



wreck of the 'Great Republic' is due to the fact 

 that hundreds of lives would be endangered if 

 traps were placed in that vicinity. A? the water 

 shoaled east of Peacock spit, the'channel steadily 

 changed, until now it runs through Great Republic 



farther east. Meanwhile, the trapper? 

 tinued putting in new traps, until now there is only 

 a narrow channel, called "Cut-off" chamu 

 twecn Peacock spit and Sand island. This is north 

 and west of the ' Great Republic ' wreck, and 

 through it the fishermen sail when caught in a sud- 

 den stonu. With Cut-off channel closed by traps, 

 the fishermen would find no shelter, as it would be 

 almost impossible for boats to sail round the south 

 side of Sand island and reach Baker's Bay. It is 

 not an uncommon occurrence during the fishing 

 season to see 600 to 800 boats near Peacock spit, 

 and when storms arise the men let their nets go 

 and make for Cut-off channel. Another objection 

 to the establishment of traps at this point is the 

 almost impossibility of fishermen reaching shore 

 when their boats are upset.*' 



the other hand, the Board of Trade and 

 Chamber of Commerce of Ilwaco. Wash., have 

 passed resolutions declaring that gill nets are placed 

 across the channel directly in the steamers" track, 

 and all boats using a propeller are compelled to 

 stop their engines or foul their wheel and shaft 

 with the net, and asking the War Department and 

 chief engineer to prohibit such risk to human life 

 and property. 



Washington troops were sent to Sand island, but 

 were ordered away by the national authorit: 

 that island belongs to the Government. 



In June, during the strike, some of the cannery 

 buildings were burned and nonunion workmen 

 were fired upon. Oregon troops were sent to the 

 {la-i-e. 



Reservations. A law went into effect in -April 

 ling for settlement by homestead of the Fort 

 Klamath hay reserve. The reserve contains about 

 10.000 acres "of fine hay land, nearly all of which was 

 located within three days. The fort reserve. 1 mile 

 square, is withheld from settlement. Settlers are 

 limited to 80 acres. The reservation contains about 

 1.500.000 acres. When the work of allotting lands 

 to the Indians in severally is completed, which will 

 probably not be within two years, there will be left 

 about IJOOO.OOO acres for the Government to buy 

 from the Indians and throw open to settlement. 



Sen nial. The fiftieth anniversary of 



the date when Oregon passed under the dominion 

 of the United States was celebrated at Portland in 

 June by the veterans of the Indian wars and the 

 iation of Pioneers. The earliest pioneers 

 present were two of 1837. The special exercises in- 

 cluded a procession of the school children of Port- 

 land, followed by the pioneers and their grandchil- 

 dren and great-grandchildren ; addresses by John 

 F. C'aples, George H. Williams, ex-Gov. Pennoyer. 

 and Mrs. V.'. J. Plymale ; and a poem by Joaquin 

 Miller. Steps were taken toward the organization 

 of an association of the native sons and daughters 

 of the State. 



Important Decisions. Wr.men were nominat- 

 ed in 15 counties for county superintendents of 

 schools : but. by a decision in a suit brought t 

 the eligibility of one already in office, decision was 

 rendered in May that they were ineligible on ac- 

 count of that provision of the Constitution which 

 says that only electors may be elected or appointed 

 to county offices, an elector being defined in an- 

 other place as a male citizen. 



A decision was given in July involving the ques- 

 tion of the marriage of a divorced person before 

 the expiration of six months from the grant of the 

 decree. The court held that marriage within six 



months, if it takes place in Oregon, is illegal, but is 

 binding if it occurs in another State ; that 

 marriages in the State are not merely voidable, but 

 absolutely void. 



The charter of Oregon City contained a prov 

 that 60 per cent, of the county road tax collected 

 from the city should be turned over by the county 

 to the city, to be expended in the city : and that 

 the remaining 40 per cent, should be expended by 

 the county court upon main roads leading to the 

 city. This was attacked as unconstitutional, and 

 the Supreme Court so decided, the Constitution 

 giving the right to expend such taxes to the county 

 courts, although the justice said the pro' 

 seemed to him entirely equitable and just. 



Political. 7. State election was held on June 

 1. A justice of the Supreme Court, the two mem- 

 bers of Congress, and the State Legislature, which 

 will have to elect a successor to Senator Mitchell, 

 *ere elected at that time. The Republican party 

 was divided on the question of free coinage, and 

 the primaries were stormy. In the Multnomah 

 County convention, in Portland, blows wer- 

 changed. The State convention met on April 9 in 

 Portland. There were contesting delegations from 

 Multnomah County, and the convention, by a vote 

 of 126 to 62, gave each one half representation. 

 On the question of declaring against free coinage 

 in the platform the vote was against such declara- 

 tion by 129 to 108. The financial plank of the Re- 

 publican National Convention of 1892 was adopted. 

 Four sound-money delegates were elected to the 

 national convention, making the entire 8 from the 

 State of Oregon favorable to the single standard 

 and against the free coinage of silver. 



The resolutions declared for direct election of 

 United States Senators, restricted immigration, the 

 construction of the Nicaragua Canal, reduction of 

 excessive salaries, and abolishment of the fe- 

 tern and of all useless commissions ; and opposed 

 the appropriation of money to any school or chari- 

 table institution not under the control of the State. 



Robert S. Bean was renominated for Justice of 

 the Supreme Court. 



The delegates to the national convention were 

 instructed to support Mc-Kinley. 



The Democratic State Convention was held in 

 Portland. April 9. The Committee on Platform 

 submitted majority and minority reports. The 

 minority report approved the national Democratic 

 platform of 1892 and the interpretation placed 

 thereon by the President, and declared " for the bi- 

 metallic money as standard mintage, the bullion 

 and mint values of which have approximately the 

 same purchasing power." The majority report, 

 which was adopted by a vote of 152 to 91. declared 

 for free and unlimited coinage of silver at 16 to 1. 

 Further, the platform denounced political move- 

 ments for religious proscription and called for 

 the repeal of all specific contract law?. State and 

 national : the construction of the Nicaragua Canal, 

 and its control by the General Government : a tariff 

 for revenue only : rigid enforcement of the Monroe 

 doctrine; reduction of all salaries. Federal and 

 commensurate with the depressed condition 

 of the country : repeal of the laws creating the Rail- 

 road Commission and all other useless commissions ; 

 re-enactment of the mortgage-tax law and the 

 amendment of assessment laws so that all recorded 

 indebtedness of the taxpayer shall be deducted 

 from his assessment : preservation of the salmon in- 

 dustry of the State by abolishing all fish traps, fish 

 wheels, and small-mesh gear : and a survival pen- 

 sion of the Indian war veterans of the United 

 States. 



John Burnett was nominated for Justice of the 

 Supreme Court. 



