uRGES FEDERAL
WAR INSURANCE
Conference Will Present Bill to
Congress for Action.
Financiers Join In Advising Sola
Hon of Food Exports and
Foreign Exchange.
Washington, D. C Government in
suranco against wnr rinks of Amorlcan
register ships and their cargoes wan
the Holutlon ofTered Saturday by 02
representative business men of the
country for the ntoppago of American
ovonteaa comtnurco because of tho Eu
ropean war.
Tho proposal wan made in definite
form after an all-day conference pro
sided over by Secretary McAdoo, of tho
TrouHury department, who called tho
mooting. Practically all of tho (argent
banking and shipping interustn in tho
United btaton wero represented.
The conference appointed a commit
too of 12, headed by Seth Low, presi
dent of tho National Civic Federation,
to remain in Washington and advino
with tho governmental department
and committees of congress during tho
framing of legislation believed neces
sary to relievo conditions produced by
tho war abroad.
Tho committee began drafting a bill
to be presented to congress at onco and
pressed for passage, with a vlow to
having a government Insuranco bureau
in operation as soon as possiblo after
tuo pending measure modifying re
strictions on American registration of
foreign-built ships goes into effect.
To insure freedom of discussion, tho
conference was held behind closed
doors, but tho resolutions adopted and
some of tho proceedings of tho con
ference wore made public in a state
ment Issued by Secretary McAdoo.
Tho statement declared it to have
been tho concensus of opinion at tho
conference that with enlarged registry
of Amorican ships and action by tho
government supplementing what pri
vate companies might do in connection
with tho Insurance, tho question of ox
ports of grain and cotton and of fore
ign exchange would readily solvo them
selves. Many speakers, including J. I'. Mor
gan, James J. Hill and other finan
ciers, pointed out tho fact that Eng
land, France and Belgium already had
provided for government war insurance
for their merchant shipping. Against
this action, they said, tho United
States would be helpless, as no ships
would pass under tho American flag
with the passage of tho proposed regis
try law unless their owners wero as
sured of insurance under tho Stars and
Stripes.
The result would bo a foreign mon
opoly of sea transportation, they pre
dicted, and tho fixing abroad of the
price at which cotton nnd wheat should
bo sold.
JAPAN TO FULFILL ITS
. ENGLISH TREATY PLEDGE
London Tho Daily Telegraph learns
from a diplomatic correspondent that
tho Japancso government intends to
carry out to tho full its obligations un
der tho Anglo-Japan treaty.
Tho correspondent says that tho Jap
ancso navy has put to sea and will co
oporato with tho British fleet in taking
effective action ngninat tho enemy's
ships in tho Pacific.
Food Price Inquiry Begun
by State and Federal Forces
Washington, D. C. Legal forces,
stato nnd Federal, all over tho country,
got Into action Saturday, carrying out
President Wilson's suggestion for an
investigation of whether food prices
aro being artificially increased on tho
pretoxt of tho European war and for
criminal prosecutions, if that is found
to bo tho case.
Tho national capital led off tho cam
paign with a grand jury investigation,
to which commission merchants,
wholesalers, retailors, buyors for ho
tols nnd restaurants wero Bubpcnacd
and citizens having ovidonco woro in
vited. Reports of othor investigations bo
ginning in many localities by United
Stales attorneys and stato and county
authorities began pouring into tho at
torney gonoral's office.
Special agents of tho department of
JuBtico bogan thoir search for ovdonco
of manipulations or othor methods of
prico fixing.
Prisoners of War Arrive.
ParisGorman prisoners have ar
rived at Nantes, which glvos color to
tho reports that Franco intends to koep
thoirt in ono of tho numerous islands
off tho south Breton coast. Tho Petit
Journal says that Belgium, owing to
tho smnllnosa of her lorritory, is ask
ing Franco to tuko charge of 2000 Gor
man prisoners,
Chinese Republic Appeals
to Powers, But In Vain
Washington, D, C -China has ap
pealed in vain to tho powers of tho
world to ontor Into an agreement to
respect her neutrality.
Approhcnslvo that sho may becomo
involved in tho war nnd that her terri
tory will bo soized by Japan and other
powers, President Yuan Shi Kai and
his cabinet aro seriously considering
tho advisability of mobilizing and mak
ing other preparations to defend tho
neutrality of thoir country.
