The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-09-26
LAWS WHICH SHOULD BE
PASSED.

We arc not so vain as to suppose
that any thing we can say will mate
rally affect or influence the Hon. mem
bers of the Legislature. But as it il
customary for editors to speak on al
questions of Importance, we propose
briefly to call the attention Of the
Legislature to few subjects.
We should like to have law pass
cd relative to fish. With small out
lay, comparatively speaking, the falls
Of the Willamette at Oregon City can
be so changed as to permit the salmon,
and other saltwater fish, to go above
them-and this, too, without any
damage to the falls as an incompara.
bic water power. Were this done, ii
would not be long ere the Willamette
would be we'll filled with these and
other saltwater fish-thus afFording,
in abundance, new article of con.
sumption and commerce to the people
of the Upper Willamette Valley.
Again: We would like to have a
game law enacted by this Legislature.
Such law is much needed for the
protection of game. When we were
last up in the Cascade mountains sew
eral men of Gnquestioncd truth and
yeracity told us that there were two
hunters camped out in the direction
of the Warm Springs Reservation,
who have killed hundreds of deer at
all seasons of the year, simply and on.
ly for their hides. One Of them
boasted that he had killed six hun
dred in one season near salt-lick =
and all he did with them was to take
their hides off aud throw their car
casses into the river Such wholesale,
senseless, sinful and useless slaughter
as this should be stopped. We hope
our Legislature will pass a game law
modelled something after the fashion
of those in force in Iowa, Illinois,
Wisconsin and Minnesota. If we will
only protect our game n little, the
Cascade and Coast mountains will af-
ford us a plentiful supply for many n
long year TO come; indeed, we doubt
if ever they will be entirely extcrmi-
ted in some places.
Again: For one we would like TO
have the Legislature enact liberal
Homestead Exemption Law. Col.
Chapman, of fMultnomah, has introduc-
ed bill to create "The Department
ofStatistics, Immigration, and Labor
Exchange" the main design of which,
we take it, is 10 turn emigration to-
wards Oregon. This is a most worthy
object. We are not yet prepared,
however, either to condemn or sanction
the plan involved in his bill. But no
better means can be adopted-no bet
ter plan can be presented to attract
population within our borders, than a
liberal Homestead Exemption Law.
We know whereof we affirm. We
were living in Minnesota pending the
adoption of the Constitution of that
noble and thriving State. That Con
stitution contains Homestead Ex-
emption Law, the most liberal in its
provisions Of any in the civilized
world; and we are happy to add, that
although it was warmly opposed by
men Of both parties, yet that it now
gives universal satisfaction to all
classes of people. 1t exempts one
hundred and sixty acres Of land, with
all its improvements, or a lot in any
city or town, with all its buildings
and improvements, Of every kind and
character, irrespective of their value;
also large amount of personal prop
erty. The great principle is that the
homestead and the means with which
to support family shall be exempt.
This is right; and we hope that this
Legislature may pass a Homestead
Exemption Law at least aslibcral in its
provisions as that IN operation in Cal
ifornia. Such law viii attract emi-
grafton to Oregon more efectually, in
our judgment, than all the emigration
plans that can be concocted