The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-10-15

pe caHed up IN the h use and to got rid of impor-
tuilty concerning 1t, that no member of the com
mittee was committed to the project and that II q
committee was pat prepared to and would not make
ee new departure Ut entering upon the construction
might enter ' S'''-0''
At the last session of congress Senator Mitchell
sain lhtroduc d his ball wbict again referred
~ " ene SENATE comm ttee on transportation routes to
.he seapo4rd, reported from that committee passed
SSnlough the senate and sent to the Democratic
mouse to sleep the sleep o. DEATH
In the meantime, knowing thEt a separate hill
proVdlng tor the prosecution Of the work under the
contract system would pass the house. was working
gP my Pl9poSilon t. incorporate in the River and
harDor OIL provision for the work While doing
So the Seattle canal project vas brought before the
senate cgmnittee on commerce and pressed with
great energy ana perseverance, by the Washington
senators l felt compelled to oppose this measure
on the ground that 1t not in the interest of gen
eral commerce, and because l ln W that the propo-
stlon 20 eNpend So i'rse sum for this canal would
necessarily Interfere with and prevent me from se-
curing an appropriation for the Improvement at Tn
Daies' bY my presentation of the Importance ct
the proposition for the removal of tho ost uctions
at The Daes comp lred with the Seattle canal an
Improvement which considered Of vastly more i'm
portance to the pc pie OF Washington than tho canal
became embarrassed with the Washington senator's
and was put in the position by the public ptess of
complaining Of them. The appropriatipn for the
Washington canal prevailed in the committee with
OUT my support, and 1t was only by greas effort
thaG secured provision in the bill making an ap-
preparation for the commencement OF the boat rail-
way ai1 Tor rs construction under the contract sys
TEN, linen the real fight commenced.
The opposition to the work which had been going
on an the session appeared at once tie surface
aul Mohr and the lobbyists in his interest put in
appearance The Washington canal and the boat
railway we've straightway connected together. Mr.
BlaLchard, chairman of the house committee on
rivers and harbors ard the house conferees assaed
the boatrailway project most bitterly, and quoted
Gov Pennoyers letters and read in tn conference
committee extracts from Democratic newspaper in
0re2on opposing a bOat-raIlway With his (Mr.
BanchardO approval, if not at his instance paper
was circulated in the house. and quite numerously
gned by members, threatening to defeat the River
and Harbor bill unless the Washington canal and
boat-railway were eliminated.
l know nothing of Paul Mohr's scheme rrior to the
ADOPTION OF my amendment. | supposed his project
was still upon paper only. He wrota letter to
Senator Squire, which was turned over to the com-
mittee, in which he stated that his company had al
ready expended $4,000 upon his pIoject that they
haG three miles CT track laid and We're ready to pro-
coed with the work knew this was an exaggera-
ton; but when Mr.. Mohr came to see me about the
m1tter told him that did not uesire to interfere
with any improvement of the Columbia river, and
would have my proposition amended so as to do him
and his company little harm as possible; that
would have the secretary of war authorized agree
with his company for right Of way the right
way secured FOR the boat ailway for a right to
use the tracks Of the government road. He said
that would REFUGE their damages to compensation
for loss of business on the Columbia by of the
construction Of boat-railway. told him that such
claim was preposterous. He said he would 60 to
New York and consult other parties interested with
him about my proposition. but he never reported.
In his letter to Senator Squire he claimed that his
company hld purchased the work done upon the
north side of the river by the Northern Pacific rail-
way Company, and had become the successor of all
the rights II the Washirg gton Railroad Company L
think that was the name of the company an organi-
Zatlon created and maintained by the old o. = n.
Co. and the Oregon Railway and Navi kation Com
pany, to hold the right of way at The Dalles upon
the nor side of the ilyer
concluded and leave II to Won IN say wbe tber
the conclusion is just-that Mr.. Mohr could never
have secured those interests for the purpose of the
construction OF railroad and that his scheme was
0f -l,nI lad
vent the opening OF the river and ably said SO
10 the conference committee. Some member of the
committee told him this and he sent me a letter
threatening me with his ind gnation which rt adj in
the senate and said in my public speech that he
h I'd ANYTHING to say about he could sy it OH the
house-tops.
In violation OF the rules CT the senate, the morn
ing tie report of the disagreement of the conference
committee was to be consid red IN the senate, he
placed upon the desks of senators and representa-
tves document full of falsehoods and msrepresent-
atiols. and it became my duty to answer it. This
brought out the malicious and scurruous letter cir
cuatei among senator's and representatives, which
he trie to have published in papers without
success. and which was published in paper in this
CITY, TINS was the penalty paid for my fidelity to
the interests OF the people.
