud, and an
unromantlc "Ouch!" as Curol bumped
her head and stumbled,
i "Are you assaulted?" shouted the
bold Sir Alfred, and Connie heard a
wild scuffle as he rescued his compan
ion from the clutches of the old halter
on which she had stumbled. Up the
haymow ladder they hurried, and then
slid recklessly down the hay chutes.
Presently the barn door was flung
open, and the "society" knocked Con
nie flying backward, ran madly around
the barn a few times, and scurried un
der the fence and luto the chicken
coop.
j A little later Connie, nssailed with
shots of corncobs, ran bitterly toward
the house. "Peeking" was strictly for
bidden when the twins were engaged
in Skull and Crossbones activities.
I And Connie's soul burned with de
sire. She felt that this secret society
wag threatening not only her happi
ness, but also her health, for she could
not sleep for horrid dreads of Skulls
and Crossbones at night, and could not
eat for envying the twins their secret
and mysterious joys. Finally she ap
plied to Prudence, and received assist
ance, The afternoon mall brought to the
parsonage an envelope addressed to
"Misses Carol and Lark Starr, the
Methodist Parsonage, Mount Mark,
PAR.; J1 ON
Bnbbs - Merrill Company,)
Iowa," and in the lower left-hand cor
ner was a suggestive drawing of a
Skull and Crossbones. The eyes of the
mischievous twins twinkled with de
light when they saw It, and they car
ried It to the barn for prompt perusal.
It read as follows :
Mlsa Constance Starr humbly and re
spectfully craves admittance Into the An
cient and Honorable Organization of
Skull and Crossbones.
The twins pondered long on a fitting
reply, and the next afternoon the post
man brought a letter for Connie, wait
ing Impatiently for it. She had ap
proached the twins about It at noon
that day.
"Did you get my application?" she
had whispered nervously.
But the twins had Btared her out of
countenance, and Connie realized that
she had committed a serious breach of
secret society etiquette.
But here was the letter! Her fin
gers trembled as she opened it. It was
decorated lavishly with skulls and
crossbones, splashed with red Ink, sup
posedly blood, and written In the same
suggestive color.
Skull and Crossbones, great In mercv
and In condescension, has listened graci
ously to tne prayer of Constance, the
Seeker. Hear the will of the Great Spirit!
If the Seeker will, for the length of two
weeks, submit herself to the will of Skull
and Crossbones, she shall be admitted In
to the Ancient and Honorable Order.
The week that followed was a gala
one for the twins of Skull and Cross
bones. Constance swept their room,
made their bed, washed their dishes,
did their chores, and In every way be
haved as a model pledge of the ancient
and honorable. The twins were gra
cious but firm. There was no arguing
and no faltering. "It is the will of
Skull and Crossbones that the damsel
do this," they would say. And the
damsel did it.
Prudence did not feel it was a case
that called for her Interference. So
she sat back and watched, while- the
twins told stories, read and frolicked,
and Constance did their dally tasks.
A week passed, ten days, and twelve
Then came a golden October afternoon
when the twins sat In the haymow
looking out upon a mellow world. Con
stance was In the yard, reading a fairy
story. The situation was a tense one,
for the twins were hungry, and time
was heavy on their hands.
"The apple trees in Avery's orchard
are just loaded," said Lark. "And
there are lots on the ground, too. I
saw them when I was out in the field
this morning."
Carol gazed down Into the yard
where Constance was absorbed in her
book. "Constance oughtn't to read as
much as she does," she argued. "It's
so bad for the eyes."
"Yes, and what's more, she's been
getting off too easy for the last few
days. The time Is nearly up."
"That's so," said Lark. "Let's call
her up here." This was done at once,
and the unfortunate Constance stood
before them respectfully, as they had
Instructed her to stand. The twins
hesitated, each secretly hoping the
other would voice the order. But Lark,
as usual, was obliged to be the spokes
man. "Damsel," she said, "It Is the will of
Skull and Crossbones that you hie ye
to yonder orchard Avery's I mean
and bring hither some of the golden
apples basking in the sun."
"What !" ejaculated Connie, startled
out of her respect.
Carol frowned.
Connie hastened to modify her tone.
"Did they say you might have them?"
she Inquired politely.
"That concerns thee not ; 'tis for thee
only to render obedience to the orders
of the Society. Go out through our
field and sneak under the fence where
the wires are loose, and hurry back.
We're awfully hungry. The trees are
near the fence. There isn't any dan
ger." . "But It's stealing," objected Connie.
"What will Prudence"
"Damsel!" And Connie turned to
obey with despair in her heart.
"Bring twelve," Carol called after
her, "that'll be four apiece. And hurry,
Connie. And see they don't catch you
while you're about IL"
After she had gone the twins lay
back thoughtfully on the hay and
stared at the cobwebby roof above
them In silence for a while. Something
was hurting 'them, but whether it was
their fear of the wrath of Prudence,
or the twinges of tender consciences
who can say?"
