The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-02-20
GREAT BLOW TO
FISHING INDUSTRY
Hahn Amendment TO Hume Bill
Killed by a Trick.
-----a---
HUME VOTED AGAINST BILL
Discovered II Provided No Penalty for Vlo-
IaiiOn Of Regulations Bill Mass Of
Contradictions and Ineos.
Slstencies.
HUME VOTED AGAINST BILL
lspeeial to The Astorian.l

SALEM. Feb l9.-The bright h pes
Of the AstOrlans who arc here In the
interest Of promoting satisfactory RENE
dial salmon legislation affecting the
Columbia river suffered total eclipse
this morning. They had gone to bed
last night with mertal congratulations
over the decisive vote by which the
hDue had repeatedly resisted the az
saults made to dlsodge Hahn's amend
mcnt from the Hume bill. They en-
tered the house this morning with smil-
ing faces 10 witness the resumption Of
consideration Of the bill in committee
Of the whole.
But while the Astoria bsople slept
the night preceding, a remarkable
Transformation had taken place. The
committee had indeed resumed consid-
Grafton OF the bill. but with a differ
ent conclusion from that anticipated by
the Astoria folk. An adjournment had
taken place the night before after sec
tions Of the bilD had been amended.
Section thirteen was passed with triv-
Ial amendments. when. suddenly. in the
twinkling OF an eye. a motion was made
that the committee rise. the speaker re-
sumed the chair. the chairman Of the
committee reported progress, a motion
was made TO suspend the rules and. TO
the utter amazemelt OF the Astoria
contingent. the bill was read the third
time and placed on its final passage.
BY the time the AstOrians recovered
their senses the roll call was complete
and the bill declared passed. without
a single change from the way It came
frcm the original committee. Objection
was made that the clerk had not read
the amendments. To this the speaker
bandly replied that no amendments
had teen reported. Thus. by a skill
ful parliamentary play, coupled with
the change Of sentiment which had so
mysteriously come over some of their
supporters Of the day before the Astoria
friends OF the bill lost all the advant-
age they had gained and went down TO
complete defeat.
Nor was the loss Of the Hahn amend
ments the only disaster Astoria and
the fishing industry generally had sus-
tanned. 1t seems that, although the bill
had been in course Of preparation for
nearly three weeks, it was finally turn
ed into the house 40 full OF contrari-
ties and inconsistencies that no one
can tell what many of its most import
ant provisions mean. Worse than all,
while the bill rs passed will be eftec-
tual to repeal nearly all of the good
salmon legislation of former years, for
which II is substitute, il omits to
provide any penalty for the violation
of the regulations pertaining to the
collection of licenses, the opening and
closing seasons, the gear TO be used,
etc.
The author of the bill, Hon. r. D.
Hume. stood ready to propose an
amendment Incorporating this very es-
sentlal provision, but was cut out by
the surprisingly sudden and summary
action of he house, and such was his
chagr,n and disappointment over the
failure of his laborious efforts that he
went to his seat and voted against the
bill passed, exactly as it came from his
own hands through the committee of
which he was a member.
The bill as passed was sent to the
senate during the day. There will be
no opportunity under the rules for its
and return from that end of
the capitol after tomorrow. So that
even If it is defeated in the senate it
will not likely be returned to the house
in time for passage, and II it is adopt
ed by the senate as 1t went from the
house the fishing industry will be worse
off in many respects than if no new
legislation had been undertaken.
There was no change in the senator
ill ballot today.
Both houses have agreed to adjourn
on Saturday, at midnight