It has bcon borno in on tho Chineso
officials that thoy can expect no mili
tary support from tho American gov
ernment. Diplomatically wo are wil
ling to aid them. But so far as send
ing ships or troops to oppose a nation
which may tako action is something
tho Wilson administration will not do.
As a matter of fact, plans havo been
adopted for withdrawing all our big
ships from Chineso waters and assem
bling them at a strategic point in tho
Philippines for tho protection of that
archipelago.
Tho refusal of tho belligerent tow
ers to enter into an agreement "at
this tlmo" to respect Chineso neutral
ity grows largely out of their preoccu
pation in tho existing theater of war
and their ignoranco of developments
that may tako placo.
If Germany should bo victorious, un
questionably she would tako tho Brit
ish dependencies of Hongkong and Wei
Hal Wei and would lay claim to tho
British sphere of influence in tho re
gion watered by tho Yangtso Klang.
In addition, sho would scizo French
Tonquin China and Cambodia and seek
to control tho French Bphero of in
fluence extending over tho three southern-most
provinces of China. In addi
tion, sho would acquire tho Portuguese
city of Macao. Of course, to do all
this, sho would have to destroy the
Japancso navy, a superhuman task, in
view of the fact thaf first she must
vanquish the British fleet.
United States Is Forced
to Levy New War lax
Washington, D. C. Administration
leaders havo concluded that additional
revenue legislation eventually will be
needed to fill tho gap in tho govern
ment coffers caused by tho Iobs of rev
enue on imports cut oil by tho buro
pcan war.
Majority Leader Underwood, of tho
house, said that ho would confer with
Secretary of tho Treasury McAdoo
when the latter returns to Washington,
concerning pluna and tho amounts to
bo raised.
Tho ways and means committee,
which has chargo of all revenuo legis
lation, already has called on tho treas
ury department for a detailed state
ment of tho condition of tho treasury
and tho situation as to reduced im
port taxes. It was estimated that
legislation ' would be framed which
would contemplate a "war tax" of ap
proximately $100,000,000.
While no definite plans havo been
determined, it, is expected that tho tax
will tako tho shapo of a stamp impost
on malt and spiritous liquors, although
an increased duty on leather and cofTco
may bo considered.
In order that rovenuo legislation
might havo tho right of way whenever
It becomes necessary, tho houso wroto
into a special rulo giving conservation
legislation preccdcnco a clauso exempt
ing revenuo legislation.
Tho Republicans in tho houso havo
notified Mr. Underwood that while
thoy reserve tho right to criticiso any
rovenuo legislation offered, thoy will
not resort to obstructive tatics to pro
vent Its passago in an emergency.
GERMAN ARMY CROSSES
INTO FRENCH TERRITORY
London Tho Daily Chronicle mili
tary expert attaches tho highest im
portance to tho British press bureau's
announcomcnt that German troops aro
reported to bo entrenching along t)y
lino of tho River Aisne. Ho comment
au follows:
"ThiB means that tho Germans in
forco havo penetrated for u consider
able distance Into French territory
from tho Belgian frontior. This in
vasion Is of far greater Importance
from a military point of vlow than tho
French incursion Into Alsace.
"Tho Germans must have ponotrated
in tho roar of tho French lines along
tho upper reaches of tho River Aisne.
Tho moro fact of entronching suggests
tho presonco of a strong body of in
fantry." "Airship" Ticket 8 Sold.
Bridgeport, Conn. Ordora woro
issued by tho polico officials hero for
tho arrest of a gang of swindlers, al
leged to have sold many tickots for
$80 aploce in tho Hungarian section of
the city for passngo from Bridgeport
to Hungary by airship route. Tho
tickots aro said to havo been bought
by Hungarians desirous of returning to
fight for tho fathorlund, who wore in
formed that by taking the air route
they would escape the porils of tho
high soas incident to tho war,
Big Change Likely in
American Shipping Laws
Washington, D. C Whllo tho act
recently passed by congress intended
to mako it easy to grant American
registry to foreign-built ships will
provo ineffective in the prevailing
shipping crisis by which tho United
States Is confronted, tho tlcup that
exists on both coasts of tho United
States probably will move congress
to no draft tho American shipping laws
as to mako a recurrence of this em
barrassment impossible. Tho declar
ation of London to which the United
States as well as tho warring nations
wero parties, will preclude the pur
chase and operation by tho United
States of any of tho vessels that havo
been flying the flags of Great Britain,
Germany, France or other nations.
