The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-10
OREGON is INSOLENT.
Assuming the Right to Legislate
for Washington.
A CLASH BETWEEN SENATORS.
DoIph Rushes Through q Bill Reduoing
ing the Absence of Squire.

WASHINGTON CRY, March 9. Especial. J.
Senator Squire this morning moved to re-
consider the vote by which the act was
passed to amend the act to reorganiZe the
collection district of Puget sound. This
bill was introduced by Senator Mitchell
and reported by Senator Dolph from the
rommittee on commerce, and put through
the Senate yesterday. 1t took from the
collection district of Puget sound the north
shore of the Columbia river from its mouth
to the mouth of the Willamette river. The
object, as stated by Senator Dolph, was to
allow vessels entering the Columbia river
with goods for the north bank of that
stream to enter and clear at Astoria, in
stead of being compelled to go to Gray's
Harbor.
When Senator Squire moved this morn
ing to reconsider the bill, quite brisk de-
bate occurred between him and Senator
nolph. The senator stated that he
wanted to look into the matter; that the
bill was passed while he was temporarily
absent from the Senate, and that, as it af-
fected portion of his territory, he want
ed to examine il further before he allowed
it to be considered.
Senator Dolph retorted that it was an
unheard-of thing that the two shores Of
any river, simply because they separated 4
state, should be divided as to collection
district. He said there was no patronage
of salary or any Influence whatever con-
nected with the bill, but simply the ac-
commodation of the vessels entering the
Columbia river. He was very indignant
that Senator Squire should move to recon-
slider the bill, as it had the stamp and seal
of his approval upon it.
The motion was entered, but not acted
upon. although Senator Dolph insisted
that it should be voted upon at that time.
This was declared out of order, and the
bill now stands with the motion Of Sena-
TOR Squire to reconsider. and it may be
called up at some subsequent time.
This little tilt is only the beginning of
the contest that is surely to ensue between
the Washington and Oregon senators.
The Oregon senators had so long domi-
mated over Washington as a territory that
1t is hard for them TO give up thsir grip
upon it and to allow the senators from
that state to speak for themselves in that
body. Never yet has a question come up
relating to Puget sound and matters af-
fecting Washington state but what either
one or the other of the Oregon senator's
did not think it his duty to Jump in and
supplement whatever might be said by the
Washington senators in adverse to any
measure affecting their interests.
When the subject OF the dry dock was
under consideration in the last congress,
the Oregon senators were wildly indignant
to think that Senator Allen should insist
that some point on Puget sound, instead
of some point on the coast, should be
named as the location of this dock and
future naval yard. The Oregon senators
were almost prepared to fight the bill
locating this dock. simply because it pro-
vided that it should be located on Puget
sound, instead of giving them an oppor-
tunity to secure it for the Columbia river.
Senator Dolph grew indignant today
that Senator Squire should desire to retain
Washington intact as Puget sound COL
lection district. This is an example of
how the Oregon men try to overaUe the
Washington men when anything comes
up for consideration between the states.
The Oregon men have secured nearly
everything that was going in the Pa
cifc Northwest, and it is only in
matters of legislation, where there
IS square stand-up fight, man to man,
that Senator Allen, aided by Senator
Squire, is able to cope with them and gain
for their state the rights which have so
long been denied them. As an example of
the watchful care which the Oregon sena-
tors have given to Washington's senators,
it was found when the river and harbor
bill was under consideration in the last
congress that absolutely no surveys for
improvements had been made, while in
Oregon the whole state had been literally
staked out. and every pond, inlet, river or
branch of a river had been surveyed and
was ready for and receiving appropria-
tons.
1t may be that after examination Sena-
tor Squire will consent to allow this bill to
go through, but he prefers instead that a
SUPPORT of entry be established at some
point on the Columbia river in Washing
ton, where vessels may enter and clear for
goods to be delivered in that state.
THE population of oregon i'll 1896 was 31S 1877;
Of Washington, 3i9,S90. Washington is grow
ing ut rapid rate, while the progress of Oregon
Is slow, and it is fair to estimate that this state
has 100000 more Inhabitants than Oregon. Ore
eon has only one city with more than 10000
Inhabitants; Washington has three Washing
ton has twice as many daily newspapers as