The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-03-16
McCOY'.S APOLOGY.

In the Times M WOuIatdineer of last Fri
day Representative Mccoy commumea-
tes over three columns of closely printed
matter, containing his apology for the
course he adopted during the last legis-
lature, which resulted in the defeat of
what is known as the Raley bill. He
submits report, signed by himself, H.
B. Miller and J. F. Henry, the three
representatives who were members of
the joint committee, who, together with
Senators Watkins and Moore were ap-
pointed by the Oregon legislature to
confer with a like committee from Wash
ington as to t'the feasibility, advisable
ity, propriety and probability of joint
action between the two states in build
ing portage railway around the Dalles
of the Columbia The report SO sub
mitted MIR. Mccoy presents as the
ground upon which he seeks to justify
his action. But he expects more than
mere justification. He thinks that after
his constituents have read this report
they will unanimously conclude that the
Raley bill would have doubled the tax
es of the state, produced no benefit or
relief to the people but would rather
complicate, retard and delay the open
ing of the river" In fact Mr.. Mccoy
expects to convince ''any person of can
did mind'' that if the Raley bill was not
facts in the case are that all the known
representatives of the railroad company.
in both houses, were in favor of and
voted and worked for the Raley bill ;"
(Which is hard on Senator Hilton, by
the way very)
Mr. McCoy's expectations put our
credulity to severe test. If he can
make us believe that he has outwitted
the railroad men we will send him back
to the next legislature if we have to
transport him on one of his own ''scows"
If he can make us believe that he has
fooled Jay Gould, by defeating the Ra-
ley bill, we will never more complain
because the legislature made no appro-
priation for the worlds fair. Oregon
will send Mr.. Mccoy. She needs no
other exhibit to proclaim here the great
est state on earth.
To put it mildly, Mr.. McCoy's apology
is disingennous. He speeks of Only one
report from the joint committee. There
acre tDo. The first in the order of time
was made by Senator Watkins, was
signed by that gentleman and Senator
Moore, and was handed to Mr. Mccoy
by Senator Watkins, in person. 1t did
not suit Mr.. Mccoy, it is to be presumed.
,4<~1 l. Al II.
committee had been instructed ''to con-
fer with like committee from Washing
ton as to the feasibility advisability
propriety and probability of joint action
between the two states and stated that
after such conference, joint action was
found to be impracticable owning to a
clause in the constitution of Washington
which prohibits that state from assisting
financially any public highway not en-
tering or traversing two or more counties.
This report was never heard of after it
was handed to Mr.. Mccoy; and what
became of it that gentleman can best
tell. Had it been adopted by the house
would not have affected the Raley bill.
1t had no suggestion about building
a scow. 1t said nothing about the
portage road costing a million dollars
and an interminable law suit. 1t gave
no lessons about losses of wheat, by
frequent landings, increasing in
1'geometrical progression" Jay Gould
and Mr.. Mccoy had therefore no use fo,
it and Mr.. Mccoy quietly consigned il
to an early grave.
Mr.. Mccoy tells us his report was the
unanimous conclusion of twelve men
of which he was one. Why then did mo-
these men all sign it2 Senator Wat
kins did not sign it. Senator Moore die
not sign it, and it goes without saying
that the Washington members of com
mittee did not sign it. Yet it was tn,
Unanimous conclusion of twelve mel
and only three, Mccoy, Miller ant
Henry had the courage of their convic
tions. In short, Watkins, Moore an,
Nevins, would not sign it. They say
through the thin guise of it's design an,
refused to sign it.
But they had no business to sign ii
The report contained mass of matte
wholly irrevelant to the object of tn
joint committee. What business had
committee, appointed to enquire as t.
the practicability of concurrent action
of two states, in the matter of buildin,
a portage road between The Dalles an,
Cello to report long winded speech o