The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-10-11
Lobby Formed to Defeat IT. Cur
tis Also Said to Be Working
Against Its Passage.
MEETING OF THE PUSH CLUB
Wheatgfowers' Congress to Be Decd.
ed Upon Next Monday Discussion
Of the cOBnty's Highways.

Last nights meeting OF the Progressive
Commercial Association was very largely
attended. and many important matters
came Up for discussion The members
IN attendance were representative busi-
ness men, and the meeting was one OF
great interest.
One feature Of the meeting was rather
amusing. although the members generally
did not know OF Il. This feature came
up in the report Of s. s. Gordon. chairman
OF the fisheries committee. when ne re-
ported for that body. He stated that he
had written Representative Young, ask
ing him IL he deemed II advisable 10 send
a delegation to Salem 10 assist the pass
age Of the fish bill, and Mr.. Young had re-
piled that he thought such action would
not be productive OF good results.
Mr.. Young. 1t appears, showed Mr.. Cor
don's letter TO Representative Curtis. and
the latter voluntarily wrote the chairman
Of the fisheries committee. In his letter
he set forth that there was great oppo-
sition to the bill. because OF the agita-
ton OF the As,orian on the common point
proposition. He was positive It would
not pass.
"If you can devise ways and means to
kill Judge Lighter and -" "a prom
lnent county oflciaD he wrote. 1--WE might
be able to get the measure through
He set forth that the rest Of the state
was Up in arms against .-storia. because
the Astorsan had contended for a COM
mon point here.
The fact OF the matter is. the only op-
nosition to the bill comes from Astoria.
Some of the cannerymen are opposed to
its passage. and have provided a lobby
to defeat 1t. Mr.. Curtis is probably act
ing in behalf Of those who oppose the bill.
When Fish Commissioner Mcclure was
in the city some days ago he stated that
the only opposition to the measure came
from Astoria. and that it was of such 9
nature as TO endanger the passage OF the
bill. The Multnomah delegation. at tn,
time OF the eonvening OF the legislature
is known to have been UNANIMOUSLY IL
favor of the measure. II there was any
opposition to the bill on account OF AM
mostly to Astoria it would naturally com'
from Multnomah county. Just what effec
the lobby has had on the Multnomah dele
CATION by this time Is. OF course. profile
matical. but 1t is possible that some o
the members from that county may nov
Join in the effort to defeat 1t; but 1t is
fact that 1t is Astoria cannerymen VIII
are fighting the bill There was, up to
few days ago, no opposition to it from an,
I other section of the state.
The county official referred to in Curtis
letter was present. and. probably out o
Difference to his feelings. the remarkabl
document from Astoria's honorable req
resentative was not read.
The question of holding a wheat-grow
ers' congress came up early in the meet
ing, and was discussed at length. IN
committee having the matter in charg
read communication from the CONNER
cial club of walla walla, in which tina
organization assured the local club tina
it was heartily in favor of the propose
congress. and would do everything in IT
power to assist in bringing 1t about. In
matter was referred to committee, cor
slsting of F, A. Henry, John H. smitl
andE. T. Ferguson, which will report q
the next meeting. Definite action wi
then be taken.
The subject Of an open river also can
up. and an interesting discussion 70
0 lowed. ]. H. Smith addressed the NEE
, ing on the question, expressing the bell
that It would be better to ask the stat
/, of Oregon and Washington for appropl
: ations of Sl5O,OOO each for the constru
tion of portage railway than to awe
government relief, which necessari
: would be slow and uncertain. Finally
4 motion to the effect that a commit
e from the Push Club confer with t
Chamber of Commerce on the matt
prevailed, and the following were a
h pointed: j. H. Smith, w. G. GossIin, H'
rlson Allen, and F. r. Stokes. Inc i'd
is to secure an open river as far up
J. possible, including the portage at Cell
A discussion of the roads Of the cour