The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-01-22
STILL FIGHTING FOR.
THE HONEST DEAD
ED. ROSENBERG LEAVES FOR
OLYMPIA TO TAKE HAND
nv FISH LEGISLATION.

Superintendent Edward Rosenberg
Of the Columbia River Fishermcn's
Protective Union, leaves ON this
mornings express, for Olympia,
Wash, 10 take such part IN the legis-
Iatiye work at that capital, as may
make itself apparent and inviting 10
him, as he understands the situation
He Is still in the fisheries fight and
doing strong and intelligent work for
the great industry as against the In
cursions of organized wheelmen and
others who have succeeded in mud
ding things il Oregon tremendously.
In the course Of an interview last
evening, with reporter for this
paper, Mr.. Rosenberg spoke as fol-
lows Of this trip and lis object:
Il fully realize that various kinds
Of commissions have been appointed
TO defeat the will Of the voters Of
Oregon as expressed last June by a
major vote Of 10000, that fishing IN
the Columbia river stop, from Sandy
River, up; that the fishing shall stop
on half tide.
After two years Of close investiga-
ton Of the Columbia river fishing
conditions | realize that the corpora
tons owning hshwheels and other
destructive fishing appliances in the
Columbia river, have depended on the
conflict OF jurisdiction as between the
States Of Washington and Oregon, as
10 these especially fisheries; hence,
when Oregon, two years ago, passed a
law forbidding purse seine fishing in
the Columbia river, and Washington
failed to concur in such law, Attor-
ney-General Crawford, Of Oregon,
was prevailed upon to test the iuris-
dictional power of Oregon over the
Columbia fisheries, BY taking hold Of
the Chris Nelson case. Chris Nelson
was purse seiner, holding license
from the State Of Washington to op,
crate his purse-sein on the Columbia
river. He was arrested under the
oregon law; tried, and found guilty
in an Oregon Justices court, and in
the circuit court and supreme courts
of Oregon; and appeal was then TAX
en- to the supreme court Of the United
States. After interviewing Attorney
General Atkinson Of Washington and
pointing out to him that the salmon
fisheries Of the Columbia river needed
a decision from the supreme court Of
the United States and that the Chris
Nelson case was just the predicate
for the desired decision, the two Sc
nior Senators Of the two States Of
Oregon and Washington secured from
the supreme court Of the United
States an advancement Of the Nelson
case on the calendar OF that court for
January 18th; and il is hoped that this
tribunal having gone out of its rigid
routine in this case, will likewise
grant an early decision Of the matter,
so that, the federal supreme court,
having already settled the boundaries
Of the two states in the Columbia
river, the two Legislatures will be
able to intelligently iegislate for the
preservation Of the great industry.
an this mornings papers / read
that there is a movement on foot by
Senator MCGOWAN and others inter
ested in fishwheels, to have treaty
enacted between Oregon and Wash
ington, for the preservation Of our
fisheries on the Columbia; such treaty
needing the concurrence Of Congress
and the ultimate approval Of the two
State Legislatures. To my thinking
about 20 years would pass before
such protection could be secured for
our salmon along such dubious and
devious way, The voters and the
Of the Western States
have shown recently that predatory
wealth does not always have the
right Of way.
Il believe that the fshwheels in the
Columbia will go and that the Co.
lumbia river viii be one Of our prin-
cipal salmon streams, because in the
State Of Oregon we have the initia-
tive and referendum to offset the
schemes Of designing men"