Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-02-27
Joint Committee Come to
Aberdeen to Hear Argu-
ment on Division
LARGE CROWD ATTENDS
Members Of Legislature Listen
Two Hours to Advocates
and Opponents

The members of the senate and
house committees on counties and
county boundaries of the twelfth
legislature, about a dozen of them ac-
cOmpanied by their wives, and about
fifty other members, arrived on
Grays Harbor Saturday night, and
were taken to Hotels Washington and
Fairmont, Aberdeen, and Grayport,
HoQuiam. The committees came to
hold public hearing yesterday on
the county division bill, and the 9th
ers came to spend Sunday on the Har
Dor as we'll as to get first hand infor
nation as to the merits of the bill
under discussion.
The meeting was called for 10
o'clock yesterday morning in the city
council room, but before being called
to order the room and corridors We're
filed and number of people were
on the sidewalk, so that a move was
made to the Rex theater. Here the
large gathering was called to order
by Senator Whitney, OF Spokane,
chairman of the committee on coun-
ties ana county boundaries, after he
had arranged to give each side to the
controversy one hour in which to
present argument.
f. r. Archer, Frank l.. Morgan and
J. ]. Carney were selected to present
the side of the divisionists, while A.
Rupert, O. c. Fenalson, r. H. Fleet
and J. w. Clark were spokesmen for
the opposition.
F. r. Archer opened the discussion
by stating briefly the situation on
Grays Harbor that led to agitation
for seat of county government at a
convenient location, and in clear,
concise way made the situation clear
showing the committees that the peO.
pie of Grays Harbor would be vastly
benefited by the division. and that
the original county of Chehalis would
still be a county of good rank in the
state, with an excellent system of
roads and elegant public buildings and
in excellent financial condition.
He was followed by A Rupert, who
said he opposed division for business
reasons. He thought that division
would leave two Insignificant coun-
ties instead of one strong one, but
omitted to give the areas of the coun.
ties, their population and assessed
valuations. Mr.. Rupert assumed that
petitions were signed without being
read, and were unreliable as express
ing the position of the signers, and
concluded by saying the present move
ment was hatched by few politi-
clans.
Attorney Frank l.. Morgan, of Ho-
quiam, who was opposed to division,
four years ago, explained why he and
those he represented were now in ia
vor of this action. He told of the
promises made by the east end of the
county, that the old courthouse would
be allowed to serve SO long as it
would answer-which was placed at
ten years. Mr.. Morgan said the
change of opinion about division was
accounted for by the duplicity that
Immediately had set to work to sad
die such an expensive set of public
buildings as would permanently anchor
the county seat at Montesano regard
less of public convenience or cost.
The next speaker was o C.. Fenal-
son, whose residence is HOquiam. and
whose interests are at Raymond, Mr..
Fenlason was an ardent divisionist
| four years ago, and the only explana-
ton he seemed able to give was the
! allegation that the present movement
i was engineered by few politicians.
H As this objection was raised four
i years ago. the only available inference
h that the present bunch is objec-
| tionable to Mr.. Fenlason. He suggest
q the referendum for the bill, and
. recall of the commissioners, SEEM
hgly in ignorance Of the fact that