Editorial Page of The Capital Journal
CHARLES H. FISHES
Editor and' HUMOR
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XING EXl KIT SUNDAY, SALEM, OKEOON, nY
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II. FISHER,
uun a
ANDRESEX,
Sc. and Treas.
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A MOST DANGEROUS BILL
purpose and had accomplished it ere his great heart was
stilled by the bullet of an assassin. In him the North lost
her incomparable leader, and the south her best and most
generous friend. By many it was wondered what should
or would be done with the South when the end came.
Lincoln knew. Though he did not live to see the end of
the deadly struggle, it was practically over when he was
killed and his ideas were, to a certain extent, carried out.
The South was welcomed back as a brother who was lost
and found again and was made to feel that it was not an
enemy conquered, but was still a member of the great
family of states. Had Lincoln lived the reconstruction
days would have been different, and many things that
tended to make the tull reconciliation slow, would never
have occurred. And so today the North honors its great
president and national hero, and the South once his bit
terest enemy, pays its tribute to his memory and honor
ing him doubly honors itself.
BUT FOUR DAYS LEFT
House bill 502, a substitute bill prepared by the house
committee on Roads and Highways, establishing a High
way Code for the state, is a dangerous bill. It provides After today there remains but four davs of the legis
for raising in addition to other road funds now provided, llative session, it ending Friday night. So far its claims
about a quarter of a million dollars, which with the other j for approval by the public generally is for the bills it has
funds will be turned over to the highway commission ap- not passed. According to the statements on the floor it
pointed by the governor and to be expended under its has taken many "steps in the right direction" but has not
direction, assisted by a state highway engineer to be ap-lgone far. However it is too early to make a just criticism
pointed by it. This commission has the power to decide! of its work, for it has not finished it. In the house about
what highways shall be improved, where the entire funds, 525 bills have been introduced; and in the senate :500. It
i-hall be expended, the kind of materials to be used, the will be seen from this that in the opinion of the legislators
letting of contracts and absolute power as to who shall there were some 825 matters that needed attention, some
have those contracts. This commission not only has the ! 825 things that the good people have managed to wiggle
whole state fund in charge, but under the proposed ar- along without heretofore, and perhaps never suspected
rangement would also have the management and ex-
they needed. It is about 685 days "since the last legislature
l fit n i n ii - it I . if i ii ni n , i i . t
penoiture oi tne iunus coming rrom tne government 10 aujournea, ana it win be seen irom tms tnat the new
aid in road construction, amounting this year to around thing's required by the people of Oregon average some
$400,000. j thing like eight a week, that number having bobbed up in
There are no safeguards thrown around the bill, but the shape of bills since the legislature of 1915 adjourned.
the entire road funds of the state are placed in the com- j Another thing that shows how careless the citizens are is
mission's hands to do what it pleases with.
In the section of the bill providing for the expenditure
of the money, it is provided that in all improvements cost
ing more than $2,000 it shall select the material, or kind
of pavement it will use, and advertise for bids for the
work. It provides that the commissioners need not give
the contract to the lowest bidder, if the bid is not satis
factory to them. In other words with this power, the
advertising might as well be dispensed with. The com
mission is given a free hand to play favorites and to reap
abundant rewards therefore, if it is so inclined. With the
expenditure of millions in its control the temptations that
commission will face will not be light ones. We do not
mean to say the commissioners will be dishonest, but that
they will be subject to "many inducements to be so. Be
sides under this bill, the governor, and not the commis
sion, will have the absolute dictation as to the kind of
material to be used, the roads to be improved and the per
son of corporation that shall have the contracts. He will
have this power because he is given the power of removal
at his pleasure, and without cause other than his own
sweet will. He will dictate as to everything if he so
chooses, because if the commissioners do not perform his
bidding he can remove them and name some one who will.
The commission has the power of removal of the state
hiehwav engineer, and he will have to recommend the
kind of paving or material they want, which will be what
1 !! 1 1 A. . t l l.. 4L1. Til
that they have never suspected that there was need of
122 changes in Lord's Oregon laws, yet the senate in
troduced that number of bills amending or repealing some
feature of that codification. "What the house did m this
line we have not taken the trouble to count, but it is, if
in the sanie proportion, about 200.
