Daily capital journal., February 17, 1917, Image 4

About Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919

Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR

                
Editorial Page of The Capital Journal
r
ATI l!I T KV EN I X
CHARLES H. FISHER
Editor and Manager
Frlii u iv IT. 1W17.
L
PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING EXCEPT SUNDAY, SALEM, OREGON, BY
VAV.V.W
Capital Journal Ptg. Co., Inc.
L. 8. BARNES. ('HAS. B, FISnER,
President. Vice-President.
DORA C ANDREBEN,
Sec. and Treas.
r.l'KHCRIlTlON RATES
Daily by enrricr, per year
Daily by mail, per year
. 3.00
Per month 45
Per month 35c
FULL LEASED WIRE TELEORAPH REPORT
E ASTERN' REI'R ES K N T ATI V ES
New York, W. B. Ward, Tribuno IWWIlf
Chicago, W. H. Sto.kwcll, People's Gas Building.
The Capital Journal carrier boys are instructed to put the papers on the
porch. If the carrier docs not do this, misses you, or neglects getting the
puper to you on time, kindly phone the circulation manager, as this is the
only way we enn determine whether or not the carriers are following in
structions. Phone Main 81 before 7:30 o'clock and a paper will be sent you
by special messenger if the carrier has missed you.
ACTING ON SUPPOSITIONS
THE PRICE OF PRINT I PAPER
The bill doubling the tax on autos may produce
revenue and it may produce a nice fat little law suit.
There is a difference of opinion between lawyers as there
Blwaya is as to the constitutionality of the tax. The bill
passing the senate yesterday was recalled from the house
by Senator Olson's motion yesterday to insert a section
declaring it was within the police power of the state that
this bill was enacted into a law. This was done to
strengthen it against attack in the courts. This bill was
passed as a companion bill for the proposed bonding bill
by which $7,900,006 would he raised for road building, the
proposition being to use the money paid by auto licenses
for paying the interest on the bonds. At six per cent this
yearly interest charge would be $474,000 or about $1,:500
a day. At f per cent it would total $:i95,000 or something
more than $1,000 a day. This interest will run just the
same whether the auto licenses are collected or not. Sup
pose the auto license is declared unconstitutional? Will
the people of the state who pay the taxes be content to
have this debt saddled oh them? The policy of this state
has been to keep out of debt, and it is a policy that most
of the taxpayers indorse. The passing of the bonding bill
now is doing business on suppositions. With this bond
interest to meet should the auto tax fail, where will the
tax limitation let the other affairs of the state get off?
Now that we have a bone dry law as to liquor, would
it not be wise to enact the same kind of drastic legislation
as to lobbyists? Why would not a law be all right for
bidding under severe penalties a hired lobbyist entering
the state capitol during a session of the legislature. This
as all other legislatures, has been beseiged from the open
ing day by men paid to defeat this or push that bill
through, 'it would be, as Kellaher demonstrated verbally
---a step in the right direction, if every paid attorney and
lobbyist was not only forbidden to enter the state house
and annoy legislators, but to lock them up for s x months
lor each offense. It is a dead certainty that what these
paid lobbyists want, is never beneficial to the people, and
they simply interfere with legislation and "persuade,"
or io try to, legislators to do things against the interests
of the people who sent them to attend to their business.
The legislature may save $4,000 a year by the cutting
out of one Industrial accident commissioner, but why gag
at the gnat and swallow the camel that same legislature
swallowed without even a wry face, and it was a good
sized camel too with the humps well developed. By cut
ting out the state aid to the department, which is not
needed, a saving of $100,000 could have been made, but
this was really too much. The salaries of a few stenog
raphers looked much bigger, and then the salary of the
commissionr was also a great saving. The part of his
Salary the state would have to have paid was one eighth
of that sum or about $500. The legislators saved that but
let the $100,000 go. More than that, the commission itself
when the fund got larger than was necessary, instead of
letting the state have the advantage of it cut out the pay
ments by the parties interesed. Economy is a quder
thing as it is practiced in Oregon.
