The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-03-28
IN DEFENSE OF THE LIBRARY.
Editor AStorian:-

Editor Asitoran:-
Your editorial in Wednesdays issue
was "a genuine surprise. They say that
surprise parties are not always well
come" and this was one of the un-
welcome" ones. We had always sup
posed that the Astorian favored thel
maintenance of the library by the CITY,
since the best interests for the morals
and education of the public would
thereby be subserved. 1t has been con-
ceded ever since THE library was open
ed. that 1t is the only non-sectarlan
pubIc influence for good that is in eN-
istence dn our city. Lodges and their IL
braries are open only to members Ihe
public library welcomes all, ana they
are free to pass a quiet, orderly even
ing or afternoon in warm, well-llgmt-
ed room, under elevating influences
The amount ordered deducted each
month from the past appropriation 10
tha fire department is more htan three
times what the association asks loi'
Shall the only opponent to the eVll III,
euances around our young men anu
hovs the only respectable public place
90 entertainment, for those who nave
no home or family he closed? 1aNe
vo,, estimated THE number OF youhs
mon and bovs that have been infiuenc'
ad for good by the open doors oil the
,ihrary? Over nine hundred reauei'
some months; rarely ever under seven
hundred. Yet on the pitiful plea oi
economy YOU would advise turning
Yhase readers out to seel0the well-nsll'
cd and warmed dens of vice ana SIN
| Fpther YOU have not properly consul
! erad this matter or you have llstene'
| to poor advisers, VINO have warpe'
vour better Judgment. The Astorlai
has always been considered the pures
naner in the city and the advocate o.
| the best interests of the city W.
would dislike TO see her step down iron
th,s position. We are confident Una
tho ia xuayers would be with us II th'
matter was submitted to the puph'
vote. We ask you to look into "ai'
rcarpts of both sides Of this matter
interview those who have the pest III
forests of the city at heart; the larges
TAX PAYERS; those who do most an'
talk least. not those who pay no taxes
b,lt harangue street corner CROWDS, AM
YOU Will have good reasons to alte
YOUR views expressed in the editora
TO which we have objected.
friend of the library as one or IN
influences for good in this city,
Since the Washington Legislature ma
abolished the Sunday close season SCI
tion in the salmon protection law, an
the Oregon law remains as 1t was IN
question lhas arisen as to whether u
outte recent decision of Circuit Cou
Judge Mcbride, of the third distric
as to concurrent jurisdiction OF orego
and washington courts over the co
uuIbis. river. will stand a practical tes
AS long as the law was the same
; both sides of the river, it suited the I
,, terests Of the fish commissioners
} both states to work i'm harmony
: secure its enforcement, and theiy ea'
, invaded the others territory at wi
The result was a strict enforcement
tie Sunday close season law. But nc
the conditions are different, end II t
! washington fish commissioner did
resent the encrouchments of the OI
gon official, the latter would be co
stantIv in hot water with his own pc
pie. A prominent and influential ca
newman from up the Columbia We
4ured the opinion last evening IN
= Judge McBride's decision would !
hold water IL put to a practical te
He said that the Oregon fish protec'
y might perhaps be sustained on dec
= ion in which floating gear, sucn
" drift nets, etc, were concerned, D
,, when Il came to a question OF statlc
y arv gear. sucn as traps and Wheels
q is extremely doubtful whether the
"a nrene court would sustain the dec
IL ion. At any rate. packers on the Wa'
rs inggfon side OF the river are prepar1
se 10 take fish seven days in the We
5e during the open season, and they
IA fight any effort on the part of the Q
Is gon authorities 10 put a stop to
i. II has been suggested that frien'
y suit be instituted in the courts TO
the matter. and II the supreme Co
decides as did Judge Mcbride. pack
r generally express vii mgnesS 70 40
By the old lay.-Oregonian