The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-11-05
A DIGNIFTED DENIAL.


of this city, supported by the mista-
ken charity of a canneryman who
would drop it if he could get hold of
the money he has been putting up for
its precarious existence, made an
outrageous charge regarding Capt. J.
T. Apperson, register of the land Office
at Oregon City, charge that none
but knave would assert, and none
but fool would believe.
1t wasn't worth the space necessary
to deny it, any more than to deny or
take notice of any other of its daily
aspersions.
The paper claims to be Republican
for revenue only-and the article
was written by a man who changes
his politics every time he changes his
shirt.
The article was the cry of bird of
prey and was echoed by two or three
of like ilk always nosing around back
doors.
Capt. Apperson has seen fit to re-
spond, as follows:
OFFICIAL ADVERTISING.
UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE, !
OREGON CRY, Or, Nov. 1. (
To the Editor the Oregonian:
In Justice to the position which We
hold and to those who have honored us
by the appointment, and therefore have
the right to know just the motives that
actuate public officer, We feel it due
them and ourselves that We should reply
to the article published in the Astoria
Transcript of October %, 1889, and sew
eral other articles from the same self
STYLED Republican paper, and would ash
the papers of this district to give space
to this, our reply to the charges therein
made.
Some time previous to our assuming
the duties of the Office to which We were
appointed by the president of the United
States we received letter from q promi-
nent citizen of Astoria asking that when
we assumed the duties of the land Office
the Transcript, a Republican paper OF
Astoria, be designated as the paper to
publish the land notices from this office
To this letter we replied in substance
that we would give the matter due con-
sideration and in the same letter we
asked "what would be the charge of the
Transcript for the publication of the no
tices'' We then supposed, and still feel
that we had the right to ask and demand
a reply. We then thought, and still
think, that it would be wrong and un-
Just to the public for us in our official
position to designate any paper, though
it were the only Republican paper in the
place, as the organ in which the notices
should be published, and then leave
them free to extort from the pub
lie an unreasonable fee for the
publication of such notices. And in
our asking the question We did not only
ask it of the friend of the Transcript
but We asked in substance the question
to each of the papers that we have desig-
mated. 1t was asked simply to prevent
any one from taking advantage of the
designation to extort an unjust fee from
any one whom we compelled to patroniZe
certain paper. And we now say not
only to the Transcript, but to all other
papers and parties, that while we may
hold the position that places in our con-
troll the designation of paper in which
the land notices from this Office shall
be published, we shall feel it our duty
to demand to know just what shall be
charged the persons whom We by our
designation compel to patronlZe speci-
fic journal, and when that right is denied
we feel that we have the right, and
should exercise it in refusing to make
the designation, or at once revoke il
should the paper use such designation,
TO extort an unjust or exorbltant fee
from anyone.
The following list of papers is ap
pended that have been put upon the lis
to whom the notices of this Office would
be sent for publication that the fulles
investigation may be had as to whether
we have asked, demanded or received am
part of the specified fees for the printing
of any notice sent to any or either o
them:
Weekly OregOnidn, Portland; AstOrian
and Pioneer, Astoria; Oregon Mist, ST
HelenS; Nehdlem Journal. Vernonia, Co
lumbia county; Western WdtchtoioeI ant
TllldmOOk Headlight. TillamOOk; HillSbOr
Independent. HillSb0ro; YGmhiu COUNTY
Reporter, McMinnviIle Polk County Oh
serUer. Dallas: West Side. Independence
Corvallis Gazette. Corvallis YGQuind Re
publican, Newport; Herald -DiSSemindtOr
Albany Express. Lebanon; SciO Press
Scio; Weekly Statesman. Salem Siluer
ton Appeal Silverton NelUpOrt NelCS New
port Enterprise, Oregon City.
In conclusion, we will say that w
deny every charge or intimation that i
made in the self-repute6 Republican
paper, and stand at any time willing un
der oath to say that every charge or in
timation made by said paper is false AM
untrue. We shall be ever willing at an,
and all times that our superiors shal
make the most rigid Investigations o
our official actions.
j. Il. APPERsoN, Register,
Capt. Apperson's denial is a digni
fie1 one. Less could not be said
more need not be said. 1t brand
theauthor of the article answered as
liar, a fact well known to everybod
unfortunate enough to be contamin
ated by his daily presence.