Whatever else may result from the war it has certain
ly given a great, boost to socialism. Government control
of first one thing and then another; commandeering food
stuffs and fixing the price; taking over coal mines and
transportation lines; these and many others of like
nature, are socialism pure and simple. What effects this
pHimntiftTi will hnve after the war is over remains to be
seen; but it, and what it accomplished, will not soon bej
forgotten.
The Oregonian says the Portland Journal is insane on
the delinquent tax question. We disagree with this view
of the ease and protest against the growing tendency to
plead insanity in defense of every crime in the calendar,
and besides it is doubt till it the man responsible lor cne
ficht acainst the advertising of the delinquent tax list
ever possessed brains enough to become mentally de
ranged. Fools seldom go crazy.
Examination into the increased price of prin.t paper
by the department of justice has uncovered enough evi
dence to warrant the asking of indictments of paper
manufacturers for alleged anti-trust law violations. A
federal grand jury in New York is investigating to de
termine' if there has been a criminal conspiracy in re
straint of trade, and yesterday the manufacturers weak
ened and offered to arbitrate prices. Of course, like
everything else, paper has increased in price, but it has
increased apparently beyond all reason, being advanced
200 percent. There does not seem any good reason for
this, for the material is no more costly than before, and
labor costing but little if any more than before the raise
in prices. The federal trade commission will in a few
days report to congress on the subject to the effect that
it has found the increase in prices are from four to 20
times the advance in production costs. It will also report
that there never has been an actual shortage of print
paper, and that manufacturers-have helped create a panic
among publishers by intimating there was one. The
newspapers are hard hit by the unheard of prices now
prevailing. They are not in the same fix as the merchant,
who can raise the price at which he sells when the cost
price is increased, but are practically forced to continue
their subscription price unchanged. This; so far as sub
scriptions are concerned leaves the newspaper owner
without a cent of profit from that source, the paper, ink
and press work costing as much as is received from the
subscriber for the printed sheet. In some of the larger
papers there is an actual loss, and the pp.pers are com
pelled to look to the advertisers for the money to maintain
them. Whether there has been a conspiracy in restraint
of trade or not it is indisputable that the price of print
paper is unreasonable and not justified by conditions.
One of the freak bills passed yesterday, and which
only has to have the governor's signature to become a law
is that providing an inspector for bees. The bees have
been good steady workers since biblical days when
Samson pronounced his famous riddle: "Out of the eater1
came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweet
ness." The inspectors of bees will now plough with the
legislative heifer and the answer to the riddle will be that
out of the strong state treasury will come the sweetness
of a cashed warrant.
The placing of the forfeited lands on the tax roll will
do no harm and it is not likely to do any good. There is
but little doubt but that the government's title will be
confirmed and when it is the lands will be in the same con
dition they were before the government gave them to the
railroad company. It would be as sensible to try to col
lect taxes from the government lands in the state, that
never passed from its possession, as to collect it on these
forfeited lands if the government's title is good.
Under an act of this legislature it is made the duty
of road supervisors to kill the weeds on the roadsides.
Those officials have a steady job in sight. They will be
watched with a great deal of interest by those who have
lawns to take care of, in hopes that some means may be
discovered by which the golden bloomed dandelion and
the ubiquitos plantain may be indefinitely postponed.
The worst feature of the situation with Germany so
far, is the hampering of transportation on land. The
failure of ships to sail has congested the warehouses and
storage facilities of New York and other shipping points,
until cars cannot be unloaded and the result is to increase
still further the already intolerable car 'shortage of the
whole country.
Another freak bill is one of Dimick's fixing the weight
of a sack of bran. There was a little discussion when it
passed but the legislators stood for it. A hasty glance at
its requirements indicates that it will compel the putting
of three bushels of bran in a two bushel sack, but some
folks will find no trouble in doing this.
LADD & BUSH. Bankers
Established 1868
CAPITAL - $500,000.00
Transact a General Banking Business
Safety Deposit Boxes
.SAVINGS DEPARTMENT
THE MANE ATE R
James Jimpson has a savage pup, and when
it sees a stranger, it seems to wish to chew
him up, and put his life in danger. With
smiling eyes James Jimpson sees where'er
aboard he sallies, the people shinning up
the trees, or sprinting down the alleys.
