TO AMEND CONSTITUTION.
OREGON STATE ITEMS OF INTEREST
TO SECURE SETTLERS.
Southern Oregon Towns Unite for
Common Welfare.
Medford Rogue river valley, fair an
a garden and bounding with manifold
products of the soil, surrounded by high
hills rich in mineral wealth, and lying
on the main line of railroad communi
cation with the outside world, has wit
nessed a demonstration of enthusiasm
never be'o-e equaled by its citizens.
Pursuant to a meeting recently held at
Grants Pass, at vhich 60 were present
from Medford, a representative gather
ing of men from Ashland, Grants Pass,
Gold Kill, Central Point and Jackson
ville convened upon invitation of the
Medford Commercial club last week to
discuss means and adopt plana tor or
ganization to secure more settlers and
increased advantage in all lines for the
Rogue river valley and for Southern
Oregon as a eeetoin.
The organization will unite all towns
of the valley and will comprisejall com
mercial bodies in the cities named.
Delegations were met at the depot by
the Medford Commercial club with a
band, and the visitors likewise brought
musicians, whose efforts added to the
enthusiasm. Dinner was served for 400
by J. F. Rflddy, of the Nash hotel.
William Colvig presided at the meet
ing at the Davis opera house. W. I.
Vawter delivered the address of wel
come, followed by the best speakers
from towns represented. The tone of
the addresses indicate that the entire
valley will be united in working for
the advancement of every enterprise of
common interest to this Beotion of the
etate.
Water Rights on Walla Walla River.
Salem State Engineer J. H. Lewis
has addressed a circular letter to attor
neys interested in the suit involving
irrigation and power rights in the
Walla Walla river. The letter sug
gests a series of questions to litigants
which, when properly tabulated, will
show the facts in each case without a
great mass of conflicting testimony.
The suit pending in the Circuit court of
Umatilla county was originally started
to determine the rights of a few claim
ants, but when the court came to con
sider the priority of various claims,
other water users' rights were involved.
The Dalles to Advertise.
The Dalles The Dalles Business
Men's association has opened quarters
in the Vigt block, with J. S. McDonald
as secretary and manager. Mr. Mc
Donald is recently from Detroit, Mich.,
and is a promoter of ability. He is
preparing a line of advertising, de
scriptive of the resources and possibil
ities of The Dalles and vicinity, to be
circulated in the East in localities
where people are looking to the West
for homes and for investments. The
association is enthusiastic in the belief
that much good will result.
Overhauling Beet Sugar Factory.
La Grande The work of overhauling
the machinery at the sugar factory has
begun and is being rapidly completed.
Half a dozen mechanics are employed.
In a short time the factory will be com
pletely renovated and overhauled in all
departments. Mr. Taylor, the new fac
tory superintendent, is expected to ar
rive from Logan, Utah, within a few
days. The demand for seed is much
greater than in any previous season, .as
the acreage is very much larger than
ever before.
Brings Settlers to Medford.
Medford Edward Andrews, who
went to the Dakotas recently to secure
settlers for the Rogue river valley, has
arrived from the East with the first in
stallment of his party. There were 17
in the car, all homeseekers, from the
vicinity of Mankato and Crystal Springs,
Minn., and Mitchell, South Dakota.
The country looks good to them and
they will locate here. More are ex
pected to follow soon.
Establish New Course.
Willamette University, Salem Pres
ident Coleman has anonounced that a
friend of the university had given the
institution $2,000. Half this sum will
be used as a loan fund for students who
need help, and $1,000 will be used in
establishing a"university course in elec!
" trical engineering. Willamette will
then be well equipped in these lines.
Opinion on Bond Taxation.
Salem Tha attorney general, in re
ply to a query from the assessor of Lane
county, holds that city bonds and coun
ty warrants may be taxed the same as
other property. He says the state con
stitution distinctly authorizes taxing
fluch property. He says that all money
due from the state or any subdivision
thereof is subject to taxation.
Plants 60-Acre Orchard.
The Dalles Carl Williams of the
firm of A. M. Williams & Co., is pre
paring to plant an orchard on 50 acres
recently purchased from C. L. Phillips.
