Daily capital journal., February 21, 1917, Image 1

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

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

                
Mi
Bouraol
ft
FULL LEASED
WIRE DISPATCHES
CIRCULATION IS ,
OVER 4000 DAMjY
m
FORTIETH YEAR NV "
o
SALEM, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1917
PRICE TWO CENTS
ON TRAINS AND NBW8
STANDS FIVK CKNTS
FOOD TRUST MUST
I
i
t
BE INVESTIGATED
SAYS PRESIDENT
Congress Urged to Appro
priate $400,000 To Aid
In Probing It
"WE WANT BREAD" CALL
THAT MUST BE STOPPED
it
Grand Juries To Be Used In!
Nation Wide Attack On
Price Manipulators
V;i
ishington. Fob, 21. President Wil
son is determined congress shall pass j
immediately the $490,000 appropriation !
w hiel
requc
the P
ded f
doral trade commission has
E the nation wide food j
he directed the commission
lartment or agriculture to!
pne.t
Ml. I
probe
the do
mfl
It was stated officially at the white
house today that the president will give
his personal attention toward swing
ing congress into line behind his-food
probe suggestion. He made this decis
ion folio win a receipt of news of the
IS'ew Vork foot! riots.
As a result, administration leaders!
in congress today begun lining up fore-'
es lo compel congressional asquiosceucc
Representative. ISorlaiui. in the house;
and Senator Borah, in the senate, are!
expected to lead the fight with the
charge that there is universal convic-
tion that t'ooil prices are subject toj
widespread manipulation.
Senator Borah today demanded that
congress remain in session until ade
quate steps are taken to bring prices
back to normal. i
'Congress cannot adjourn," Borah
said, "ho 'long as it Is possible for usj
to bo of any service in this deplorable
situation.
A Dangerous Cry
"We want bread,' was the cry of j
the French revolutionists as they march!
eel to Versailles," said Borah. "It is the
most ominous cry that can be heard;
in a republic and Whatever is said as
to the effect of the war on prices the!
fact remains these people are in large
measure the victims of speculators and;
combinations which are milching mil
lions out of food.
"There is .it the bottom of things
no justification for this condition. Con-
gross cannot ignore the cries of thei
hungry. The situation must be met at
once. ' '
The federal trade commission has!
detailed plans completed for a sweep-
ing investigation into the New York
and Chicago .fond markets, as soon as
i (Ingress grants the necessary money.
Bread and meat prices and the pea-
nihility of their manipulation will bo j
the first line of attack.
Mder present plans, grand jury in-j
vest igat ion are to be carried on sim-,
iillanenusly.
New York and Chicago, it was stated
-nv i 1 1 be the first fields of operation,
'in view oi the serious prevailing eon-j
il i I ions.
Chairman Davies, oi the federal trait
commission
Press today
dieted to the United
at food riots will occur
roughout the
ridtl is taken
" There will
New York,
roughout the
lion is taken
country unless prompt
by the government. I
bo food riots, not only
' Da vies said, "but!
country, unless prompt!
soon. I make this as n .
prediction.
The investigate
in five 'livisinns:
dairy products, fri
n will be conducted
meats, lireadstuf fs,
sh fruits and vogeta
'oods, sugar, coffee,
hies and canne
il
lens and Bpic
(Continued on page two.)
ABE MARTIN
5$C Sjt rJC )jc jft
j'KAStJir
A LA
A wife never
want her to. Th
runs away when youi
most wonderful thing!
s.lout th ' automobil
yon never hear one d
cr's , ar.
I SUC-T I
"NIIEARD OF PRICES
" vrnncisco, Feb. 21. Agi
lal ' housewives of I .on An
gelPi favor of a boycott
again. cgetables which, some
allege, have been held for a ris
ing market may spread to other
1'acific coast cities, it was be
lieved today. Although prices of
perishable foodstuffs in San
Francisco and elsewhere la Cali
fornia do not compare with
those in the east, they have
still reached unprecedented fig
U1CS.
Potatoes today were selling at
five cents a pound, retail, and
some fancy grades at that figure
wholesale. Onions sold at from
12 1-2 to 15 cents n pound
wholesale and lima beaus at 10
to 11 cents. Wholesale potato
prices have advanced 5U cents a
hundred pounds in 3(1 hours.