Some morning James will call his dog, and
call and whistle vainly; it will be deadei
than a log, and out of business, plainly.
Some angry victim of its jaws will feed it
deadly bitters, and whoop around with glee
because he slew that worst of critters. It's
strange how many take delight in causing grief to others,
who seem to work, in foolish spite, against all men and
brothers. It's strange because the man of sense must
know that course is dotty; it stirs up hatred most intense,
and causes language naughty. And why should any fel
low wish to go forth seeking trouble? We have enough
unasked, odsfish! Why try to make it double? We have
to treat our neighbors well, not on their corns be treading,
or this old work! in which we dwell will furnish rocky
sledding.
'IT J
MM
.W.VSS.W.W..'
Salons who are Busy Winding Up the Forty Day Legislative Carnival
A
eve. UFAO c?F
PEN SHELDON
H AT e W V M T).C "mSSV( m
vim :Ci.,k wm&mmmm
Rev
eAoy
for thc se
this a-m- toim rrtf
SHORTEST PRAYCR
ON KCCORO
SENATOR.
S.B,
Huston
A FRIEND
OF Tue
CRIPPL6 0
Ml
WfM
3ENATOFL
WAkT6R- M-
pieR.ce
WAKTb TH&
OP (NTER-eST
fceDuceo to
t
f if
W.B.
f ULlXfiL.
A HArXD
WORKER-
AND
CONSERVATION
Principal Appropriations
(Continued from page five.)
By careful engineering past the roeky
places the eoinmittee has been able to
hit the inavk set under tnnt amend
ment. But in addition to the 20,007.39 left
out of the direct and indirect revenues,
there also is on hand a balance of ap
proximately $200,000 from the unex
pended balances of the last bieunium.
This amount, the committee has de
cided, will remain unappropriated. It
will be for the state what the small
bank account is for the provident in
dividual who lays up a penny against
a rainy day. This, also, will be a god
send for the emergency board if it is
required to meet during the next bien
nium, and already whispers are heard
that "perhaps there will be many de
mands for a meeting of such board.
SHIP DAMAGED
(Continued from page one.)
press the question."
Judge Morton decided it would not
lie necessary for him to answer at this
time.
"About the time of the Sussex in
cident, 1 was sent to New York," Pol
lock said, continuing his testimony.
"I was told to meet a gentleman who
wished to see me.
''I knew the gentleman. He told tnc
that in view of the difficulties which
had arisen he believ ed it best that the
ship's plan, secrcf code and sharts
should be destroyed, so that if any
thing occurred, they should not fall in
to hostile hands."
Polack said he had told his chief en
gineer to cany out orders to destroy
the machinery shoul.t they come while
he was not aboard.
He testified he had not thought it
necessary to tell his government the
ship had been libeled and was in the
possession of the United States,
Following is a list of damage done
to the ("ecilie, according to federal
authorities:
Name plates on engine parts re
moved, water drawn from boilers,
pumps stopped, valves closed with
wrenches and no wrenches available,
making danger of the boilers bursting;
thc steiii twisted off of one main valve,
electric lights put out and lighting
plant put out of order; two cylinders
of the after-high pressure engine dan
aged; Hi by 12 inch pieces cut out of
throttle and steam chest; pieces cut
out of the bottom of the forward high
prosgure engine and the steam chest
and throttle valves drilled out; one
forward cylinder drilled out and the
main throttle of the starboard engine
broken.
Brass plates had been put back and
guides newly applied, causing the be
lfrf that some chemical may have been
placed underneath which, when it came
tin contact with salt water, might
destroy the engine entirely bv explod
ing. The threads of the feed pipe haJ
been stripped and an odor of acid was
noticeable about the engine and a brok
en acid bottle was found.
Jt is estimated repairs would cost
.40 10,000 and take at.least six months
to complete.
The first orders to prepare to dam
age the ship "on receipt of a message"
were received in April. 191ti, the time
oof the Sussex sinkiug according t
Captain I'olack.