The land lies south of The Dalles, and
-will be devoted entirely to Royal Ann
cherries and Crawford and Solway
peaches.
ENLISTS AID OF PRESIDENT.
Fulton Persuades Him That Umatilla
Sheepmen Are Right. -Washington
President Roosevelt has
assured Senator Fulton that he would
overrule Secretary Hitchcock and see
that Umatilla county sheepmen holding
permits to graze in the Wenaha forest
reserve are accorded fie privilege of
driving sheep across the Umatilla In
dian reservation in going to and return
ing from their summer range. Mr.
Fulton took the matter up with Indian
Commissioner Leupp and found that he
was willing to accept the proposition,
provided Indian property can be. prop
erly protected. The senator assured
him that sheep could cross the reserva
tion without damaging Indian property.
The president will confer with Mr.
Hitchcock in the immediate future and
see that some regulation is provided
that will be acceptable to the stockmen.
He declared that their request to cross
the reservation was entirely reasonable
and should be allowed.
The recent trouble at the reservation
is believed to grow out of the fact that
Agent Edwards favors giving this right
to sheepmen.
Examines Booth-Kelly Bill.
Salem Governor Chamberlain has
received a copy of Senator Fulton's
Booth-Kelly bill in response to a wired
request. It authorizes the secretary of
the interior to exchange certain lands
in the Klamath Indian reservation,
ownership of which has been vested in
the California & Oregon Wagon Road
company by the United States Supreme
court. By its terms the company can
select not exceeding 87,000 acres in
townships 31 and 32, in one or more
tracts, in lieu of an equal number of
acres of road lands. The bill also
grants waterpower rights and millsites
and right to construct a railroad
through the reservation. The gover
nor will authorize the state land agent
to investigate and report.
Look for Early Berries.
Milton From present indications
the Btrawberry crop in this vicinity
will be from two to three weeks earlier
than usual and, unless the unexpected
develops, will be the largest on record.
Fred Beller, a prominent fruit rancher,
says that bis strawberries were already
commencing to bloom and he expected
to have fruit on the market in less than
a month. Fancy prices will be de
manded for the early fruit, which will
probably be placed on the market two
weeks before the famous Hood River
fruit has matured.
Quarter-Blood Indians May Vote.
Salem Attorney General Crawford,
in an opinion rendered upon request of
M. F. Parker, of the Klamath Indian
agency, holds that Indians of one
quarter blood may vote in this state.
Such Indians are to be recognized as
white people. He says a half-breed is
to be considered a white man if his
mother was a white woman, or an In
dian if his mother was a squaw.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat Club, 69c; bluestem, 69
70c; rtd, 66c; valley, 68c.
Oats No. 1 white feed, $27.50;
gray, $27 per ton.
Barley Feed, $23.6024 per ton;
brewing, $2424.50; rolled, $24.50
25.50.
Hay 'Eastern Oregon timothy,
choice, $1516 per ton; valley tim
othy, $12; clover, $7.5008; cheat,
$6(37; grain hay, $78; alfalfa, $12.
Fruits Apples, $22.75 per box;
strawberries, $3.50 per crate.
Vegetables Asparagus, 812Jc
per pound; cabbage, 22c per
pound; cauliflower, $2.25 perorate;
celery, 7590r per dozen; head lettuce,
25c per dozen; onions, 10 15c per
dozen; radishes, 2025c per dozen;
rhubarb, 34c per pound; spinach,
$1 per box; parsley, 25c; turnips, $1
1.25 per sack; carrots, 6575c per
sack; beets, 85c $1 per sack.
Onions No. 1, $11.15 per sack;
No. 2, nominal.
Potatoes Fancy graded burbanks,
6570o per hundred; ordinary, 50
60c; new Call I ,mia, 5c per poind.
Butter Fancy Jcreamery , 1 7 20c
per pound.
E?gs Oregon ranch, 1617c per
dozen.
Poultry Average old hens, 1414c
per pound; mixed chickens, 1314c;
broilers, 2527c; young roosters,
1213c; old roosters, llllc;
dressed chickens, 1515c; turkeys,
live, 1718c turkeys, dressed, choice,
2122c; geese, live, 810c; geese,
dressed, 10 11c ; ducks, 1718c.