Kggs are among the few arti
cles showing a decline and are
now selling at 32 cents. But
ter was unchanged at 36 cents
Other prices are: String beans.
:'.u to 35 cents; peas, 12 1-2: sweet
potatoes,
$4 per cental; turnips,
ick: squash, .". 1-2 cents
$1.25 a s
a pound.
BE GUEST OF HONOR
Banquet To Be Given in Port
land to Brilliant Woman
Legislator
lonoung
The Da
Mrs. Alexander Thompson,
lies, who represented Hood
ind Wasco counties in the Twen
ty-ninth session of the Oregon legisla
ture, and who made an enviable name
for herself as a speaker on the floor
of the house, as a clever adviser in
committee, and backer of all legislation
(Continued on page three.
Resume of Work Done By
Oregon Legislators During
Session Which Just Closed
It is impossible yet to secure the ex
act text of the road bonding bill, the
load code, or any other of the important
measures passed by the legislature. This
is due to the fact that many changes
were made during the discussions that
proceeded the passage of these measures
and their amendments do not appear in
the printed bills. When these measures
finally engrossed it
be possible :
to secure copies ot the bills as i?iey
passed, but the main features of all
have already been given the widest
publicity.
Consolidation Fails.
As usual consolidation of commissions
and offices failed, the tax commission j
being alone wiped out. A committee was
apopinted to consider the consolidation j
question for two years and report a plan
at the next session oi the legislature
Hundreds of bills were passed of real
y small
m sequence.
Money Left Over.
of the six per cent tax limita
the legislature left the state
apparent balance of $974.05
spit,
law
an
and
over ami aoove tne amount aiiowcii roT
it to expend under the intent of the
limitation amendment.
The grand total of appropriations
made was $0,310,084.75, and the grand
total of revenue available under the
estimates prepared in the budget was
$6,309,505-82. This would indicate a
seeming deficiency on the part of the
legislature of $9,578.03, not taking into
consideration unexpended balances and
the greatly enhanced estimated revenues
of the next biennium.
But in reality such a deficiency does
not exist. One appropriation made by
the legislature was for $10,853,88, to
be used in repaying money which was
borrowed from a local bauuk to take
care of the flax industry. This appro
priation, however, was made with the
string tied to it, that as soon as the
flax on hand is sold, the money accru
ing from the sale of such flax is to be
returned to the general fund.
Hence a seeming deficiency of
$9,578.9.1 is turned into an apparent bal
ance of $974.65.
Constructive Legislation.
Among very important pieces of con
structive legislation which have been
placed on the statute books may be
numbered the insurance code, the irriga
I tion code, the rural eredits bill, the,
(military and fish and gaeic codes. All
j represent much hard work and w ill go,
'a long vay toward simplifying and bet
i tering our laws. The men who worked
I them out deserve great, credit.
Road Bills Important.
The road program consisted of six
I bills of prime importance- There is
one knows as a procedure code which
j prescribes methods for the opening,
j laving out and vacating of highways.
Heretofore three different processes
ha ve been available and thev have
bujiness is that j promoted more uncertainty and eon
aler knock anoth fusion than good highways. The three
systems have by the procedure code
FIRST AMERICAN
LINER SAILS FOR
ENGLAND TODAY
Mongolia Leaves Early Soon
Followed by the
Algonguin
NO ATTEMPT MADE TO
DISGUISE BIG VESSEL
St. Louis Kept From Sailing
May Be Needed As
Transport
New York, Feb. 21. The first Amer
ican line steamship to leave this port
since the German submarine warning
was issued the Mongolia today is
past Sandy Hook and on her way to
urope. She was followed closely bv
the American freighter Algonquin. Both
are bound for London and are the first
American vessels to sail from here for
a British port since Germany's warn
ing. Officials of the American line were
reticent over the sailing of the Mon
golia, refusing even after she had been
seen to pass out of the harbor to admit
her sailing. She is a vessel of 13,639
tons and is an out and out American
vessel, having been built in this coun
try and never having flown any flag
except the American. No attempt was
made to disguise her. She is painted
in regular colors with her name and
registry painted on her sides in huge
letters.