THE CIGABETTE BILL
Representative Sweeney of Josephine
county, who, from the iiumlier and char
acter of the bills he has introduced in
the legislature, seenis ambitious to regu
late the universe, has amongst his other
MMM a bill making it a crime to
smoke cigarette.
This measure is an infringement of the
constitutional rights of the individual
and wherever tried has proved impos
sible of enforcement. Sale of cigarettes
to minors r already forbidden, and this
is as far as either practical or desirable
Cigarette smoking cannot possibly in
jure anyone but the individual, and is
not in any sense a public nuisance un
less we class both cigar and pipe smok
ers as nuisances.
In Washington such a law was in ex
itsence for four years, during w hich the
actual consumption of cigarettes in
creased :)0O per cent. The bill was fin
nlly repealed because it was found im
possible to enforce it. The only result
was that the local dealers lost their
commissions and the money went out of
the state for their purchases.
It' we bar the cigarette, the next step
will be to bar tobacco. If we deprive
people or indulgence in the small vices
we drive them to indulging in the big
ger ones. Human nature will stand just
so much repression, and then comes the
react inn which sweeps away barriers
and goes the other extreme. Cromwell
and the Puritans only prepared the wav
for the orgv o'f sin under the restoi ;il i e
as the pendulum swung the other way.
By the law of nature, moderation is
virtue, excess is crime. The onlv Ilium
in the use of cigarette:- is when they
nre used immoderately and the indiviii-
it-sjiiimf mar uiiuseir. the per
son who finds smoking an injurv must I
cut it out but that is no reason for
depriving his fellow man of a harmless!
consolation.
THE TRAVELING MAN
H&ve you ever stopped to
think of the numerous things
that become a permanent record when you write a check
on this bank?
You record en your check the name of the person you are pay
ing and the exact date of payment.
You record also the amount which you pay.
You can, if you desire, state on the face of the check just what
the payment was for, and whether it was in full of account.
Then, when the one in whose favor the check is drawn endorses
it on the back before cashing it, he formally and indisputably
acknowledges receipt of the funds.
This chronicle of a financial transaction is handed back to you
when paid by the bank, to be placed upon file as a complete and
most satisfactory record of this transaction.
Contrast this method with that of the
person who pays in currency. What rec
ord has HE of the money he pays out?
UNITED STATES NATIONAL BANK
Salem, Oregon
Member Federal Reserve Bank
Judge Bushey thinks the members of the county
court of Polk county are insincere in their negotiations in
the matter of the Salem bridge. We quite agree with
the judge. If the Polk county officials were contending
for the cheaper type of bridge we might respect the posi
tion they take, but when they tell us that the bridge con
cerns Salem mainly and only benefits this city and then
object to our plans because we do not want to spend
enough of their money for our own benefit well, the
position of Judge Kirkpatrick and his collegues would
be ludicrous if it was not exasperating to the thousands
of people who are inconvenienced by the closing of the
bridge. BuJ.it as Marion county has $200,000 or more
available now for building the bridge and it can be built
for considerably less than that sum, why not build it?
Why haggle longer with the Polk county officials when
it is certain that an agreement with them is impossible?
The consolidation bills seem to have hard sledding. So
the governor wants, or he will have to get otl the job. 11 j rar cney nave (try or orown roi or soiiieuung mat manes
commissioners like Veon and Benson, of Portland, are them drop ott the tree oetore they are ripe, it may oe
appointed by the governor, the patent paving combine j they do not fall from this cause, but some of them require
would own the state at the end of four years' road build- a little gentle "pull" before they let go. This seems the
ing under their direetion. more probable from the fact that the pullers are all at
No reputable engineer would want the job in the cir-!home in the state house, and handy to their work.
cumstances. No self-respecting citizen would take the - T" ; "... . . ...
iob of commissioner at a salary of $(500 a vear to be simply It is probable the tate of as many bills is decided out
the governor's plaything. i side of the legislative halls as in them. The big bull-ring
The bill would" place the entire road building of the under the dome is the scene of many a confab, which has
state in the hands of the governor. What kind of a gov-j more effect than the flowery speeches made in the legis
ernor we will have after the prestnt one retires two j lative chambers.