Hops Oregon, 1905, 8 10c; olds,
5K7c.
Wool Eastern Oregon average best,
1520c; valley, 2426c per pound;
mohair, choice, 2830c.
Veal Dressed, 87!c per pound.
Beef Dressed bulls, 3o pir pound;
cows, 45c; country steers, &hc.
Mutton Dressed, fancy, 9J10c per
pound; ordinary, 67c; lambs, with
pelt on, 1010c.
Pork Dressed, 68)c per pound.
Ex-Senator Turner, of Washington,
Would Call Convention,
Spokane, April 17. A convention to
amend the constitution ot the United
States, so that many of the reforms and
laws demanded by the people may be
carried out, is advocated by Judge
George Turner, ex-United States sen
ator, who has recently returned from
Washington, D. C. A provision for
the calling of such a convention is
made in article 5 of the constitution,
although never in the history of this
country has it been applied,
"I am in favor of liaving a conven
tion to amend the constitution called,"
said Judge Turner tonight. "Experi
ence has demonstrated that there are
omissions and corrections which it
would be wise to regulate.
' "In article 5 of the United States
constitution it is provided that 'con
gress, whenever two-thirda of both
houses shall deem it necessary, shall
propose amendments to this constitu
tion, or, on the application of the legis
latures of two-thirds of the several
states, shall call a convention for pro
posing amendments which in either
case shall be valid to all intents and
purposes, as part of this constitution,
when ratified by the legislatures in
three-fourths of the several states, or
by convention in three-fourths thereof,
as the one or the other mode of ratifi
cation may be proposed by congress.'
"I believe that there is an urgent
need for such a convention. In my
opinion it is the only way by which the
necessary amendment can be passed to
elect United States senators by popular
vote.
"There is an amendment needed to
the constitution to enable an income
tax law. This measure has been passed
by congress, but declared unconstitu
tional by the Supreme court. Such a
convention would make possible a nnf-
form divorce law and also the Federal
control of life insurance matters, as ad
vocated by President Roosevelt. The
convention could go over the entire
constitution."
TERRIBLE SCENES AT KAGI.
Buildings Left by Former Earthquake
Are Now in Ruins.
Tokio, April 17. One hundred and
nine persons are known to have been
killed and 29 injured in the earthquake
in the southern part of the island of
Formosa last Saturday, but further de
tails, it is expected, will swell the death
roll, as the shock was more severe than
that of March 17.
The town of Kagi was again the prin
cipal sufferer, the houses which escaped
destruction in the former disturbances
being now in ruins. Doko and several
other towns and villages were also affect
ed by landslides, which have complete
ly changed the topography of the coun
try. The officials are working feverish
ly to relieve the thousands of persons
left homeless by the earthquake. Ter
rible scenes are reported around Kagi
and Doko.
Later reports received from Formosa
confirm the earlier rumors of the com
plete destruction of Kagi, where seven
personB were killed and 85 injured. At
Daigo 400 buildings were destroyed and
at Ajeneui 1,191 buildings collapsed
ana 749 were damaged and three per
sons were killed and 15 injured.
These later advices say that this
shock was more powerful than that of
March 17, but as the people had been
warned they were able to escape.
Portrait of Franklin.
New York, liApril 17. The portrait
of Benjamin Franklin, from Dorchester
house, London, the residence of Ambas
sador Reid, which has been restor
ed to the United States by Earl Grey
arrived today on the American liner St
Paul, in a tin case addressed to Presi
dent Rooievelt. In view of the ap
proaching bicentenary Franklin celebra
tion soon to be held in Philadelphia
Earl Grey, who, with Countess Grey
was recentlv entertained in thia
try, thought it fitting that the picture
snouia De restored at tnis time.
Great Influx of Aliens.
New York, April 17. A new high
waier mar in tne tiae oi Immigration
will be set when the aliens who arrival
at this port today on nine European
sieamsnips, ana tnose aue tomorrow on
eight big ships which are expected to
pass in Banay hook before nightfall,
have been permitted to land on United
States soil. On the vessels which ar
rived today were 11,839 immigrants.