Mr.. Blanchard, urged on by Gov Pennoyer, sue
ceeded in defeating the measure. 1t was constantly
asserted in the committee that the project would de-
feat the bill in the house, and that further DELAY
wouif defeat the BILL held on to the measure I'M
til began to fear myself that there was dan GER of
the defeat of the River and Harbor BILL and until
could not ask my colleagues longer to stand by tie
measure.
l then, in order to remove all possible objection
to the plan for this improvement at another con.
gress secured provision for the appointment of
board to consist of seven engineers three to be
takel from civil life, in order to any pre-
judice against army engineers, to examine and re-
port q location and plan for the Improvement with
an appropriation Of SIS 900 for the payment Of the
expense Of the board What more could any ons
will examine very briefly the grounds of alta ok
against me. First, it is sal that boat-railway is
mpracticable and will result in keeping the river
closed. The answer to this is that board OF eml-
nent engineers frnm the army have reported that a
boat railway is not.only practicable, but the most
economical and efficient impr vement; that did
not trust single army engineer to pass upon the
question, but had the survey ana examination made
by board; that had nothing more to do than auy
of you with the determination of the character Of
the Improvement and that congress will not author
ze an improvement of any other character until the
plan Is changed by the engineers.
Again, it is said that selected the north side of
the river so as to destroy the property of Paul Mohrs
company and not to hurt the Union Pacific company.
1t is sufficient to say that had nothing to do with
the location OF the boat.railway. which matter
wholly for the board of engineers, and that Paul
Mohrs company was not in existence when the loca-
tion was made.
Lastly, it is asserted that am the attorney of the
o. K. d N. Co., and therefore must be working in
their interest. Every one knows that when / en-
tered the senate severed all connection, not only
with the O. K. q n; Co., but with all corporations
and other clients. My brothers firm, with whom
never had any connection, some years ago gave up
the business of the D. & N. Co. and the Union Pa
chc Co., as lessees of its road
Paul Mohr claims that appeared in suit tn nre
vent the government from getting right OF way fer
canal and locks, and so attempted to defeat the
project. Every one knows that suit to eondemn a
right of way over the lands of the o. s, N Co was
brought many years ago, before had any connec
tion with the o. T. & N, Co., and while Judge Strong
was counsel for the o. s. N. Co. The suit referred
10 by Mr.. Mohr was brought to condemn additional
land which desired for the canal and locks while
WIS member of the firm Of Dolph, Bronaugh
F. @afo-
and was never tried 1t was settled upon my advice
to Mr.. Prescott to take the amount offered by the
government. to show that the company was making
no faetious opposition 10 the Improvement although
neither he nor believed tina the amount offered
was the value of the land
But did once figure in suit for right of way
over the lands of the o. S. N. Co., now owned by
the o. R. & N. Co., at the Cascades. l appeared
with Col W. W. Chapman in the suit of The Dales
and Salt Lake Railway Co. vs.. the o. S. N. Co., to
secure right Of way at The Dalles and spent nearly
week in the trial Of the case without compensation
or hope of reward, my services being free gift to
the enterprise for the benefit of the people of the
state.
Another charge that have represented the o.
X. N Co. in the supreme court in some litigation
Although other senators take suits in the supreme
court Tor land grant railroad companies have al
ways refused them. have not sought legal busi-
ness, preferring to devote my time to the business
OF the people of Oregon was vice president Of the
U. N. Co. when it leased the nvrrowgauge
lines of the oregon Railway Co. The lease exc.
cute under the direction of the president and ex
esutlve commlttee OF the company in New York by
the Portland board with much hesitation. We be-
lieved it to be improvident. When Mr.. Willard failed
and the management OF the road changed, the exc
eution of this lease the cause OF great complaint
against the Oregon board. defended them in cor
respondence with the officers of the company and in
formed ths company that in any controversies with
the Oregon directors should defend them for all |
acts done while was connected with the company
gave an opinion that the lease was VOID and the
company repudiated it. The oregonian Railway Co. |
brought suit flor the semiannual installments of
rent and the litigation carried to the supreme
court. In the first suit in the supreme court Sidney
Bartlett, the great Massachusetts, lawyer and Mr. |
Carter, the leading lawyer Of New York, were en- |
ployed. The company desired me to file brief |
setting forth my views of the validity of the lease
and having, as you will see, than pecuniary |
interest in the litigation account of the part
had taken in the execution OF the lease did So /
The fact of my employment and the decision in the |
case was telegraphed &c Oregon, and one thought
l had committed any great iniquity until Paul MOhr
undertook to make mountain out of o mo,e-hill. |
This one case settled the question involved No /
other suit for rent was ever argued; opinion was
written In any other case. Being on the ground,
and as matter of accommodation, as the subse-
9uent cases were reached filed copies Of my brief in
the first case in the supreme court
| think should ask pardon for taking SO much
time upon so trivial matter; but felt that some
statement was due to my friends concerning the at