The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-02-28
Meeting COM.
MERCIAL CLUB
MAY ERECT $4,000 BUILDING
Report Of the Committee Who Looked
After Hood River Interests
At Salem.

A special meeting of the Hood Riy.
or Commercial club was held az the
club rooms Monday evening. The d.
rectors met early and transacted rout.
Inc business, after which the meeting
was open to members.
Not very large crowd was present,
but 1t was an enthusiastic one. The
principal object of the meeting was to
hear the reports Of the committee who
went to Salem to work for Hood River
county. While practically all Of the
residents of the city and valley regret
that the bill did not pass, yet there is
on every hand grateful acknowledge
ment OF the good work done BY the
committee, and set Of resolutions
will be drawn up By committee ap.
pointed for that purpose, to present
to those entitled to the thanks Of the
club, as well as the community, for
theii efforts in our behalf.
President Davidson made brief
statement of the work done by the
committee at Salem. He explained
that nearly all OF the members Of the
legislature admitted that Hood River
should have county OF its own, and
would gladly vote for 1t, but that
many Of them, In fact too many to
give US majority, were tied up ON
account of having to trade votes with
the Wasco delegation in order to get
through theirfown measures. Had We
had one mem Der of the Wasco delega-
zion to fight for the bill, IL would
easily have carried. Ii appeared that
the Wasco delegation we're In Salem
tor the only purpose of killing of the
Hood River bill, and were ready to
trade votes with any body to do SO.
10 such lengths was this fight car
ried, that every impoi tant piece Of
legislation In which the Wasco delega-
tion was interested, did not pass. IL
is also significant that The Dalles lost
the portage bill, with its $50, 900 ap-
propriation, which would have bene-
fitted The Dalles alone. The Dalles
must need Hood River very bad when
they preferred to lose the portage hill
than to lose as. 1t could have been
prevented.
Mr.. Davidson explained that the
merit of our case really had little
weight with the Legislature. Friends
Of the Hood River measure, who
needed every vote to carry their own
legislation, were forced to make deals
with the Wasoo delegation, and vote
against the Hood River measure.
While the committee we're not sue.
cessful In having the Hood River bill
passed, yet they did their share In
killing the general county bill, which
would have forever prevented the
formation Of any new counties In Or
egon, and which was evidently pre-
pared by Senator Whealdon and in.
troduced by Mr.. Knowles for the ex-
press purpose of preventing the form
ationsof the Hood River county. The
Nesmith county bill was also defeat
ed, In spite of the efforts made by
Mi. Whealdon to pass 1t. In the same
grave with the Hood River bill also
lies the portage bill.
As an evidence that we are not
daunted by failure, the club appoint
ed committee to get up plans for q
building, of two or three stories, the
lover floor to be used for store rooms,
and the upper story fitted up for
permanent hcme for the Commercial
club. The cost of the building Is not
to exceed $50, 600, and Leslie Butler,
who was present, stated that the
amount could be raised on bond is
sue. at 6 per cent interest, and the
entire amount would be subscribed in
Hood River. The committee will
make report, with plans, In the near
futur-. Such building would give
the club a prominence that 1t could
not otherwise attain, and the whole
enterprise would work to the good Of
the community. One Of the import
ant results will be to unite the city
and valley on matters of public i'm
poItance, provide a room for public
meetings, and also for social gather
inQs.