The captain of the Mongolia is lid
ward Bice, an American.
(Continued on page three.)
been revised into one workable sys
j tern.
There is also a county code which
has to do with expenditures of eounty
, funds and administration of county
I road work. It does away with the
j time-honored supervisor system, and
' provides for appointment of a county
centralizes authority in county road
work and eliminate the haphazard
and expensive system so long in force
in Oregon. It also specifically repeal.!
by section numbers many conflicting
road sections in the codes and ses
sion laws.
Highway Code Notable.
There is, further, an ambitious meas
, tire known as the state highway code,
j Its object is to provide procedure for
construction of hard-surfaced highways
and for co-operation of county and state
in construction of what are known as
j state highways.- It dispenses with the
existing ex-officio state highway com
mission composed of elected state of
! ficers, and provides for appointment by
the governor of a non-salaried commis
I sion of three, one member to be from
I each congressional district. It serves the
highway engineering department from
the state engineer's office, and gives
appointment of a highway engineer to
the new highway commission. This bill
.carries an emergency clause.
I A measure known as an act to regu
late motor vehicles iR, in its main ef-
feet, a road law. It doubles the present
, motor vehicle license taxes and devotes
i the whole proceeds to road work under
supervision of the state highway commission-
The old law required that
motor vehicle licenses be apportioned
to the counties in which they were
collected after payment of the cost of
: license tags and other incidentals of
state administration. The monev was j
thus: scattered and inefficiently expend
ed in many instances. Under the new
law the automobiles will pay, on the
basis of the existing number of such
vehicles in Oregon, about $'500,000 a
year into the state road fund.
Still another road bill is the Bean
Barrett bonding act. This is a contin
gent or emergency measure. Tt author
izes issuance, in event revenues from
established sources are not sufficient
to meet allotments of government road
funds, bonds in an amount equivalent
to the deficiency. This bill also car
ries an emergency clause, and insures
expenditure in Oregon of the entire
government allotment for post roads
and forest roads and an equal sum of
state money n-, is required by the fed
eral act. This assurance prevails re
gardless of the fate of the 6,000,000
road bond issue to be submitted at a
special election June 4.
Road System Laid Out. .
The 6,000,000 bonding act lavs outiment
definite system of state highways
nd post roads. State highways are to
(Continued from page three.)
Count Montgelas Heads
American Department In
Berlin Foreign Office
! r . i
jti S2
ft "
i COUNT MQNTGELRS
Count Montgelas, head of the Ameri
can department of the German foreign
office in Berlin, is believed to ne tho
roughly conversant with conditions in
America In so far as they affect German
American relations. He visited the Uni
ted States a fewr years ago, when the
accompanying picture was made-
PRICES FOR POOD
Prices Will Continue to Soar
Until War Ends Says
Big Dealer
Chicago, Feb. 21. With hogs quoted
on the Chicago market today at $1K.9I5
per hundred, nearly a half dollar high
er than the record price since the civil
war, Chicago wholesalers, packers and
retailers today came out with n predic
tion of an increase from .10 to 40 per
cent in retail prices of meats.
Alibis galore, including freight con
gestion, excessive export demand, short
age of livestock, general prosperity
and even increased and extravagant
consumption on the part of highly paid
workers in "war bride" factories, were
quoted in justification or the coming
boost.
"We can't see anything but higher
prices," an official of the Illinois mar
ket company, one of Cnicago's largest
wholesalers and retailers said. "You
can kid yourself into believing that war
weather, clearing of freight congestion
and other temporary conditions will
halt the upward trend of prices, but it
wont change the inevitable. As long as
the war continues prices arc going to
soar. And" the small consumer foots
the bill."
Practically without exception, every
article of food available here is any
where from 10 to 500 per cent higher
than the same time last year.
Riiter, Swiss Minister
Takes Over the German
Interests In America
Germany's interests in the United
l States and its insular possessions have,
been turned over to the Swiss govern
md are now being looked after
bv Dr. Paul Hitter, a close personal
friend of Count von Bernstorff. Br.
Bitter, ha been .Swiss minister to the
United Htates since the summer of 1909.