Veai'S Iiom now, ol course no one ruiuvvB, um un yuiiti
will not be satisfied to have all the affairs of the state j
placed in the hands of any governor, and to place the en
tire road building of the state in the hands of even a
strong and capable man in whom the people have con-j
fidence. would not be a good business proposition. Senate
bill 502 us by far the most dangerous one introduced at
this session. It should be defeated.
Off the train ho bop! at daybreak with
a grip in either hand.
With a 8toflach niiylitv omntv anil a
wish for sliimbf rluii'il ' !To tin
Hut he never makes a whimper as h
hops into the bus.
'M tie laughs at real discomfort that
would Bring real tears 1 rum us
Even laughs the travelings salesman
nn. I liis laughs ring out loud am
sweet
WOMAN GOULD
HARDLY STAND
Restored to Health by Lydia
E. Pinkham's Vegetable
Compound.
poor l, stramled actor or the, You can bet it takes a hero to endure
bogger on the streets. a salesman's life!
lust because the salesman helps them Bat with all his c ures and hardships
to their breakfast and their fare.! when he ireens to bed alone.
Even though it takes a greenback he, In some little country madhouse when
ean ill afford to snare, , , c
A . . , ' , ,, i the COId would freest a stone.
On the tram he hops at midnight, and!,,,, , , , ., ,
when daw n has come again ! u ,th ,ho "me old smile he slumbers,
Sou can see him swinging blithely tor inside his watch's
the photo of
baby face;
ease
a wife aud a din: pled
-Author Unknown.
trom the cold and dreary train.
Just another round of calling, taking!
orders in a town
Orders that he thinks are corkers 1
that the credit man turns down. ; Somebody asks: "Is it intimated
Just another round of hustling, just that when Alsace-Lorraine is given
a ten mile drive or two, back to France, Cuba and the Philip-
Whcii the wind is full of winter audi pines go back to Spain .'" But why this
his hands are numb and blue; sarcasm? Cuba has alreadv been given
Ear from home and good home cooking, ; to herself, and the Philippines and in
far from baby and wife I the wav to be given to the Filipinos.
Fulton, N. Y. "Why will women
pay out their money for treatment and
receive no benefit,
when so many have
proved that Lydia
E. Pinkham's Vege
table Compound
will make them
well ? For over a
year I suffered so
from female weak
ness I could hardly
stand and was
afraid to go on thu
street alone. Doc
tors said medicines
were useless and only an operation
would help me, but Lydia E. Pinkham's
Vegetable Compound has proved it
otherwise, I am now perfdetly well
and can do any kind of work. "Mrs.
Nellie Phelps, care of R. A. Rider,
R.F.D. No. 5, Fulton, N. Y.
We wish every woman who suffers
from female troubles, nervousness,
backache or the blues could see the let
ters written by women made well by Ly
dia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound.
If you have bad symptoms and do not
understand the cause, write to the
Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Co., Lynn, I
Mass., for helpful advice given free.
THE NATION PAYS TRIBUTE
The whole country today celebrates the anniversary
nf the birth of the greatest Dresident since Washington,
and by many ranked even ahead of the great man who
guided the destinies of the amies of the colonies through
years of desperate struggle and finally won for us our
:hJ.i.aJ.i . , 'V. ,,,-.,n,l.ii' nVtnvottai ic vufm'rlpri in VllS-
tory. Brave, determined, lorceiui, witn dui one purpose,
the restoration of the Union, he never sweived from that
w m
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.SAVINGS DEPARTMENT
FARM LIFE
When I was young the farmers' shacks
were shy of costly tomes; and only last
year's almanacs were found in many homes.
I used to work for Uncle Hi, I plied the hoe
with speed; and when night came how I
would sigh for something tit to read! A
weekly paper Uncle took, and it was always
State, but for a magazine or book he would
dig up no kale. We fed the hogs their
luscious stews, and gave the hens their hay,
and never heard the great world's news till
it was old and gray. Oh. countless farmers
lived like this, in that fine olden time; they held that
ignorance was bliss, and reading was a crime. My Uncle
Hi is now on high at least I hope he's there; his gener
ation had to die, as men must, everywhere. 'Tis but some
thirty years ago since Uncle cashed his string, and faded
I from this vale of woe to play a harp and sing, i How times
nave changed! the farmers lair has reading, now, to
burn; the farmer, in his easy chair, today's hot news may
learn. My Uncle Hi would find things strange, if he
could be our guest. How times have changed and every
change seems always for the best!