"She's an unearthly long time about
It," exclaimed Lark at last. "Do you
suppose they caught her?"
This was an awful thought, and the
girls were temporarily suffocated. But
they heard the barn door swinging be
neath them, and sighed with relief. It
was Connie I She climbed the ladder
skillfully, and poured her golden treas
ure before the arch-thieves, Skull and
Crossbones.
There were eight big, tempting
apples.
"Hum ! Eight !" said Carol sternly.
"I said twelve."
"Yes, but I was afraid someone was
coming. I heard such a noise through i
the grapevines, so I got what I could
and ran for it. There's three apiece
for you, and two for me," said Connie,
sitting down sociably beside them on
the hay.
But Carol rose. "Damsel, begone,"
she ordered. "When Skull and Cross
bones feast, thou canst not yet share
the festive board. Rise thee, and
speed."
Connie rose, and walked soberly
toward the ladder. But before she dis
appeared she fired this parting shot,
"I don't want any of them. Stolen
apples don't taste very good, I reckon."
Carol and Lark had the grace to )
flush a little at this, but however the
stolen apples tasted, the twins had no
difficulty In disposing of them. Then,
full almost beyond the point of com
fort, they slid down the hay chutes,
went out the bock way, fumed the cor
ner, and came quietly In through the
front door of the parsonage.
Prudence was In the kitchen prepar
ing the evening meal. Fairy was In
the sitting room, busy with her books.
The twins set the table conscientiously,
filled the woodbox, and la every way
lubored Irreproachably. But Prudence
had no word of praise for them that
evening. She hardly seemed to know
they were about the place. She went
about her work with a pale face, and
never a smile to be seen.
Supper was nearly ready when Con
nie sauntered in from the barn. After
leaving the haymow, she had found a
cozy corner In the corncrib, with two -.
heavy laprobes discarded by the twins
In their flight from wolves, and had
settled down there to finish her story.
As she stepped into the kitchen Pru
dence turned to her with such a sorry, f
reproachful gaze that Connie was
frightened.
"Are you sick, Prue?" she gasped.
Prudence did not answer. She went
to the door and called Fairy. "Finish
getting supper, will you, Fairy? And
when you are all ready, you and the
twins go right on eating. Don't wait
for father he Isn't coming home until
evening. Come upstairs with me, Con
nie ; I want to talk to you."
Connie followed her sister soberly,
and the twins flashed at each other )
startling and questioning looks.
The three girls were at table when
Prudence came Into the dining room
alone. She fixed a tray-supper quietly
and carried It off upstairs. Then she
came back and sat down by the table.
But her face bore marks of tears, and
she had no appetite. The twins had
felt small liking for their food before ;
now each mouthful seemed to choke
them. But they dared not ask a ques
tion. They were devoutly thankful
when Fairy finally voiced their Interest.
"What is the matter? Has Connie
been in mischief?"
"It's worse than that," faltered Pru
dence, tears rushing to her eyes again.
"Why, Prudence I What In the world
has she done?"
"I may as well tell you, I suppose
you'll have to know it sooner or later.
She went out Into Avery's orchard
and stole some apples this afternoon.
I was back in the alley seeing if Mrs.
Moon could do the washing, and I saw
her from the other side. She went
from tree to tree, and when she got
through the fence she ran. There's no
mistake about It she confessed." The
twins looked up In agony, but Pru
dence's face reassured them. Con
stance had told no tales. "I have told
her she must spend all of her time up
stairs alone for a week, taking her
meals there, too. She will go to school,
of course, but that Is all. I want her
to see the awfulness of It. I told her
I didn't think we wanted to eat with
a thief just yet I I said we must get
used to the Idea of it first. She Is
heartbroken, but I must make her
see It!"
If you were in Prudence's
place would you turn In and give
Connie and the twins each a
sound- spanking as the most
effective sort of punishment?
ITO BE CONTINUED.)
Pleasure in Well-Dolng.
Pleasure has a way of coming Indi
rectly where least you look for her
and when least you expect her. She
lurks In the happiness of work well
done. She lingers in the consciousness
of honest bookkeeping with life, and
she always Is to be found in the Joy
of growth and progress. In all these
ways honest pleasure Is to be found.
This isn't meant to be a dull preach
ment against anything but work. But
It does mean to say that happiness lies
In doing and the consciousness of well
doing. Cane Nearly Century Old.
William A. J. Giles of Concord, N.
H., bought a cane In an auction shop,
some weeks ago, to help him In hi
lameness. He supposed It was an or
dinary cane, but William H. Harris,
when inspecting it, pulled oft the han
dle, and with It a steel blade about M
Inches In length. On the blade was en
graved the words: "William M.rfr. '
June 2, 1832."