1 jmm
MENACE SERIOUS
AND STILL GROWING
SAYS NAVY LORD
Sir Edward Carson, Lord of
Admiralty, Admits Skua- I
tion Grave
ASKS 400,000 MORE MEN
FOR BRITISH WARSHIPS
Despite Blockade 6,076 Ships
Leave Ports From England
During February
London, ivb. 21. "The submarine
menace is grave and serious and is
growing. It is not yet solved, but 1 am
confident measures no wx being devised,
will gradually mitigate its seriousness'
declared SitKdward arson, first lord
of the admiralty today.
The cabinet minister made this state
ment in connection with presentation
of the naval estimate to the house of
commons today. One of f.ic provisions
of the bill was for an increase of Brit
ain's sailors by four hundred thousand.
In requesting that commons vote this
additional force, Carson declared the
men were needed because of naval ex
pansion. He congratulated the country upon
having Kir John .lellieoe in the admir
alty as first sea lor.
Sir Edward also announced that Lord
fisher, former first sea lord, had been
returned to the admiralty staff, as
president of a board of inventions. This
inventions board, he said, was part of
an anti-submarine department which
had been established, he explained,
"with the best and most experienced
1 ersoiinel, ' '
During the period from February 1
to 18, the admiraltv lord said 0.076 ves
sels had arrived at ports of the United
Kingdom, and 8,873 had left and this
despite the German submarine block
ade. This was a total of 1 1,949 ships to
and troin liritish ports,
1 ' Since the start oi" the war," Sir
Kdward continued, "wo have examined
either on the high seas or in harbor.-
25,874 ships.
"This constitute!
Germany. ' '
Carson announcce
of aimed ships had
cent during the pa:
our blockade of
that ihe number
increased 47.5 per
t two months. An!
increase in the number armed for de
fense against submarines is noted each
week he said.
Germany's Hope Vain
London, Feb. 21. Germany's hope of
"starving out," Kngiand by her sub
marine " ruthlessness lias gone glim
mering, in the view of the British, The
"relentless" U-boat war is declared to
have hardly made a dent in the vast
commerce of the United Kingdom.
Uu the other hand, the puulic mi
I plieitly believes British defense meas-
ures have caused numerous losses. There
was great hops cxpiesscd that some
statement of these losses by the Ger
mans in capture or destruction of their
sub-surface boats by the liritish would
be made by Sir Kdward Carson today.
The first lord of the admiralty was due
to make his first detailed speech as a
minister ill presenting the naval bud
get to the house of commons.
Sir Kdward is known personally to
favor greater publicity tor llic opera-
t ions of the anti-submarine guards, but
any revelations ol captures or sinkings
of U-boats would be contiary to a poli
cy of silence to which tht liritish gov
ernment has adhered since the start of
the war.
But if the admiralty lunl docs not
bare these facts he is at leas! expected
formally to announce the official fig
ures of shipping clearances and of loss
es by submarines and mines.
London newspapers during the past
few days have reflected a sentiment
fostered by a certain group of Britons
urging that Admiral Lord Fisher again
be given a voice in admiralty councils
' and granted fret
ha
to cope with the
8 former sea lord
in plans to this
his advocates as
t born into oper
fice rein. The
are bitterly com
whereby Fisher,
f age, would be
submarine problem. Tl
I is known to have cor
end, but is quoted by
being unwilling to pu
ation unless given u
i N'orthcliffe newspapei
j batting such a cliaug.
who is now 70 yars
put in charge of work
now earned on
by younger and more ener
tic men.
Weather
Weakens Wheat Prices
Chicago, Feb. 21. The wheat prices
had a setback today. Realizing sales at
the start lound the market bare of buy
ing orders. Wcathfr, generally fair ex
cept in tho iouthwest, where moisture
is needed, gave the market little chance
for activity. Transporting conditions
still preclude free shipping. Mav wheat
opened uuchanged and later lost 1 3-8,
Koine to 1.78 5-H. .1
uly i
to i
3-4,
pened down
d.SOti,. Bep
loter losing
5-8, later losing Vt
(ember opened down
- 3-8 to 11.39 1-8.
