The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-06-26
Telephone No. Sc.
THE COLUMBIA JURISDICTION.


THE COLUMBIA JURISDICTION.
During the past week the Spokane Re-
view, the Seattle p. l., the Pacific Journal
of Ilwaco and the South Bend Journal
have amused themselves by shamefully
mallgning the motives and attempting to
question the honesty Of Fish Commis-
. sioner Mcclure Of this state. With their
information based on news" that never
happened. these papers have jumped into
the middle OF one of the most intricate
questions Of law that ever confronted any
community, and have attempted by blus-
terlng talk about 'ibloodthirsty kidnapers
urmed to the teeth attempting an In
vasion Of Washington, to divert the
public mind from the real question at
Issue. In the same spirit of blackguard-
ism that the papers of Seattle and Ia
coma continually exhibit ia each other,
while the mass of people in both cities
are really sincere business and social
friends. the Washington press is in turn
unit attempting to stir up strife be-
tween the citizens OF Its state and Ore
gon, when the residents on both sides
OF the river know and respect each other.
The question Of jurisdiction over the
Columbia river, as far as It relates
to violations Of the fishing laws of the
states, is one that has no parallel In the
Union. This is the opinion Of many
eminent jurists. both In Washington and
oregon, who have searched innumerable
court reports and records to find case
at all approaching It. Fish Commits
sloner Mcclure has fought the matter in
one form and another time after time in
the justice courts Of this city, without
any satisfactory results. He is an officer
Of this state appointed by the governor
for special service, and sworn to do his
duty. He has taken the advice OF the
attorney general Of Oregon. and Of many
other prominent attorneys, and has de-
clded that the only thing left for him to
do Is to push the question to the end
and force It inte the United States courts.
The charge that he Is preJudiced In favor
OF a certain section OF fishing interests
OF the river is rank nonsense, for his
present attempt to bring the whole sub
ject before tribunal that can listen
to no prejudices OF any kind sufficiently
disproves such an unfounded accusation
Tho Post-IntelQigeneer. a paper big
enough and old enough to refrain from
such cowboy methods of journalism,
states that Nfr. Mcclure last Sunday
kept his eyes open solely for trap fisher
men on the washington side, totally ig-
noring the hundreds OF gili meters whose
boats were drifting all around him. There
was only one gill net man fishing on
the whole lower river last Sunday. He
Is John II. Matson Of this city, and he
was promptly arrested and held before
the grand jury at present in session.
For years those principally interested
have pretended that they desired nothing
better than final decision that will set
tie the vexed question Of jurisdiction for
aii time. II they are acting In good
faith. and they seem at present, anyway,
to be In this mood they will gladly
grasp the opportunity and join hands
with Mr. Mcclure In his attempt to
come to an ultimate understanding rather
than throw obstacles In his road Mr..
Crawford, the Ash commissioner Of Wash
ington, has stated emphatically that It
10 for the best interests OF both states
that the dispute shall be quickly settled,
The only method OF accomplishing this
is the one that has been adopted by the
Oregon commissioner. He has arranged
that the five indicted trapmen and the
one indicted gill netter shah be at once
brought into the United States courts.
and that the friends of the prisoners
shaa take steps toward habeas corpus
proceedings. AS soon as this application
Is made the whole question OF jurisdic-
don will be brought up, and, It Is be-
lieved. settled The appeal, II any, from
4he decision must be ultimately taken
to washington city and will then be acted
on and the question set at rest,
Mr.. MCGUIRE In leading up to this ac-
tion has neither been arbitrary or unjust.
Being probably In a better position 70
Judge his actions and to see more OF MS
real work than any other newspaper IN
either state the Astorian feels In duty
bound to come to the defence Of gov
ernmeut Official whose position precludes
him from defending himself, more par
,lc,r.arsy when that Official has ever since
his appointment conducted his work In
courteous firm and honorable manner.