The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-04-18
fFron the Bedrock Dcmocrat.J
HON. JAMES II. SLATER.

HON. JAMES II. SLATER.
Hon. James III. Slater arrived in our
city OH last Wednesday evening on
bis way home from Washington. Mr..
Slater has made a faithful representa-
tive and did everything possible to
advance the interests Of Oregon and
his constituents. He comes backs to
us without taint or blemish on his fair
name; he has proved himself to be
both honest and capable, and entitled
to great credit for what he has pro-
cured il the way of legislation, etc,
| for the State of Oregon.
Mr. Slater introduced the following
bills which were passed aud have be-
come laws:
A bill granting the right of way TO
the Portland, Dalles & Salt Lake
Railroad.
A bill creating the Linkton Land
District in the southeastern portion OF
the State.
4 bill authorizing the State of Ore
gon to locate Agricultural College
lands upon unoffered land and con-
firming locations already made.
A bill creating customs collector
district in Southern Oregon. Col
lector to reside at Empire City, with
a deputy at Gardner City, and one at
Port Oxford.
A bill supplemental TO an act en-
titled an act granting right of way
to the Portland, Dalies S Salt Lake
Railroad Company. This aid gives
the company the additional right to
take from the public lands timber and
other material for the construction oi
the road.
Mr.. Slater also secured a provision
to be inserted in the River and Har.
Dor Bill for 1S72-3. providing for a
survey of Port Oxford with view to
the construction OF breakwater al
that place, and the making of it a por,
of refuge. This survey has been
made and is understood to be favora
BILE, but the report was not received
at Washington in time to secure any
appropriation the past session.
In the River and Harbor bill fol
1874, Mr.. Slater secured provision
for the survey of the Yamhill and
Tualitan rivers, with view to theil
improvement in the future; also (.
provision for the survey of the Cas-
cades on the Columbia river with /:
view to their removal.
| Mr.. Slater also secured the estab
lishment of several mail routes of i'm
portancc in different sections of thu
State.
Tne following appropriations fol
Oregon were secured during the For
ty-second Congress, toward the pro
curing of which Mr.. Slater contribu
ted his share of attention and labor
Ten thousand dollars for the i'm
provement of the Upper Columbia
$4,000 for the improvement of tb'
mouth of the Willamette and Lowel
Columbia; $4,000 for the improve
ment OF the Upper Willamette; SIG,
600 for the completion of the Cour
House and Custom House at Port
land; $4,000 for fortification at th'
mouth of the Columbia river. beside
the usual Indian appropriations ant
the annual appropriation of s70,O0l
for survey of public lands. OF tn,
later appropriations, $4,000 for th,
next year. which has heretofore beer
applied to the survey of timberet
land west OF the Cascade mountains
one-half is to be expended in the sur
vey of timbered land east of the Cas-
cade mountains.
Mr.. Slater also introduced and pass
ed through the House a bill providin.
for the sale of timbered lands in linn
tied quantities to settlers upon an.
8 owners of untimhered lands. Thi
bill went to the Senate some week
before the adjournment, but, for som
reason the Committee upon Publ
. Lands failed to report it.
Mr.. Slater also introduced bill t.
reform the boundaries of the State s.
, as to include the county of Wall
!. Walla, Washington Territory; he Sc
cured the unanimous Endorsement Q
the Committee on Territories of tn
House. but under the rules the bl
:, could not be reported to the same es
cept by the unanimous consent of tn
House. Mr.. Slater tailed to pass thi
bill by the intorposition of one singl
objection-that of Mr.. Hoar of Mas
:. sachusetts.
Mr.. Slater also introduced bill t
/. extend the time for the selection Q
Swamp Lands in this State, se,ure
! the Endorsement of the Committee G
n Public Lands of the House, but wa
n unable to report under the rules 9
> the House-asked the passage of th
/. bill by unanimous consent, but wa
i. objected off the floor by Mr.. Sargen
= of California. Mr.. Slater then moves
to suspend the rules and pass the bill
+ a majority was secured, but it took
two-third vote to suspend the rules
. and he was, from this cause unable t
get the bill through.
: Mr.. Slater also introduced a bil
b granting the right of way for raj
d road from Walla Walla to Grand
8 Ronde valley. This bill was author
: lied to be reported by the Committe
( on Public Lands of the House, but a
: so late day as to allow of no oppor
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