Corn had a heavv
undertone. Com
i mission houses were fair sellers but
the pit was inclined to p;ay for a break.
May corn opened down 1-8, later lost
5-8 to $1.01 3-4. July opened unchanged
HOG PEICES BREAK RECORD
Chicago, Feb- 81. Hogs
smashed all previous high price
by nearly a quarter of a dollar
today, when the market opened
at $12.95 per hundred pounds.
Bigs sold at $11 per hundred
weight, he prices arc the high
est since the Civil war.
't-
I
Half a Billion Is
Set Apart for Navy
i Washington, Feb. 21. Increased bv
,$128,000,000 since it passed the house.
the administration's naval bill the big
I gest in the history of the country
j was reported to the senate this after
j noon by Senator Tillman, chairman of
the naval committee.
I The bill, as revised, carries a total
I of nearly a half billion dollars and au
thorites the president to commandeer
j private ship yards and munitions plants
I in time of war.
The $128,000,000 inercase--a glnnt
appropriation in itself was added af
ter greatest pressure from the navy de
partment and after President Wilson
and Secretary of tho Navy Daniels, ap-
I peared In person at the capitoi white
the lull was in committee.
The biggest item of increase is (113,
000,000 for the immediate completion
of war vessels now under construction.
This is a reduction of $35,000,000 from
that asked by the navy department.
It is stipulated that $35,000,000 he
expended for completion of submarines
All Military and Naval Forces,
and War Veterans To At
tend Ceremonies
, I quartermaster s department, will ap-
San Francisco, Feb. 1 1, With all the Ml f,Ye 4i?faw1 mcn,to a?sist 11,8
military honors it is possible for hisiW0Jk .0l thT l'' t,'ff.
country to give Maior General Freder-! ,,h,'!",'h '"""hei of these committee
lck Fnnston, who dropped dead at San1
Antonio, Monday night, will be buried J
at ine rrexutio national cemetery in
this city Saturday morning.
For 18 hours before interment the
body will lie in state in the big rotunda
of San Francisco may view the last
of San Francisco may view the ins
remains of the man whose work meant
so much for salvation or the city din
ing the great fire of 1900.
Major General J. Franklin Bell,
commanding the western department of
the army announced the funeral nV
rangcinen'.s today. The body, escorted
by Captain Fitzhugh Leo two non com
missioned officers ond six privates,
will arrive from San Antonio Friday
afternoon. It will be taken under mili
tary escort to the city hall where the
public will be given us opportunity to
view it. A military and naval guard
of thirty will be constantly on duty
around the casket.
It is expected (hat the ceremonies
Saturday morning will constitute the
largest, military funeral in San Francis
co's history. All the naval and military
forces in the boy rernon, together with
civil war and Kpnnisn war veterans
ami members of other patriotic sm iet
ies will march in Ihe cortege. Thi,
escort the body on a caisson to the
First Presbyterian church where brief
religious ceremonies will be held. lcn-
ernl liell will personally command tin
(escort. From the church the body
I be taken directly to the cemeterv
u,
ig.
! while the interment is in progress a sa
j lute of thirty guns will be fired at
the Presidio.
The pal bearers will be Genera)
V i 1 1 i :i i
lu,.. Q
L, Sibert, Genera 3, P. Wis-
ser, General Oscar F. Long, GeranoJ
K, K. Kvans, Colonel Benjamin Alvord
and Heir Admiral W. V. Fullam.
Salem Militia Now
National Guardsmen
Officially, the Salem company of mi
litiamen are United States national
guardian, according to information re
ceived by Captain James Hoy Neer,
commanding officer of company XI, in
a letter from Ihe war department. This
designation is given tho company under
the new federal law which takes the
militia out of the hands of the state
authorities and places it directly under
government supervision.
At the regular drill last night, Cap
tain Ncer announced that ho soon would
have installed a sand tnble for the pur-'
pose of illustrating instruction in the
theory and practice of military tactics.
To these lectures, young men who are!
not members of the company are rordi I
ally invited.
