The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-11-02
THE SENATORIAL COMMITTEE.
A Visit To The Mouth Of The Columbia.

The business before the senate and
house of representatives is so vast, and
piles up with such rapidity that long be-
fore the first days of each congressional
session are over there is enough to take
up all the time of the session, besides
the accumulationS sent in from pre-
ceding sessions.
Some clever men, some years ago, orIgI-
mated the custom of having. during the
recess of congress, the several commit
tees meet and clear up their work. To
do this has required in several instances
that the committee should have lntl-
mate knowledge Of the subject under
discussion that could be obtained only
by personal visit.
So we have congressional committees
on labor, inter state commerce, defenSeS.
internal improvement, arbitration, etc.
Two such committees visited Astoria
this season. A third came down on the
I, i. Potter yesterday afternoon. This
was composed of senators comprising
committee on the bonded indebted
ness of Pacific railroads. There are no
completed Pacific railroads in AStOria'S
corporate limits, but like their preced-
ing brethren, the gentlemen who yes
terday honored us by their presence,
felt that to go back to their homes with
out having seen the mouth of the mighty
river of the west, would have rendered
their visit incomplete.
The Portland board of trade and the
Astoria chamber of commerc, alike alive
to the commercial interests of this sec
tiOn have in every way facilitated those
visits, and in this as in former instances,
due credit should be given the members
of the Portland board of trade for their
attitude in this regard.
As guests of that efficient commercial
body the visiting senators and accom-
panying party yesterday afternoon were
brought here where they were met and
received by the chamber of commerce of
this city, and transferred to the Geo. IL.
MendeU
The rolling wreathS of heavy mist
hung low over the lower bay, and the
party was denied the magnificent pano-
rama of natural beauty that has de-
lighted the eyes of so many visitors. Ar
irving at Ft. Stevens, Messrs. Hegardt
and Stoneman with their usual prOmpti-
tude had everything ready and the party
were enabled to see just what was and
Is done, and note the transcendent value
and importance of this great work.
The experience of a railroad ride into
and over the surging pillows, almost out
OF SiHlG OF ldnu, was mover one ana Ell
joyed by the visitors.
Among those who came down were
senators Frye of Maine, Turpie of In
diana, Dawes of Massachusetts. Platt of
New York, and Davis of Minnesota. John
Nj. ThurstOn, general solicitor of the
Union Pacific:railroad, Ghas. B. Reade,
deputy sergeant alarms, of the senate,
j. Ii. Briggs of Maine, and several la
dies. There were also Gen. Jno. Glib
bons, Ex-Gov. Moody, Donald Mcleay,
Hon. Geo. IL. Williams, F. X. Arnold,
Cleveland Rockwell, Maj. Il. II. Hand
bury. They were met here by Mayor
Page, G. w. Fulton, C. j. Trenchard,
j. ii. ID. Gray, NJ. e. Crosby, w. w.
Parker, Z. c.. Holden, b. Van Dusen, +.
j. Taylor, j. Q. A. Bowlby. J. o. Han
thorn and others.
The visit was manifestly a satisfac-
tory one, and will doubtless rebound to
the material benefit of the great work in
the success of which we are all mutually
interested. The boat returned with all
on board about five O'Clock, and after
half hours stop here proceeded to
Portland. From there the visitors go to
the Sound, and thence homeward.