.. -.... j
Y. M. C. A. Membership Contest
1 1 00 Members I
1 1 00 Hours!
I Commencing, Feb. 7, 6 p m Sunday, Feb. 10, 10 p m
MY" HUSBAND AND I
MORTON LEVERING DECLARES HIMSELF
course after you get your divorce.'
Levering; An Uncomfortable Situation.
everyone seemed (lereimin
ain a divorce. Had Morton
luokeil Bo strange, I shoul.'l
"Fortunately for the rest of the girls,
isn't it Mr. Levering?'' Elsie laughed.
"If- you mean that Mrs. Hammond
is a very attractive woman I shall
have to agree with von.'' he mtamuMi
vering himself.
fI was sent to ask vnn tn malr nn
I doubles in tennis. If you can tear
CHATTER CUCV.
The very next dav Morton
searched me out as I wandered around Divorce!
the grounds. I had just received a j ed that 1 obt
letter from Muriel which had upset i Levering noi
me to a certain extent and I wanted , have laughed. As it was I assumed
to be alone. I my most chilling manner and expressed!
"Leonard is almost desperate," she my surprise that he should so far 'forgot
had written, "sometimes 1 am irigulen -i Inniseu ami what was due me.
ed at the idea of what he ma? do. Don't "I am very disappointed in you,'
stay too long. He'll surely show up 1 1 finished. 1 now realize how childish j yourself away please come!" and Elsie
down there if you do." jit must have sounded, how inane. started on ahead. I motioned and he
Unsettled, unhappy as I was I felt aj "Forgive me?" he asked humbly, I followed without a word,
thrill of joy that some one cared enough but " " j What ailed Elsie? Had she suspected
for me to be "desperate" as Muriel! "I certainly have given you no rea- Mr. Levering was in love with met It
put it; although I was frightened at the son to believe you could talk to me! wasn't a bit like her to speak as she
same time. like this, I feel insulted!" then he look ! had.
"At last I have found you alone." ed so contrite, that I added: "Andj Then I forgot to worry about her ia
Mr. Levering greeted me. "I began to! when there are so many attractive i thinking of myself. Why men other
think I never should be so fortunate. young ladies about I can't imagine. why than my husband eared fumel Aid
Although I cau't blame your family, ' 'jyou should have elected to think your-not then, I do not now pretend to ex
hc finished rather grimly. self in love with me. Please forget what plain. I was neither a flirt nor a
"Now that you have found me, what! you have said: I shall." I declared as i beautv. Neither nartitnlarlvf clever
1 asked gaily.ll thought of Elsie and remembered that or uuusnallv accnmiiHshed Vt nf u
hoping
do for
that he
you T '
"had
not noticed my, if I drove him away it might mean ajthe men with whom I had been
timately thrown in contact, mv husband
preoccupation, and that lie was going to heartache for her.
talk of r.lsie. interrupted. seemed the onlv one whom I em.M not
"Mrs. Hammond, Mildred! I have "What are you two talking about 1 " j please. I do not e:.a to say that they
heard that you aTe not happy, your i Elsie's voice effectually prevented fur-jail avowed they lovoa me: heaven for
owu actions confirm it. Many thingsjther speech, "you are as solemn as bid! but they made me feel that I
you have said have only too plainly owls. If you weren't married Mildred, meant something besides a lay figur
told me so. Could yon care for mef'jl should guess that Mr. Levering had' to them. But Clifford's lack of a
he asked gently then as I made a ges-j proposed to you and that you had re- precision had made me very humble,
ture of repulse too astonished to speak. ; fused him!" she daringly threw out. Ivery prof to underestimate" my own
he went on: "If yon are not happy, I "Well, I am married, so you would! attractions.
aud can care for me, I will try to maKejaave guessed wrong." I replied fts? j
up to you for all you have missed of I ing. (Toorrow A Talk With Elsie.)