The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-09-04
THE RIGHT HAS PREVAILED!

The Supreme Court OF the State Of
Oregon has declared the "Port Of Column
hia" law unconstitutional.
This is an excellent piece OF news fol
the whole state; because it is really a
death-blow to a dangerous doctrine
whereby the legislature was invested
with popular sovereignty, in the for
nation OF assessment districts, reserved
to the districts themselves; and sting
ing rebuke to q eoterie of Portland
shippers who designed the law, under
the overly-clever inspiration Of the ma
rine editor of the Morning 0regonian,
with view of everlastingly cinching the
maritime interests of the Columbia
Basin to themselves and their alleged
port, the whole two helpless counties
were heavily taxed to support the out
rage while they witnessed the annihilia-
ton of their respective shipping bust
nesses. The bill was Matched in secret
at the metropolis last winter; sneaked
into the legislature; carefully submerged
until propitious moment by very
complaeent speaker and then sprung
suddenly and absolutely dubbed through
both houses under the pressure of
threats to kill every phase and fact OF
pending and popular legislation, unless
it was passed. Indeed, no other course
was practicable for such rotten and
shameless piece of chicane as was this
measure, and its success at Salem at
that time and the plan thereof, find
nasty emphasis in its righteous failure
there, yesterday
The Morning Astorian, from the very
hour of the initial appearance OF the
bill, in this city whittier it was brought,
for one day, by Ed. Wright, the afore-
said marine editor of the Morning Ore
gonian, and surreptitiously shown to
two Or three alleged leading citizens,
none of whom were shrewd enough to
fathom the wrong and fraud OF the
thing. has held, and declared, the text
and spirit of the law to be unjust and
unconstitutional, and has fought it un-
reservedly from that hour to this.
That We were justified in our conclusion
was proven, not alone by the raw and
wretched tactics employed in the legis-
lature, enough of themselves to damn
any measure, but by the concensus of
opinion offered by the Astoria bar, not
single member of which varied from
the condemnatory forecast made by the
Astorian. We are glad to be fortified
and confirmed by the final and conclu-
sive edict sent down from the court of
last resort; and we hope never again to
see so bald and reckless a piece of dema-
gogy thrust upon any community of
Oregon as was this.
The judgment in question leaves the
entire issue of 0regon's marine status
and business wide open for future ad-
justment without any reservations to
Portland, to Astoria, to Tillamook, Coos,
or Yaquina, or to any ambitious river
port On the Columbia Or the Willamette;
and while we are, in all justice and
! comfy, admitting the preponderance Of
Portland's claim to direct and possess
the cream Of that traffic as it applies
to the great basin we all stand for, we
relinquish no scintilla to our claim for
recognition as the sea-gate and port Of
the Columbia and its kindred basins.
This is among the natural equities that
are in line for full and final determine
tion in the course of the new transpor-
tation interests projecting themselves
into this field, and not likely to be
actually disposed Of without leaving
something very tangible to this port,
city and county. The body-blow deliv-
cred to the Port of Columbia law wrests
the last leverage from the grasp of men
who have too long dictated the policies
of sea trade in Oregon, and gives rise to
the hope that in the future it viii be
more wisely handled and with less of
that slip-shod quality that has sent
most of it to the Sound ports; but, be
that as it may, Astoria is in the center