Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-04-12
HAWLEY ALSO FAVORS.

A Washington dispatch says it is
believed Senator Bourne's amend
ment for 100000 to purchase or build
locks at Oregon City is safe, as Haw-
ley is committed thereto.
To those at all familiar with the sit
uation, this dispatch is decidedly
amusing, for Hawley has at all times
caused the impression to prevail that
the fate of the Oregon City locks rest
ed in his hands alone. Ever since his
election to Congress, he has been as
suring his Willamette Valley constt-
uents that he was just on the eve of
securing that 100000 appropriation
and rescuing the farmers from the
grasp of the "octupus" He hadn't got
it, mind you, but he was just about to
get it"
When Ben Jones was striving with
all of his energy to get through the
Oregon Legislature his bill providing
for the payment of one-half of the
cost of the locks by the state, he
found Hawley the greatest obstacle in
the way of its passage. Hawley had
just been elected to Congress, but had
not yet taken his seat. While the
Jones bill was pending in the House,
the Congressman-e elect spent the great
er part of his time in the Capitol
building lobbying against the measure.
"Oregon doesn't need to spend a cent
on the locks" said Hawley. Just
leave it to me, and when / get back
u. 4 7 Hn,, 10,
appropriate it ALL"
The weight of this protest against
an appropriation may be easily i'm
agihed. Legislators who were luke
warm in their support of the bill, and
who saw in Hawley's plan prospect
of the state getting off free of eX-
pense, were inclined to take the Mar
ion County man at his word and vote
against the Jones bill. The opposition
grew until Jones, seeing that the fate
of his measure was hanging in the
balance, could stand it no longer.
Look here, Hawley," said Jones, "If
you will only keep out of this, we will
make your work in Washington just a
little less than half as difficult as the
job you have laid out for yourself
With all due respect for your conf
dence in your ability, you will find it
will be a whole lot easier to get $780,
900 in Washington than 1t will be
to coax 100000 out of those Eastern
tightwads who care little about Ore
gon or the Pacific Coast, anyway. We
may consider ourselves fortunate if we
interest Congress in giving anything.
even If we appropriate one-half of the
amount ourselves, so we only ask you
to keep still and let us cut your job |
in two for you" Hawley was evident |
ly impressed with the weight of Jones |
remarks for he at once ceased his |
activity against the passage of the
bill. oregon appropriated the $500,
900, and Hawley soon afterwards went
10 Washington.
Two years passed by and Congress
did nothing. Another Oregon Lego
convened, and Jones secured
the passage of an amendment keeping
the OLD act alive for three years more
In order to give Congress an opportun-
ty to appropriate its half of the need
ed amount. Time went on, and Con-
gress continued to do nothing A few
weeks ago. the House passed Rivers
and Harbors bill. If Hawley made any
effort to secure an appropriation for
the locks. the results of his work were
not apparent, for no provision was
made for the purchase. The bill went
over to the Senate. and there, before
the proper committee, assistance came
from an entirely unexpected and unso-
licited source. Senator Bourne had |
become interested in the plea of the
Willamette Valley farmers and mer-
chants for relief. and through his ef-
forts the committee was prevailed up |
on to recommend an appropriation OF
ss00. 600 TO aid the State OF oregon In
purchasing or building the needed /
locks.
The bill as amended has not yet /
been passed by the Senate. but there 1
is every reason TO believe that the
locks item will be retained. The 4
viii then be sent back 90 the
where. with Mr.. Hawley com
mitted thereto" II should go through
as slick as grease.