598 



OREGON. 



companies. The decision covers nearly 5,000,000 

 acres of fertile lands in Oregon, affecting the in- 

 terests of several thousand people. 



Tax Suits. Two cases of importance to 

 cities in the State were tried in the circuit court at 

 Astoria in May. The first case was brought by 

 15 property holders against the city for alleged 

 excessive taxation. The tax list of 1891 was lost 

 or stolen from the city offices, and in consequence 

 of this no tax was collected in that year at all. 

 As a result, the present tax was placed at 17 mills 

 in order to cover the expenses of both years' taxa- 

 tion. Judge McBride held that before the 

 plaintiffs could restrain the city from collecting 

 the taxes assessed against them, they must show 

 an unconditional offer to pay a reasonable sum 

 as taxes. The complaints alleged that the 

 plaintiffs had tendered certain sums, but had 

 demanded receipts in full of their taxes as a con- 

 dition of payment. The court held that nothing 

 short of an unconditional offer to pay a certain 

 sum was sufficient to give the plaintiffs standing 

 in a court of equity. The demurrers were sus- 

 tained and the injunctions dissolved. 



The other case was brought by 5 residents of 

 Court Street to restrain the chief of police from 

 selling property on delinquent assessments for 

 the improvement of that street. The complain- 

 ants alleged objections involving the whole sys- 

 tem of municipal law. This also was decided 

 against the plaintiffs on the ground that they 

 made no protest while the work was going on, 

 although they knew that the authorities were 

 proceeding, with the understanding that ad- 

 jacent property would be liable for the expense. 



This opinion is of the most vital importance 

 to this city. Had it been in favor of the com- 

 plainants, the municipality, it is said, would 

 have been beggared. 



Opium Sm uu'idi us?. A widespreading con- 

 spiracy for smuggling Chinamen and opium 

 into the country was alleged to have been dis- 

 covered this year. The officials accused were 

 mostly in Washington, but opium smuggling on 

 an extensive scale, as well as bringing in China- 

 men, was also charged against residents of Port- 

 land. The trial of William Dunbar for the 

 alleged offense was going on in the Federal 

 court at Portland in December. The principal 

 witness against him was a former partner, who 

 pleaded guilty, as did five others who were in- 

 dicted. In all, more than 20 persons were under 

 indictment in December. 



Two additional revenue cutters were ordered 

 to the Washington and Oregon coast. 



The Indians. The allotment of lands in 

 sevei-altyto the Indians on the Umatilla reserva- 

 tion has made some change for the better. The 

 allotment was completed and the final report 

 sent in Dec. 11, 1892, and the report was ap- 

 proved April 12, 1893. The total number of 

 Indian men, women, and children who secured 

 allotments was 1,033, not counting the married 

 women. 



The State Grange. This organization met 

 at The Dalles in May. Resolutions were adopted 

 favoring the free coinage of silver, the right of 

 women to sign petitions for and against the 

 licensing of saloons, the re-enactment of the 

 mortgage-tax law, the election of United States 

 Senators by a vote of the people, and the open- 



ing of Columbia river to free navigation ; cen- 

 suring President Cleveland for disregarding 

 laws made by Congress, and signed by his prede- 

 cessor, for the deportation of unregistered Chi- 

 nese ; condemning dealing in futures and de- 

 manding anti-option laws ; advocating the own- 

 ership of railroads by the United States Govern- 

 ment ; in favor of the completion of the Nica- 

 ragua Canal with American funds. 



The World's Fair. The State had no 

 building at the fair, but a very satisfactory ex- 

 hibit. The display of fruits was especially fine. 

 The prune-growing industry was well repre- 

 sented. The mineral and forestry and grain ex- 

 hibits were also very good. The premiums in- 

 cluded 17 for fruits, 23 in the department of 

 agriculture, 12 in the fisheries department, 10 in 

 the mining, 2 in the forestry, 4 in the educa- 

 tional, and 2 for a collection of Oregon flora. 

 About $25,000 was left of the appropriation 

 made for the exhibit by the Legislature. 



Labor Troubles. The substitution of Jap- 

 anese for white workmen on the Southern Pacific 

 at Drain, in March, caused riotous proceedings 

 on the part of the discharged workmen or their 

 sympathizers. The Japanese were stoned while 

 at work, and their houses were bombarded at 

 night. They were removed to Roseburg, and an 

 appeal made to the United States marshal. The 

 section boarding house was covered with oil and 

 set on fire. It was denied that either this or the 

 persecution of the Japanese was the work of the 

 discharged men. The marshal placed deputies 

 at Drain to protect the property of the company. 

 The Governor objected to the action of the mar- 

 shal, on the ground that the Federal Govern- 

 ment has no right to interfere so long as the 

 sheriff is able to maintain peace, unless the 

 United States mail is interfere -\ with. 



A demonstration against the Chinese em- 

 ployed in hopyards took place in September 

 near Hubbard. Two hop houses where Chinamen 

 were employed were burned, and 18 men were 

 arrested for making a raid on the Chinamen. 



Storm. A heavy storm, on Nov. 25, caused 

 great damage in and about Astoria. At one time 

 the water line of the vessels in port was exactly 

 flush with the level of the docks. Over 40 dikes 

 were so damaged as to be made useless. The 

 large jetty at the mouth of the river also suffered 

 disaster. Large masses of piling, unable to with- 

 stand the enormous strain, gave way and were 

 thrown headlong into the ocean, carrying with 

 them over 1,000 feet of the railroad track and 

 making a gap of nearly 1,200 feet in the line of 

 the jetty. The rock work was left intact. 



Legislative Session. The Legislature con- 

 vened Jan. 9, and adjourned Feb. 18. The joint 

 ballot was divided by parties as follows : Repub- 

 lican, 54 ; Democrat, 28 ; People's, 4 ; Citizens'- 

 Democrat, 3 ; Democrat- People's, 1 ; total, 90. 



The mortgage-tax law was repealed, and the 

 clause providing for deduction of indebtedness 

 from assessments for taxation. This does not 

 exempt mortgage notes from taxation. 



Employees of business concerns that fail are 

 protected by a law requiring receivers to issue 

 certificates of indebtedness to employees for 

 wages due. 



An act was passed regulating the amount to 

 be paid on a policy of insurance, called the " val- 