Nevertheless tho tie-up of shipping,
both on tho Atlantic and Pacific, duo
to tho fact that most all ships plying
between the United States and trans
oceanic ports Bail under foreign regis
try, and the inability of tho United
States on short notice to build up a
merchant marine of its own, doubtless
will lead to permanent legislation by
congress under which, after tho Euro
pean situation clears, it will bo possi
blo for American capital to acquire
foreign-built ships and operate them
under the American flag.
This docs not mean that congress
will pass a ship subsidy bill, for the
chanco of that is just as remote as
over, but it does mean that those who
havo been objecting to granting Amer
ican registry to desirable vessels built
abroad will find objections overridden.
There is a particular reason why
congress will desire to broaden the
American shipping laws. Tho pre
vailing situation is one in which the
United States finds itself overstocked
with many supplies which normally it
could and would sell abroad. Tho
European markets arc largely closed to
these supplies and the over-stocking
of tho homo market is expected to
force down prices, to the detriment of
American producers and exporters.
And, by the same token, America finds
its supply of imports heavily curtailed,
especially on tho Atlantic Coast, by
reason of tho fact that it has not the
vessels to bring in various commodi
ties. This will affect the revenues of
the government, as well as the busi
ness of tho country, and the object les
son will be ono that congress cannot
ignore.
Berlin Is Reached by
XJ. S. State Department
Washington, D. C. Secretary Biy
an announced that the American gov
eramcnt now was in communication
with all its European embassies and
legations.
For many days the State department
has been unable to communicate with
Ambassador Gerard, at Berlin, but
communication was restored Monday.
Mr. Bryan telegraphed inquiring about
Archer M. Huntington, president of
the American Geographical society,
and others, reported arrested as spies.
Assurances that Americans soon
would be able to leavo Germany were
given several days ago and the opening
of communication with Ambassardor
Gerard was expected to clear up all
doubts on tho subject within the next
24 hours.
Ono of tho first messages from Mr.
Gerard was a formal notification from
tho German foreign office that most
German ports had been mined and re
questing that American ships bo
warned against navigating in any
ports which might bo bases of hostili
ties for foreign forces.
Another report from Ambassador
Gerard said he understood tho English
Channel had been mined, but did not
say by whom. Consular Barclay,
Chargo d'Aifairs of tho British em
bassy, who was at tho Btate depart
ment suggested that Germany prob
ably mined tho channel, but that ho
had received no advices to warn Amer
ican ships to that effect. Mr. Barclay
said ho had called merely to facilitate
cable communication for the Amorican
government via London to points on
tho continent, sinco all messages
passed through British censors.
Stato department officials denied a
report that Ambassador Guthrie, at
Tokio, had presented a note to tho
Japancso government, dealing with
possiblo developments involving Japan
in China. It was indicated, however,
that Ambassador Guthrio was making
Informal inquiries to learn tho inten
tions of tho Japanese government with
respect to the war. It was considered
likely that if Japan, on behalf of her
ally, Great Britian, takes part in an
attack on tho German colony of Tsing
Tau, a formal effort would bo made by
tho United States to preserve China's
neutrality.
Housewives Make Appeal,
Now York Tho National House
wives' losguo has sont to all its mem
bers throughout tho United States an
appeal urging that evory family live
as simply as possible while the war in
Europo prevails.
"Extravagant living at this time,"
tho appoal asserts, "will causo great
Buffering among the poor."
NORTHWEST MARKET
REPORTS.
Portland.
Portland There was no material
situation at the opening of tho week.
Tho exporters arc still unwilling to
enter tho market, and domestic busi
ness is of small volume. Speculators
would no doubt show moro activity if
the financial situation were favorable.
Prices are more or less nominal, with
86 cents believed to be about the right
prico for club. Fanners are very
strong in their views.
Wheat Track prices: Club, 86c
per bushel ; red Russian; 84c; blue
atom, 89c; forty-fold, 87c.
Millfeed Bran, $2223.50 per ton;
shores, $27; middlings, $31.
