The Daily Astorian

Oregon's Recent War Claims.

Delegates Brents and Ainslie have introduced bills for the creation of a commission to ascertain the losses of Washington and Idaho Territories incurred during the Indian wars of 1877 and 1878, and for the relief of their citizens who served in the Nez Perce and Bannock wars. Inasmuch as the Nez Perce war didn't touch Washington at all, it will not take the commission very long to ascertain the losses of that Territory, although we are proud to say that it sent some brave volunteers to the field, who did good service in the neighborhood of Camas Prairie, in Idaho, and should be paid for it. In this war Oregon had some volunteers too, a few of whom were the only ones who went clear through the entire campaign and were "in at the death," and at the last roll call at Omaha. The Bannock war was confined entirely to Oregon and Idaho,—if we except Captain Wilkinson's patrol of the Columbia river—and to the best of our recollection, all the losers and volunteers were either citizens of that Territory or this State. Considering that Oregon had volunteers in both these campaigns against hostile Indians, and that this State was the principal fighting ground during the Bannock war, we think Hon. M. C. George, might in perfect propriety, in the interest of his State and its people, succeed Mr. Brents, or at least take place with him and Mr. Ainslie in the preliminaries towards the payment of these just dues to a deserving people. Oregon has just claims springing from both these Indian wars and should not be ignored.—Standard.