The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-06-02
D e%%<%]<<<<<<%~<<< . =
. WEATHER. .
y Oregon and washington-rair y
<and warmer. y
o HH<%%% <%%
SOME MORE FACTS.


rell, as plaintiff in the suit jast insti
tuted at the metropolis to test the con-
stitutionality of the Port OF Columbia"
law, is accounted for on the following
hypothesis: Mr. Farrell is an old and
highly respected citizen Of Portland, a
business man of repute and influence.
and was member of the late state
board of pilots. and has simply per-
mitted the use of his name by the law
firm of Dolph, Gearin 6 Simon, who
have been employed by the people Of
Portland to ascertain the exact legal
status of the bill, or law. 1t is quite
appropriate that his name should figure
in this relation considering the facts of
his honorable citizenship and his long
service on that particular boarl and
there are none to disparage the attitude
lie has taken.
The now defunet pilot commission,
was created by the Legislature, and its
personnel was made up by direct ap-
pointment by the Governor of the State.
The fees of pilots were fixed BY the
legislature; and it has always been an
accepted fact that the majority of the
commission, or board, should reside at
Astoria, in order that the business of
the pilots and Of the board should al
ways be capable of despatch and that
due oversight might be had of the pilots
and their affairs and that they might
be in constant touch with their govern
ing board in the doing of their work.
This board has been in full and regular
operation for some years, and would
still be an active element OF the state
administration, but for certain reasons
that had their origin at point about
100 miles southeast of Tongue Point
and Astoria, towit, the city of Portland.
Those reasons have been obvious for
some time and there need be no mistake
made at either end Of the route about
them. They are, particularly; that
sfter all these years, loaded deep
draugbt vessels now have to "work the |
tides" coming down the river even at
this late day and after the citizens Of
Portland and the United States Gov
ernment have spent enormous sums in
dredging the river channel between
Tongue Point and the dock lines of
Portlands meagre "harbor'; the excep-
tion asserting itself, of course, during
the season of freshets, or food times,
when Of course there is no delay, only
in the unacceptable matter OF the 200
miles of towage; the O R. & N. Company
does, and has done, the towing, and 1t
has, in the past, absorbed" the charges
for lightering, and has also given re-
Gates to the Portland shippers to even
up matters with the easier scales that
have prevailed on Puget Sound, thus
showing its deliberate friendship for
Portland sand yet, willing as it has
been to help out, it has, evidently,
reached the limit of absorbing; ami
the Oregonian would now like to have
the property owners and taxpayers of
the three counties of Multnomah, Co
lumbia and Clatsop, shoulder the bur-
den the 0. r. & N. is about to cast off
and dig down deep in their pockets to
help the poor English exporters of Port
land to continue in business and make
moey.
We cannot believe that the Oregon
ian believes what it has insinuated, that
there was any graft in, or Of, the Ore
gon Board of Pilot Commissioners for
Mr.. Farrell is heavy taxpayer in both
Mutnomah county, as well as in Co.
lumbia, and we are very willing to
youch for the other members Of the com.
mission who have dwelt here, the Hon.
George Noland the Hon. A. Y. Pendle-
ton and Hon. Frank J. Taylor, and men
Of that ilk, If there is a grain Of