The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-12-25


I,clland, the popular councilman Of this
city, one of the master fishermen OF the
Northwest, aud the colleague OF Sccrs.
tary Id Rosenberg. Of the Fishermen's
Union Of the Pacific Coast. in the lat
tcr's recent quest for practical relief at
Government headquarters In Washing
ton.
Messrs. Rosenberg and Belland. witi.
MIR. Hiland, secretary OF the Alaska
fishcrmen's Union. Of Seattle, left for
the national capital on Sunday, Decem
Der sth. TO urge before Secretary Oscar
Strauss. Of the Department OF Com
meree aud Labor. the necessity Of clos.
ing the Wood River and the upper
Nushagak In Alaska against all phases
Of salmon fishing. and permitting the
| fry TO swarm and spawn undisturbed
until the run shall become normal and
natural and those important fisheries be
spared to the commerce OF the North
west. In the presentation Of the matter
before the secretary, Mr.. Belland stood
for the Columbia River Packers Associa
tion. OF this city, and the Northwes;
fishcrmen's Company. Of Seattle, ard
lent stalwart aid in all the detail OF
the conference and contest that ensued.
These gentlemen were opposed directly
by the Alaska Packers Association, with
two brilliant lawyers in attendance 70
sustain It's end OF the important issue.
and there was no point for. or against,
ii. lost in the subsequent presentation,
Mr.. Belland Is happy to report the
entire success Of the mission OF himseli
and colleagues, and the substance OF hi
report Is that after the first Of Jan
nary. 1908, these streams win be abso
lutcly closed to all men. and left free
TO the fish for propagation and natural
refuge; and he says the quest was MOI
made day too soon, since under the law
controlling such issues, the Secretary OF
Commerce and labor must have deferred
his order till the dawn OF 1900. Secrc
tary Strauss was exceedingly patient,
conservative, and fair in his treatment
of all concerned in the contest. and even
those who left his presence defeated
acknowledged the perfect justice and
courtesy OF his bearing throughout the
proceedings, The hearing took place on
the 10th and 18th Of the present month
and both parties to the case filed ample
written pleas in support OF their conten-
tions.
Messrs. Rosenberg. Hiland and Bellani
had an audience with President Theodore
Roosevelt on the subject matter Of their
visit to Washington, and the first ques'
tion he asked them was, "Are you gen
tlemen married." and on receiving the
three.fold affirmative he said in his
quick, incisive way, Il suppose you peo-
pie believe in protecting this industry
for your children, and grand children and
their suceessorsi" says Mr.. Belland.
The President then told them that he
"was with them heartily" and told them
to give him the detail Of their case as
concisely as possible, and this done, he
sent for Secretary Loeb and directed him !,
to inform Mr., Strauss that he, the
President, wished an order made, forth
with, closing the Wood and Nushagak
upon the terms set forth in the plea
presented by Mr.. Rosenberg and his
fonfrerres, and that it must be done dur
ing the pending week; and as soon as
this was made manifest at the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor, the whole
matter was Instantly and finally dis
posed Of to the infinite satisfaction and
gratitude Of the three commissioners.
Mr. Belland was delighted with the
President and says he and his friends
were not with him to exceed three
minutes; but that the chief executive
maintained his reputation for getting at
crux of things instantaneously and by
direct questioning and sizing up an
issue like lightning. They all left him
delighted with the breezy contact as
we'll as the favorable outcome of their
desires.
After closing the quest upon which
they went TO the great white capital"
Mr. Belland and mis- associates took
in the public buildings in a hurried sort
OF way, but at pace that gave them
profound impression of its extraordinary
beauty and utility, and impressed them
deeply with the probability Of its be-
coming just what Senator Clark, chair
man of the District Of Columbia Com
mission intends II to be, the smost