Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-05-08

Vert1Se the contract at once and
without further delay. After
the advertisement and consider
able unnecessary delay, the con-
tract was awarded to a Chicago
firm for a trihe over half of the
previously estimated cost. When
this firm sent its papers to Capt.
Fisk they were delayed and re-
turned upon the most trivial
grounds, and for the omission of
the most trivial words. They,
laid in his office some weeks. |
What the force was behind |
this to cause all these continued |
delays and opposition, is difficult
to explain. But this force was
powerful to be 1naifested in so
many ways, and appearing un-
der all conditions. Such oppo-
sition could not come from one
organized effort, but must have
been from many.
After the engineering depart
ment could not reasonably delay
longer, then the river and har-
Dor committee requested further
delay to be given until it could
consider repeal. Mr.. Tongue
sought several inverviews with
the secretary of war and also
chief of engineers, but was un-
able to get them to disregard the
request of the committee on
rivers and harbors. Finally, the
river and harbor bill was brought
in containing a provision tor the
total repeal of that part favoring
further Improvement of Yaquina
harbor, which passed the house
after repeated efforts of Mr..
Tongue to get it amended.
There was not a single amend
ment made to the bill on the floor
of the house without the consent
of the committee. The bill was
supported by very large num-
Der of strong delegations who
had interests provided for in the
bill that it was impossible for
those left out to obtain amend
ments. The bill was sent to the
senate and through the persist
ent efforts of Senator Mcbride
this provision was stricken out.
When it came back to the house,
the house refused to concur in
that and a number of other
, amendments. The conferees OH
the part of the house refused to
yield or acceed to the decision of
the senate. The house was in
session all night and the senate
also, on the morning when con-
gress must adjourn on the 4th OF
: March. Such was the long con-
tinued fight that Mr.. Tongue
urged to preserve the improve
: ment to Yaquina bay. The con-
7 ferees of the senate finally agreed
: to a compromise. The repeating
: clause was stricken out, pro-
l vision was made instead for a
, new commission to examine and
5 report upon the improvement.
| The contract was thus delayed.
' The report Of this commission
r Page s. shows that Mr.. Tongue
t with other citizens of the Will
r 1anette valley on April FL, 1896
, appeared at Newport, Oregon
: before the commission of engin.
eers where Mr.. Tongue made an
e extended and able argument in
f favor of continuing the improve
E nlent Of Yaquina harbor. These
/ facts are CLEANED from the records
= of congress where all may see
and read.
t Mr.. Tongues public life il
Y this state as one of the most able
and successful practicing lawyer:
: of Oregon, prominent repub
licaH, forcible public speaker ane
/ always able to refute the fallacie:
: in opposing political doctrines
: are so we'll and favorably knowr
D to all of the people of Oregon
, that further comment Thereon
2 would be considered useless.