Oats No. 1 white, $22 per ton;
feed, $22.
Barley No. 1 feed, $20 per ton;
brewing, $20.50; rolled, $22.50.
Hay Old timothy, $1617 per ton;
new crop, timothy, $13 15; grain
hay, $810; alfalfu, $1112. ,
Corn Whole, $35 per ton; cracked,
$36.
Hop dealers are steadily reducing
their estimates of tho com ,g Oregon
crop. Some of them now figure the
yield as low as 110,000 or 115,000
bales. It Is likely that the Pacific
Coast will be 50,000 bales short of last
year's production.
The market has gained materially
in strength, and a strong demand for
contracts has developed. Growers are
not ready sellers and business is being
put through with difficulty. About
60,000 pounds arc known to have been
signed up in this state and in Wash
ington at 14J and 15 cents. Dealers
wero offering these prices in several
sections and many orders are known to
bo unfilled at 14 cents.
Hops 1913 crop, nominal; 1914
contracts, 1415c.
Pelts Dry, 13c; dry short wool, 9c;
dry shearings, 10c; green shearings,
1630c; salted sheep, $1.251.50;
spring lambs, 2635c; green pelts,
short wool, 3060c; lambs, August
take-oif, 6070c.
Peaches were the firmest article in
the fruit list. The supply was not
large and there was a great demand.
Tho best peaches readily brought 75c
cents.
There was a good demand for good
cantaloupes, standards and jumbos sell
ing at $1.251.40. Ponies brought
anywhere from 50 cents up. Melons
were in oversupply and weak.
Grapes were plentiful and sold well.
A fancy car came in, Malagas going at
$1.35 and Rose of Peru at 75 cents.
Lemons were strong at the advance,
fancy now selling at $9.50.
The first straight car of new pota
toes was received, and they sold well
at 4 cents. Tomatoes were weak at
G0G5 cents.
s Potatoes Oregon, lUc per pound;
sweet potatoes, 4c
Eggs Fresh Oregon ranch, case
count, 2324c; candled, 2627c.
Poultry Hens, 1414Jc per pound;
springs, 1516c; turkeys, 20c; dress
ed, choice, 22c; ducks, 10llc; geese,
10c
Butter Creamery prints, extras,
32 lc per pound; cubes, 281c
Pork Block, 12c per pound.
Veal Fancy, 1414c per pound.
Cattle Prime steers, $7.257.50;
choice, $77.25; medium, $6.757.50;
choice cows, $66.25; medium, $5.50
5.75; heifers, $6.256.65; calves,
$68.25; bulls, $34.75; stags, $4.50
6.
Hogs Light, $89.25; heavy, 7
8.25.
Sheep Wethers, $44.75.
Seattle.
Seattle Wheat Bluestem,. 02c per
bushel; forty-fold, 87c; club, 86c;
f ile, 044c; red Hussion, 83jc.
With a small amount of cream com
ing to tho local creameries, the price
of tho city-churned product has been
forced up to 30c and dealers prophesy
a slight upward rise above this price
within the next week unless tho situa
tion changes. Most of the houses are
carrying largo storage stocks, which
will more than carry them over until
the cream supply becomes stronger.
Eggs remain at 33c, with little pros
pect of immediate change. Fresh local
ranch eggs aro still rather scarce.
Cheese is firm.
Dealers aro on tho lookout for any
consignments of largo poultry, as tho
market remains filled to the brim with
small hens. There Is a decided de
mand for 4 and 6-pound chickens.
Eggs Select ranch, 8233c per
dozen; Chineso, 18c ; Eastern Aprils,
26(?528c; local Aprils, 2829c
Butter Washington creamery firsts,
cubes, 28c per pound; do. bricks, 80c;
city creamery, bricks, 30c; Oregon,
28c; jobbing, basis, 25J261c
Poultry Hens, 1617c per pound;
squabs, $2.503 per dozen; 1914 broil
ers, live, 1819c per pound; duck
lings, 1415c; old ducks, live, 18
14c; geese, live, 15(Q)16c.
Tacoma.
Tacoma Wheat Red Rusaien,' 80c
per bushel; milling, bluestem, 89c;
club, 86c; forty-fold, 86c; red Fife,
82c.
Butter - Washington creamery, 29
80c; Oregon, 27 28c.
