The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-01-10
Mn. wrr.cH,s 1rrrrR.
He Gives History Of the Sea Wall
Bill.

Mr.. Ediltor:- - :.
understand from your editorial OF
the Sth inst. that there are certain par
ties OF suspicious minds, who say thar
the reason the "Sea Wall Act" was
repealed, was that There was a Job
in 1t. l think there was job in the
repeating Of IT on the last day of the
session of the legislature Of 1898; which
was done unknown Ito the people OF
Astoria, who had accepted 1t by vote
Of ten to one But there have always
been a few men In this city who have
worked against the majority Of the tax
payers and voters, who. when they
could not make or bend the VIII of the
people of Astoria TO conform TO their
wishes, schemes and foolish ends, have
always tried in some underhanded man,
ner to crush the parity or thing that
prevented them from carrying out their
one idea schemes for aggrandise-
ment
The parties who HAD the "Sea Wan
ACT" repealed, had no more authority
lin equhty) to have The act repealed,
taking awIay from the people broad
street or avenue for railroad purposes,
than the present legislature would have
Ito strike Commercial street out of the
plat of the city. No; the fact Is, that
the act lis broad-guage matter. Too
broad for some wouldIbe railroad build
ers of Astoria When was elected to
THE legislature in 1890, conceived the
idea of the future possibilities of our
city by such an act; and not feeling
competent TO dIafw the bill myself, I
consulted with Mr.. Dell, and he agreed
ito draw the bill for me on lines agreed
upon. Mr. Dell drew the bill. then
took ut to Salem and introduced it In
the house, (Blll No. 60. 1t was read
first time, and upon my motion, ordered
printed.
AS soon as it was printed 1 brought
fifty copies to Astoria and scattered
them through the city and in the Cham.
Der of Commerce room, for suggestions
and criticisms TO be passed upon them
There were some amendments suggest
ed, and every one was placed in the act
before 1t passed the house. 1t then
went 10 the senate. was not fully
satisfied with the bill, fearing that 1t
might disturb existing rights; went
10 Mr.. Flurton who WAS the senator
from Clatsop county and lawyer
of this CITY, and asked him to read
the bill carefully, and see that it con-
Bainled no clause that could in any way
injure or be detrimental to the just
rights of any citizen. He did 80, and
drew clause and had dt inserted in the
bill, which he said was ample, and I |
believe 1t was
MIR. Dell tried Ito take some advan.
tage5 of the act, but was defeated in
each attempt, even in the supreme oour.
of the state and the United States. It |
is seldom that charter is perfect when !
first passed and requires no amend !
ments; such, no doubt, was the case
with the Sea Wall Act. If SO, It
should have been perfected and not re-
pealed. Now, Mr. Editor, the above
being the facts, If there was any job, !
1t was not on my part. The Sea Wall
Act gave the city broad gauge rail
way avenue one tundred feet wide from
one end of lbhe city to the other; not
the contemplate little forty-6oot lane
that we are begging the property own
ers Ito give us so that we may get the !
proposed Hammond-Bonner road into
THE city. 1 wish to know by the way, |
that there are several nonresident
property owners who have not given
us this right yet, and 1T is doubtful If |
they will.
The Sea Wall Act or "a similar one
should be passed ait the coming session
of the legislature, compelling these
mo5s-baolxs and ob5bructionlsts to stand
out of the way Of the citys progress.
I believe the legislature has the power
to lay out and give to the city of AS
toria for railroad purposes, this right
of way. Let these croakers state over
their own names why this should not
be done. We are open to. conviction as
TO what is for THE best interests of the
city JAS. w. WEIGH
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