Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-02-01
Commission
Enlarged To
Include Nine
Authority to Purchase
Swan Island Given
Along With Other
Needed Powers

All Port Of Portland bills passe
the senate Monday afternoon aiae
a day of conferences, compromise
and debates. The organized figh
against these measures in the sen
m ale flattened out and little or n
opposition is anticipated TO thei
passage in the lower house.
The principal feature of the mar
port bill is that 1t increases tn
membership from seven TO rim
and that Max II. Hauser is eliml
mated from the commission ant
three new men. Thomas j Mahon
ey, william L. Thompson anC
Harry L. Corbett are added there
to. Selection of this trio Is a dis
tinct concession to the eastern Ore.
gon senators.
island acquisition Permitted.
IN the group Of bills, the COM
mission has the authority to ac-
auire Swan island without refer
ence TO the people, but 1t cannot
acquire Mock's bottom or Guild'f
lake and fill these lowland5 with
spoils for dredging without The APP
proval Of the qualified voters
Also the bills call for an appro-
priation Of $250,00O for the inn
provement OF North Portland har-
Dor, which shall proceed with All
due deligence and speed"
Eastern oregon senators. Occu-
pying strategic position, nancu-
yered for the last week until they
gained the concession they wanted,
The upstate legislators worked for
the development of oregon slough,
otherwise known as North Port
land harbor, and to see that this
deyelopment is carried out, they
wanted members on the committee
who would be in sympathetic re-
lation with the desire of the wheat
and cattle country, therefore they
backed Mr.. Mahoney and Mr..
Thompson formerly eastern Ore
gon residents, and Harry C)"beit,
who has extensive stock and land
interests in Harney county.
Joseph Launches Attack.
After Il conference at noon, at
which Senator Joseph attended and
all present agreed. Senato- Joseph
launched into vicious attack on
the members OF the Port Of Fort
land and assailed the series of port
measures when they came UP FOX
final passage a few hours later.
Then, when he came to vote, Sena-
tor Joseph supported the hill he
tried to scuttle. leaving only Sena-
tor Hume and Senator Thomas
casting negative votes.
II was during the luncheon hour
that events moved quickly In the
mort matter Senators Dennis, FL |
lis, Robertson, Banks, Moser, Por-
Ter. Joseph and f. NJ Warren,
chairman Of the port commission,
assembled more by accident than
design in President Ritnec'a office.
The nor bills, which were set for
ii special order of business at IL n.
M, were postponed until 2:30 p. m
SO that a few amendments could be
written. The group In the presl-
dents room began an informal dis
cussion which quickly developed in
10 something concrete.
Increase Is Refused.
The eastern Oregon senators de-
clared they wanted Mr. Mahoncy
and Mr.. Thompson on the port
senator Joseph Insist
ed that the port commission he in-
creased from nine, the plan OF the
eastern Oregon legislators, to II.
He was promptly turned down,
names were suggested for
The commission, including Ren soil
ing. Frederick w. Mulkcy, = v.
lIousor and Harry L. Corbett.
Finally it was uecided to place
Mr.. Mahoney, Mr.. Thompson and
Mr. Corbett on the comu,isAon,
that body to nine As the
Did board consists of seven. some
)ne had to be dropped. so Max IL
Iouser was selected for climina
ion. this action being predicatcd
IN the fact that Mr.. Houser has
been too busy to attend TO any
meetings. for the last four months.
Ihe other members of the old COM
mission are George II. Kelly, PM
r. M. warren, j. j.
II. A. Sargent and An
lrcw r. Porter.
other details were approved
ueh as increasing the emergency
from Si,00O,O0o to
n $50, 600 and providing for hay
nc the North Portland harhor inn
,reved ~ eNpeditiously as engineer
ng problems viii justify. rhc dove
& peaco has APPARENTLY settled over
he senate.