The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-26
THE COLLECTION DISTRICT.
Squire and Allen Object TO Annexing
Part of Washin gton to Oregon.

faTl OF u oTSSoH'
WASHINGTON Cry, March 25.-[Special.l
The Washington and Oregon senators
had hearing before the Senate commerce
committee today in reference to the bill
changing the lines of the Puget sound
collection district by cutting of portion
and annexing it to the Oregon district.
Senator Squire was the first heard and he
argued at some length in opposition to the
proposed change in the district. He said:
/ understand that the treasury department
has recommended that ii would be advisable to
make this change, If there no other facilities
afforded vessels entering the mouth OF the
Columbia river TO enter and clear; that is, if
there is no SUPPORT OF entry on the Washington
side. This SUPPORT may be easily created as the
act OF congress of August Is, 1890, creating the
collection district of the state of Washington,
provides that the secretary of the treasury may
ct any time create supports of entry wherever
business demands Ii to facilitate commerce.
This would require no further act of congress.
1t is very desirable to keep this state entire
as collection district in fact it is to keep
any state by itself. 1t Is a matter OF state pride
and permits OF statistics of the commerce OF the
state being taken and compared with that of
other states. The population OF Washington is
much greater than that of Oregon, and yet the
latter has three collection districts, the ports OF
entry being at Coos Bay, Astoria and Portland,
while Washington has only one--that at Port
Townsend.
He read from letters from the treasury depart
ment showing what amount of commerce has
cleared from Astoria, and asserted that at least
one half of this amount was no doubt exports
from the state OF Washington. He said he had
been informed by the treasury department Off
cials that it was the aim, so far as practicable,
70 make collection districts conform to state
lines 81 am not disposed to be cranky about
this matter. II it is best to have the business Of
Washington and the commerce of that state ap-
pear In the reports coming from the Oregon
district, let II be So"
Senator Allen next addressed the COM
mittee, saying:
The state of Washington is the only one In
the union that has carried out the policy OF the
treasury department in the matter OF collection
distriets. A year ago Washington had no ne
cessity for collection district at Grsy's har-
Dor, but the business increased so as to demand
the additional port OF entry, and 1t was created
by the treasury department Now, all you have
to do is the same thing on the Columbia river
at some OF the towns on the north bank and
designate some man to act When he is ap-
pointed he goes 10 such convenient place ss the
commerce demands aud performs the duties OF
the collector as in other ports, and collections
are as fully and completely performed as if the
collection district was on the south bank OF the
Columbia river. The people of the state have an
interest in that matter 1t is not just that
strip of land about 100 miles in length and one
mile wide should be cut off from one district
and thrown into district across the river. 1t is
not done in other states. Why 90 it in this? A
sentiment OF state pride has been engenderei
by this action. 1t seems to me all you have to
do is TO leave the matter where II is. There is
no excuse for making this division and altera-
ton OF lines except 10 show some affront to the
Washington state commerce and place it in an
other state. II the Oregon senators want to
take this away from US under the circumstances
and can get it they can have it, but want it
understood they will be met with our earnest
protest
Senator Dolph replied, with as much
spirit as was possible for him, to the re-
marks of the Washington senators, and
said
When the bill was introduced in the last con-
Fress it passed the senate, and failed TO become
a law only through lack of time 10 reach it be-
fore adjournment This year when he called It
up for consideration Mr. Allen objected to its
present consideration. He stated that he had
kept 1t on the calendar until Mr.. Allen told b i'm
10 take 1t up, when he did so and vote had
been taken. He had been very much surprised
that Senator Squire had moved to reconsider
the vote. He thought the whole proceeding
childish. He said he had received a recon-
mendat,on IRON the treasury department favor
ing the passage of the bill, saying it for the
public interest.
There was some discussion as to whether
it was possible TO establish port of entry
at Iiwaco, and Senator Dolph said:
The state Of Washington had allowed fisher
men TO pile out into the river and put in fish
trsps and nets, and this had filled up the chan.
mel on the north side Of the river 10 such al
extent that IL would be impossible for a sea.
going vessel TO land at that port.
No decision was reached by the commit
tee, and it will be some DAYS before it is
known what further action will be had on
the bill.