REFUGEE SHIP
REACHES PORT
Liner Arrives With First Load
of Stranded Americans.
"No Words Can Exaggerate Con
ditions," Sag Passengers
Baggage Abandoned.
Now York. The Amorican liner
Philadelphia, with tho first great
crowd of Americans who rushed from
Europo when tho various nations de
clared war, arrived in. New York
Thursday night There wero 703 pas
sengers in the cabin and 309 In tho
steerage.
virtually all of them wero without
baggage, many of them without mon-
ej and all had stories of hardships to
tell.
Tho Philadelphia sailed from South
ampton a few hours after England de
clared war on Germany. Tho first day
out seven French torpedo-boats and
three submarines were sighted. Ono
of the torpedo-boats hurried after the
American liner, the rest of 'the fleet
following slowly. Finally the torpedo
boat the B-7 camo alongside and or
dered the Philadelphia to stop.
The war vessel circled the liner sev
eral times, its officers looking closely
at the faces of the passengers crowd
ed on tne decks. When the French
naval officers were sure the Philadel
phia really was an American vessel
and that the passengers were Ameri
cans, one of them shouted in English
that tho Philadelphia might proceed.
The passengers cheered tho French
ships. Tho cheer was returned and
the tiny war crafts steamed away.
The refugees In the steerage had
the freedom of the ship. The men
were separated from tho women, how
ever, and in some cases husbands
wero separated from their wives by
this regulation. Rather than sleep in
the steerage scores of these passen
gers slept in the smoking-room, on
tho life rafts, and in steamer chairs.
Four persons wero in every cabin.
As the Philadelphia neared her pier
In the North River the crowd waiting
on shoro shouted a welcome to the
refugees. Then for a quarter of an.
hour tho whole river resounded with
cheers.
The regulation preventing a shin
which arrives at quarantine after sun
down from proceeding to her dock un
til tho next moring, was waived.
An hour and a half after she
arrived in tho lower bay the last of
her passengers had gone ashore.
Travelers from Paris told of mobs
swarming through the streets, break
ing windows and Iootinir German
shops. Others told of Germans caught'
in the French capital and. oeaten by-
gendarmes and excited citizens.
The streets near the railroad sta
tions were piled high with abandoned
baggage. So great was the rush of
Americans from France to England
that small steamers In, the English
Channel, constructed to accommodate
from COO to 900 persons, carried 3000
men, women and children on every
trip.
A loaf of bread- selling for 8 cents
was bringing 22 cents whea somo of
the passengers left Paris. Other food
stuffs were soaring proportionately.
I mot Jack Johnson on the boule
vard," said Howard Willett, of Chi
cago. "His face was wreathed In
smiles. Crowds surrounded him ask
ing him to fight for France."
A committee formed on board the
Philadelphia with tho expressed pur
pose of assisting Americans abroad
issued a statement saying:
"No words can exaggerate the des
perate condition of stranded Ameri
cans all over Europe outside of Eng
land." Many of tho passengers said they
had been stopped In Germany and
forced to prove that they wero Ameri
cans and not Englishmen. Others had
been stopped in France and asked
whether thoy wero Germans. With a
few exceptions all were treated cour
teously when they proved their na
tionality. Soldiers wero stationed all along
the roads nnd squads of them were
guarding every tunnel and bridge. Mil
itary guards with loaded rifles wero
on every railway coach and engine
and in all the stations.
Among tho passengers were Charles
Aldrlch and family, of Cleveland,
whom soma one in London offered
$1000 for their stateroom or $500 if
allowed to trnvel with them.
John A. Wilson, of Franklin, Pa.,
President Wilson's cousin, smilingly
announced on the pier that ho be
lieved he had less monoy and more
summer clothes than any other man
in Now York. Ho carrlod with .him
a set of golf sticks presented to Presi
dent Wilson by tho City Lunch Club
of London and which ho was com
manded to bring over.
Price of Sugar Soaring.
New York. The upward tendency
of tho sugar market continues and
now high records wore made again
Thursday, when fine granulated su
gar was quoted at 6 to 7 cents and
centrifugal, .96 test, at 5,88.
Balmoral Offered as Hospital.
London. King George has offered
Balmoral Castle as a hospital for
wounded soldiers.