On account of the fuct that the heat-1
ing of the armory has been somewhat
unsatisfactory, and the knocking of the
' pipes during musical programs distinet
I iv annoying, Captain Neer has secured
the consent or Aiijuranr vneroi nuiiai
and Major Wilson of Portland to install
a heating plant in the armory at a cost
of .')()(). Steam fro mthe Northwest i
"fVuit Products company's plant is the
present method of heating. It is believ
ed a different system of heating will
prove more satisfactory.
but subsequently lost 3-8 to 1.00 1-8.
(tats worked to lower levels, follow
ing wheat and corn. May opened un
changed later losing V4 to 37 3 8. July
- 1 opened 1-8 up later lost 3-8 to Do 1-8.
rati- activities werw noticeable !n
provisions with prices- rultnjt higher at
the start. Later quotations broke from
3 to 10 ccnta.
BUSINESS MEN
HAVE CONTROL OF
ALL il SUPPLIES
Chambers of Commerce In 14
Big Cities To Appiont
Committees
THESE WILL ASSEMBLE
MATERIALS NEEDED
Would Also Learn Location of
and Amount of Food
stuffs Washington, Feb. 21. The businesa
end ot preparation for possible war
that of purchasing all supplies will in
I ho future, virtually be in the hands
of expert business men. These men will
work with the council 0f national de
fense, as much to prevent excess "war
profits", in the event of hostilities
as to mobilization of munitions.
Secretary of War Baker, responding
lo
suggestion by the council of na-
tional defense, todnv asked the United
j States chamber of commerce to namo
i an advisory committee of business men
to assist the quartermaster's depar:
Iment in this work.
This plan is the first definite step
of the council of national defense, cre
dited by the army appropriation bill, to
I mobilise the business men of the na
il ion to the needs of the country.
Under the plan the chamber of com
Imeree in each of the fourteen cities
(supporting a purchasing depot of the,
"i ojn;viiiBi, in lr line Wllll'll
his depot specializes. They will ba
charged with the task of assembling
standardizing supplies at economiu
prices, so that should the country bo
suddenly faced by war, the committee
would know exactly wnere to turn tor
additional war materials.
Secretory Baker believes economic
disturbances following a declination of
war will thus be minimised anil prob
ably altogether wiped out.
The plan calls for grunt ing private
plants, called into the government ser
vice, a small profit, but bid exhprbitant
"war'' rates will meet with speedy re
jection by the business men committees
itiea having supply depots anil
which will appoint committees, are:
New York, Chicago, Philadelphia,
Washington, Kansas City, Jefferson
ville, Ind., St. Louis, Boston, San Fran
visco, New Orleans, San Antonio, Om
nhn and Portland, Or.
Bascom Kittle, Cleveland, chairman
of the national defense committee of
the United States chamber of com
merce, was one of Ihe leading figures
in getting favorable action on the plan.
Conditioon of Body
Caused Investigation
Because complaint had been filed
II I with District Attorney Max (lehlhar by
I residents of Ashland concerning the
1 condition of the body of David Kil-
gore, who died at the asylum lew
(lays ago, Superintendent Stciner left
Salem last night for Ashland to make
explanations. The complaint stated that
the body of Kilgorn showed brtiixcs,
that both wrists were broken, and that
there were signs of otner injuries. Dis
trict Attorney (ichlhar made an investi
gation into tho circumstances of Kil-
gore's death and reported to the Ash
land authorities thul there were no sus
picious circumstances surrounding it.
Or. Steiner said that Kilgoro had!
been in bed two weeks prior to hi
death and that the cause was heart dis
ease with other complications, He waa
110 years old and was a harmless patient
On the night of his death, the superin
tendent Bid, be probahly arose to go
into another room. He was found spraw
led out on the floor just as though ho
had suddenly collapsed and fell to tho
floor. The superintendent was of the
belief that the contusions on the body
ui re from tho fall and thut there waa
nothing irregular in the death.
h
a
1
OUB VISITORS PLEASED
The ladies of tho
creby extend to th
mcere thnnkN and
senate and house
I ladies of Sklent
appreciation for
n'ir hospitality
and many acts of
I hi
th
during
the piesent session of
legislature.
Till? HIT A TU CD
inc. minimal
Oregon: Tonight
rain west, snow
east portion,
wanner kouthwest
portion; Thursday
rain or snow east,
portion; southerly
winds increasing
along the coast.