The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-02-25
THE PORTAGE ROAD.
OreGon's Senators Again Say Congress
VIII Do Nothing.


VIII DO Nothing.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Ex-senator Dolph
received today an official telegram, adj
dressed to the delegation, from the sec
retary of the state of Oregon. 1t en-
bodies the house concurrent resolution
adopted by the legislature of Oregon the
18th inst, requesting the senators and
representatives of Oregon to present to
congress the appeal of the people of the
state for sufficient appropriation at the
present session OF congress for the con-
struction of portage railroad at The
Dalles, to be maintained until the COM
pletion of permanent improvement to
overcome the distractions at said point.
The resolution also requests them to use
their utmost efforts to secure at the
present session such an appropriation,
and a further appropriation for perma-
nent improvement at The Dalles by
means of boat railway. Senator DOlph
said that he understood from this tele-
gram that the bill which had been intro
duced in the state legislature to appro-
pirate a sum sufficient to construct a
portage railroad at The Dalles had failed,
and he was very sorry for it. The state,
he said; should have undertaken the
work, and the fact that the people of
Oregon were making efforts to help them
selves would have helped the delegation
congress for a permanent improvement.
He is afraid the members of the legisla-
ture had not understood the situation in
congress, and the difficulties which em
barrassed. any effort to induce congress
to enter upon the new work of construct
ing portage or other railroads. After
consulting with Senator Mitchell, there
being but one copy of the resolution,
they concluded that the resolution should
be presented in the house by MIR. Her
mann. They said the senate had al
ready done all and more than was asked
for by the legislature, and all that it
could do in the premises. 1t had passed
bills making appropriations of the whole
amount required for the construction
and completion of the boat railway and
the completion of the canal and locks at
the Cascades, and of the improvements
at the mouth of the Columbia. Every
thing, he said, now depended upon the
action of the house, which had all these
bills before it and could modify them in
any manner desired. 1t had the identi-
cal proposition for a portage railroad
before it by an amendment of the boat
railway bill. Both senators said that
they had repeatedly presented to the
members of the house committee on
rivers and harbors the necessity for i'm
mediate relief of the people of Oregon by
opening the Columbia river, and urged
action upon the senate bills. They had
sought an opportunity to present the
matter to the committee formally and
they would continue their efforts to Sc
cure the consideration of the bills now
in the house. Should the house pass
any one of the senate bills now before it,
modified as to the amount, or SO as to
provide for portage road, they would
do their utmost to secure favorable con-
sideration in the senate. The whole
matter rested with the house, so far as
this congress was concerned.
Representative Hermann says that he
has secured a favorable report upon the
portage railway bill, and that the diff
Guilty in the way now is the short time
proceeding adjournment. 1t is utterly
impossible, he says, even to obtain
recognition from the speaker, as appro-
priation bills are crowding for the right
of way. The fact is there has been little
possibility of securing any action in the
house this session on Improvements for
the Columbia river. No other section of
the country has secured any money at
this session, except for those improve
ments authorized in the last river and
harbor bill. 1t is believed that the com
mittee which authorized Hermann to re-
port the portage railway bill would have
opposed its passage on the floor. The
whole sentiment of the house was, and
is, against any river and harbor appro-
priations at this session, and the com
mittee so decided early in the short ses-
sion.