St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-11-27
Letter from oregon.
THE WAY THE DEMOCRACY RUN TIE
LEGISLATIVE MACHINE.


be of interest to some of your readers, L
thought l would write you hasty sketch
of the place. Salem lis pleasantly stu
ated ON prairie on the east bank of the
Willamette river, about fifty miles south
of Portland. The city is regularly laid
out in squares, and some of the streets
are very fine. The buildings on State
and Commercial streets are mostly of
brick, two and three stories high. The
remainder of the buildings in the city are
of wood.
This is the state capital, and the legis-
lature has been in session since the tenth
day of September. On my arrival in the
city 1 thought would visit the legisla-
ture, and started out for that purpose.
After wandering around for some time
without finding anything that looked
like a state house, | was 80 fortunate as
to meet a friend of whom inquired the
way. He accompanied me down the
street to three story brick building and
told tine l would find the legislature on
the second floor of that building. On
going up stairs l came TO Il room the
door of which was open, and inside were
few persons, either reading or lounging
about Surprising it TO be a reading
or committee room, stepped in TO in
quire the way to the senate chamber.
On making the enquiry of an elderly
gentleman, he smiled and told me | was
in it, and ''reckoned" / s'might be a
stranger in these parts" The room is
about twenty by thirty-five feet, and is
furnished with pine desks, cane seat
chairs, a hemp carpet, stove and abont
half dozen wooden benches, for spec
tators) The representatives hall is about
thirty by sixty feet, and is furnished the
same rs the senate. L was in at the
evening session of the senate, and was
considerably amused at the dignitied po
sition Of its worthy president, who sat
leaning back in his chair, his head
against the wall, his arms folded, both
ieet on the top of his desk, and a large
quid of tobacco in his mouth. Take
him all in all he would make good
subject for illustration in comic month
ly.
Oregon is so unfor tunatc as to have a
democratic majority in both house and
senate. The last legislature was repub-
lican, and the democracy made their
usual blow about high taxes, corruption,
extravaganza, &c, and promised to show
the good people of Oregon a specimen of
democratic economy and honesty. How
we'll they have kept their word, history
will show. The first day of the session
the democratic members of the house
went in at : o'clock in the morning and
elected their speaker, and when the re-
publican members came III at 10. they
were going to proceed to business. And
it was only on the threat of the IS re
publican members that they would re
sim and leave the house without quo
rum, that they would consent to hold
another election OF speaker. Instead of
reducing taxes they have raised nearly
every tax from two to five mills on the
dollar; and have raised the pay Of mem
twenty to two hundred and forty dollars
each. They passed bill by u strict
party vote taking the appointment of the
superintendent of the insane asylum and
penitentiary away from the governor
and giving it TO the legislature. Gov.
Woods vetoed the bill, as the constitu-
ton of the state gives these appointments
TO the executive. On reception of the
veto message, Mr.. Chapman. the leading
democrat of the house, arose and offered
a resolution that "Giov. Woods was
worthy of the contempt and detestation
Of all loyal citizens" which resolution
was passed by vote of twenty-six to
eighteen.
About the first of the session some
democratic members charged Mr.. Cook,
the state treasurer. with defalcation
of several thousand dollars of the state
funds, and committee of three demo-
Gratis was appointed TO examine his
books. They procured the services of
an accountant from Portland, at an ex-
pense of two hundred dollars to the state.
They made their report last week, and
found the books all correct and the state
indebted to Mr.. Cook the sum of five
dollars and forty-three cents.
According to the laws Of Oregon the
members of the legisl AZURE can draw pay
for only forty days, and for the last two
weeks the republican members have been
calling upon the committee to report the
general appropriation bill, but without
success until last Saturday, the 24th
inst, it was brought in, but the demo-
cratic majority would permit no action
upon it. Saturday was the fortieth day
of the session, and the republicans work
ed until twelve o'clock at night trying TO
have it taken up and passed, and finally
adjourned until 9 o'clock Monday.