The steamers due tomorrow are expect
ed to add at least a like number.
Revolt Against the Sultan.
London, April 17. AccordiFig to the
Daily Mail's correspondent at El Are
lab, Morocco, a young relative of the
sultan will soon be proclaimed ruler in
the south and a formidable revolt
against Fex is maturing at the city of
Morocco,
IN THE NATIONAL HALLS OF CONGRESS
Thursday, April 19.
Washington, April 19.' The senate
and house today passed, and President
Roosevelt ttiis evening signed, a joint
resolution appropriating $1,000,000 for
the relief of the San Francisco earth
quake and fire sufferers, the money to
be expended under the direction and at
the discretion of the secretary of War.
The resolution was introduced in the
senate by Perkins and called for $500,
000. Upon the measure reaching the
house, Tawney, of Minnesota, offered
an amendment making it $1,000,000.
This passed the house, and when the
resolution was returned to the senate
the amendment was accepted without a
question.
Wednesday, April 18.
Washington, April 18. A pall hung
over the house today by reason of the
great calamity which bas come to San
Francisco and the nearby towns of Oak
land, Eerkeley and Alameda. Legisla
tion went on, but in a most perfunctory
way. There was no heart or interest
in the bills under consideration.
Members of the California delegation
were besieged with inquiries and the
members from San Francisco and Oak
land districts showed the strain upon
them, not being able to ascertain
whether or not their families were vic
tims of the shock and their homes . de
stroyed. The bill extending the national irri
gation law to Texas was passed after
nearly three hours' debate and the Dis
trict of Columbia appropriation bill
was taken up to continue before the
house the remainder of the week.
Washington, April 18. In a special
message delivered to congress today,
President Roosevelt declares the result
of the recent trial of the "beef pack
ers," inC hicago was a "miscarriage of
justice," and that the interpretation
placed by Judge Humphrey on the will
of congress "is such as to make that
will absolutely abortive."
Tuesday, April 17.
Washington, April 17. To clear
the legislative decks tor pending money
bills for the support of the government,
the house today worked uninterrupt
edly from 11:30 to 5 o'clock. In that
time 11 general bills were passed under
suspension of the rules.
The bill to provide for entry of agri
cultural land within forest reserves was
taken up on motion of Dixon, Montana
Mondell, Wyoming, thought if the bill
passed it would bring vast areas direct
ly under the bureau of Forstry that did
not have a tree or buBh. So far as these
areas are concerned, it woald repeal the
timber and stone section of the present
law and the commutation clause.
The bill was passed with one amend
ment, striking out the paragraph giv
ing the secretary of agriculture the
right to set aside such forest reserve
land as was not occupied by a bona fide
settler January 1, 1906.
Washington, April 17. Proceeding
the taking up of the railroad rate bill
in the senate today, Tillman called up
bis resolution directing the senate com
mittee on finance to enter upon an in
vestigation of the question of campaign
contributions by the national banks and
the resolution was referred to the fi
nance committee. Tillman said that
he would not confine the inquiry to the
Republican committee, but would ex
tend it to the Democratic committee.
Foster spoke for almost three hours on
the rate bill, contending for the valid
ity of the proposed legislation.
Monday, April 16.
Washington, April 16. It took the
house of representatives just one min
ute to pass Representative Jones' bill
appropriating $400,000 to continue
work on the jetty at the mouth of the
Columbia river. In accordance with
his promise, Speaker Cannon this after
noon recognized Mr. Jones to call up
the bill reported by the river and har
bor committee laBt Friday.
The bill was read, and without a sin
gle word being said in its favor or in
opposition, the speaker announced that
the bill "would be considered as read
a third time, engrossed and passed."
This was all there was to it. It hap
pened so quickly that few members
present knew that nearly $500,000 was
being appropriated.
Crumpacker, of Indiana, called up
house bill extending until April 11,
1909, the date for applying the coast-
Progress of Reclamation.