AUTHORIZE VESSELS TO ABM
Washington, Feb. 17. Representative
l'latt, of New York, today introduced
resolutions authorizing merchant vessels
to arm and defend themselves against
German submarines, to authorize the
president to commission all the vessels
of the United States to capture any
German vessel and distribute thc pro
ceeds from their sale as prize money
and to suspend completely all commerce
with Germany.
EMBARGO IS RATITIED
MUlArHTTCnAMTt AMT..M
Washington, Feb- 17. The interstate
commerce commission this afternoon of
ficially ratified the virtual embargo
against eastward shipents, announced
yesterday by the representatives of the
:0 of the largest railroads in the conn
try, meeting here.
CHAPTER CI
Mother invited Leonard to remain
to dinner, but he excused himself on)
the plea, ot business. I bttord came
in and while he seemed surprised, to
see Ieonard there was no suspicion
visible in his manner.
"I will see you soon." he had said
to me, with meaning. 'H thank you for
your kindness to a lonely man." he
told mother, when she repeated her
invitation to the wedding.
"Did you know Brooke was coming
down here?" Clifford asked after he
left.
"Nobut why do you askf"
"I thought perhaps he had told;
you," Clifford replied carelessly, and
left me.
I wondered if he lad begun to at
tach some importance to wliat I had
told him- and if he hnd snsnccted that
Leonard Brooke had anything to do'
with my resolve! How utterly foolish
Leonard was to follow me. But how
he loved me.
A CHILLY RESPONSE
That night 1 excused myself and
went -early to bed. 1 wanted to be
alone to' think. I lay wide awake nurs
ing my numerous grievances against
Clifford, taking .ioy in Leonard's love;
while angry with him for disobeying
me.
I planned how I should so ray way
Clifford had always gone his regardless'
of me. Finally, finding 1 couldn t sleep
THE WORLD'S AWRY
I threw on a wrapper and sat by the
window. I looked at the clock on the
dressing table, and 1 wns just one
o'clock. After a while I heard foot !
steps in the street below; then they I
censed and 1 knew someone was walk-,
ing on the soft turf. Peering between
the curtains 1 saw Leonard Brooke ap-,
proach. then stand still and raise his
eyes to scan the windows.
Tt was one of those clear white ;
nights when one can see almost as well
U by daylight, it would have been an
easy thing to have called from my:
Vj" 11 HI '1 , nut i v itf njiaiu V'L
turbing someone, I wanted desperately
to tell him to go away, but restrained
myself.
After gazing upward a few moments
and evidently seeing nothing which
guided him. Leonard raised his hat, and
then turned and walked slowly away.
To an older woman his act would
have at least seemed theatrical. To
me it was the homage of a loving heart.
I listened until his footsteps died away
in the distance, then crept into bed.
The wedding was but two days distant,
and I reallv needed mv rest.
A CONFIDENTIAL CHAT
The very next morning, about eleven
o'clock. Clifford came over.
"Are you very busy Mildred? If
you can spare the time T'd like a little
cnat with you. I won 't keep her long,
girls," he told mv sister as thev rebelled.
My heart wns literally in my mouth.
I imagined I saw a gleam jof jealousy
in Clifford's dark eyes. I knew all
color had left my face; and I gripped
the arms of the chair tightly.
Clifford drew two chairs to the
shady side of the porch, and motioned
me to sit down.
' ' You aren 't looking well. Mildred. "
he commenced, ''you are as pale as a
ghost this morning. ''
"Late hours; and too much danc
ing." I parried, glad of a reprieve.
1 felt sure that he was going to tell
me that I nTsst go back home at once
-with him; and I steeled myself to
make a decided refusal.
"1 do not think it is that entirely.
You are young and strong and a little
gayety such as you have here
should not tire you. I wanted to tell
you that Morton Levering is becoming
interested in Elsie. It would be a
good match for her.' '
''Put he is so much older." I ob
jected, relieved that he was going t
talk to Elsie.
"Not as much difference as between
our ages," he said. Then: "I have te
return immediately the wedding is
over. I have several engagements
Bnt don't you think of coming bark
until you are ready." he ordered. "I
mean what I say," he said as he rose
and sauntered away.