The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-06-06
ARBITRATION
IS PROPOSED
Advisory Committee said to Be
Willing to Accept Proof
In the Matter.
WILL CALL rHE STRIKE OFF
Provided That Cannsymen Can Establish
the Fact That They Cannot ray
rive Ceats sad Do business
at Fair rToiit.

No little excitement was created
throughout the city yesterday when the
news WAS received from Clifton OF the at
tempt made BY unknown parties 10 shoot
down fishermen returning IA their boats
with the results Of the days labor, From
that thr discussion brnuched to the gem
cral subject OF the strike Many opinions
were advanced and each had different
theory OF the cause ana eject Of the
present trouble, II was understood among
tho majority Of those who are supposed
TO be- posted In tnc Affairs OF the union,
that the advisory committee of that body
declared yesterday that " the caunVry-
men could prove TO their satisfaction that
they could not pay five cents Tor fah.
ana do business az "A profit. that the ad-
yisory committee would then declare the
strike OF and advise the men TO 20 10
work
Last evening one OF the most proml-
nrnt AZ well aA one OF the largest pack
crs on the Columbia river called az the
Astorian Office and while there. In dis
cuasing the entire subject. he stated 10
an Astoriau reporter that he thought the
whole question Tas.- apsGepiible Of setle-
mcnt on "A basis fair 20 all. There Is
way TO bring both sides concerned IN
this matter together with Cr,dit ana
without any undue backdown on either
side II Il 70 be assumed that when the
fshermen's union meets each spring ana
establishes the price 0i our ush, that
they take into consideration each year
the ability Of the market to stand the
price 10 hxed Otherwise there would be
! no occasion Tor formally determining the
/ price to be paid az the beginning Of each
l season. since tho fixed price might be de-
/ lcrmincd and demanded indefinitely. were
/ II not dependent upon the market iiuc-
/ tuations SO Il ls to be assumed that the
/ fishermen are willlng TO concedc that
[ the condition OF the market has 10 10
/ with The price they can demand oi the
I camera for the raw FISH
1t has been stated that the uni0a
would be willing TO declare the strike on
/. providing Il could be shown that the cam
nerymcn were unable to pay i've cents
ana pack their fish at a fair profit Now
this Is a fact that Is susceptible OF easy
[ demonstration one way or the other,
and II this IS now the disposition % the
fishermen. the strike can certainly be
settled ON that basis,
Let the union and the canncrymer
agree upon a committee OF dlsinterestel
merchants or business men TO act a'
arbltrators upon the question. Let this
arbitration committee Investigate tbs
matter OF the ability OF the cRnnerymer
TO pay moro than four cents for fish
Let IL be agreed that II that committed
shall hnd that the cannerymen are una
BILE. In justice to themselves, to pay iiy'
cents Tor nsh. that then the union shal
formally rescind the price hxed by then
at Ave cents and shall establish a diner
entprice such as may be reported by th'
committee and recommended by them L
be n fair equivalent for raw ash Tht
is an honorable, practicable. and al
equitable method OF settling the Difficult
ties OF the present situation, and Il shoul,
be adopted without delay,
There is little doubt that II this plnI
could have been agreed upon In the be
ginning. that fishing would have com
menced promptly upon the opening Of III
season, and therc might have boel
saved hundreds OF thousands OF dol
lars TO the mutual advantage OF packer
and fishermen, as well as business mel
generally OF every class and descrip
ton"
The proposition suggested by the gen
tleman IN his Interview above, seems q
be an eminently fair one. and worthy o
"A trial From the concensus OF opinion
throughout the city, II can certainly b
! taken as fact that ninety mine per cen
OF the business men and citizens general
ly are anxious TO see this much-vexe,
question settled amicably and upon
basis fair to all concerned. There mus
be common grounds upon which bot
parties to the disagreement can meet
The question Is, to find that ground.