Washington, April 17. The third
annual general inquiry of the house
committee on irrigation regarding the
operation of the national reclamation
act was begun today. Secretary of the
Interior Hitchcock stated that, includ
ing the irrigation projects under con
struction, those which are contem
plated and those approved but not be
gun, there will have been spent on
June 30, 1908, $37,000,000, and that
the estimated receipts from the opera
tion of the law up to that time will be
$500,000 more than that amount.
wise laws of the United States to the
Philippines. Under the present con
ditions, these laws will apply July 1
next.
Opposition to the bill was made by
Humphrey, of Washintrton. who said
there was ample American shipping
on the Pacific coast to take rare of the
commerce between the United States
and the Philippines, and, if the time
was not extended, these American ships
would get the business.
The bill was passed by a vote of 217
to 27.
Washington, April 16. A speech on
the railroad rate bill by Heyburn, of
Idaho, in advocacy of his court review
amendment, led to more than two
hours' technical debate in the senate
today. The Indian appropriation bill
was taken up for committee amend
ments, but was not completed, and
consideration will be resumed tomor
row. Tillman, of South Carolina, at
the opening of the session, offered a
resolution providing for an inquiry by
the committee on finance into contribu
tions by national banks to campaign
committees and why facts concerning
them had not been disclosed by the
comptroller of the currency.
Gives Up Attempt.
Washington, April 20. Senator Ful
ton had another conference with the
Reclamation service today in the hope
of reviving the Malheur irrigation pro
ject, but met with no success. He
learned that it has been finally deter
mined to abandon this project, at least
for the time being, because of the many
difficulties that stand in the way.
Moreover, he was informed that at a
very early day the Interior department
will restore to entry a large portion of
the land now withdrawn, in order that
private capital may carry out plans to
irrigate much land which the govern
ment intended to reclaim under its pro
ject. Just how much land will be re
stored to entry is not yet known, but
all the land which private capital pro
poses to irrigate will be made available.
Cannon Gives Aid.
Washington, April 14. Speaker
Cannon today assured Representative
Jones, of Washington, and Chairman
Burton, of the river and harbor com
mittee, that he will permit them to
call up the Columbia river bill on Mon
day under suspension of the rules.
This is the most satisfactory arrange
ment that could be brought about, for
it means that the bill must be consid
ered solely on its own merits, and can
under no circmstances be confused or
associated with any other river and
harbor or appropriation bill. The
merits of the bill are so apparent that
it cannot be assailed.
Government Vessels to Rescue.
Washington, Aprill 9. The depart
ment of Commerce and Labor will lend
all possible aid to the San Francisco
sufferers so far as its facilities go. In
dispatches to the inspector in San Fran
cisco and to the officials of the Fish
commission, Secretary Metcalf has di
rected the lighthouse tender Madrono
and the United States ship Albatross
to go direct to the stricken city and do
everything practicable to aid the suffer
ers. Pacific Squadron Safe.
Washington, April 19. A telegram
received at the Navy departmen thia
morning from the commander of the
Pacifio squadron, sent since the earth
quake, reports that all is well with thia
squadron. The Chicago and Marble
head are en route from Long Beach to
San Francisco, and will probably reach
thpre Borne time tomorrow. The Boston
and Princeton are also at Long Beach.
Remove Court to Portland,
Washington, April 20. Senator Hey
burn will offer a resolution in the sen
ate authorizing the Federal judges who
were soon to hold a term of court at
San Francisco to remove all causes to
Portland and hold court in that city.
Mr. Heyburn contends that this cannot
be done except bv act nf mnorAfiH.
Other senators interested believe no
legislation is necessary.
Two More Quakes Friday.
Washington, April 20. The Weath
er bureau today issued the following
bulletin: "Two small after shocks of
the San Francisco earthquake were re
corded on the seismograph at the Weath
er bureau, Washington, D. C, during
the night and this morning."
Quick to Protest.
Washington, April 16. Since the
debate on the railroad rate bill warmed
up, certain senators have grown very
sensitive about allusions to "railroad
senatorB"and "friends of the railroads,"
and have lost no opportunity to deny
that they themselves are unduly friend
ly to the great transportation corpora
tions. Up to the present session,
whenever there was talk of "corpora
tion senators," these men were not so
sensitive; they did not jump to their
feet then to continually disclaim any
particular friendliness for corporations.