The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-01-21
LEGISLATIVE AATTERS.

The legislature now in session at
Salem has sufficient to keep it busy
during the forty days IN which the
members can draw their per diem if
they attend to the business upon which
they are expected to act Nearly
every portion of Oregon has some
measure that it desires to become law,
aside from general matters in which
the entire state is interested. To give
each subject proper consideration be-
fore arriving at conclusion will re-
quire time and Discrimination, and the
gratuitous advice given legislators tend
to confusion rather than explanation.
Every representative has many con-
| stituents, and each one of these has
peculiar notions of what should and
what should not be done for the bene-
fit of the public. To please all will be
impossible, and it will require lntelli-
gent dlscernment to decide what legis-
lation will benefit the larger number.
We are thankful that the Wasco,
Sherman and Gillian county constitu-
ency have few pet measures with
which to burden their representatives
at this session. The question of county
divisions is the only one that appears
prominent, and We believe those we
have sent to Salem will inform them
selves of the desirability of such action
before supporting any of the bills.
In this view of the matter the damage
or benefit accruing to all portions of
the old as well as the new counties
should be carefully considered. The
names on a petition are rarely signifi-
can't, as these are easily procured
and, in many instances, do not repre-
sent all the parties directly interested.
County-seat honors are very attract
i've to some communities, and the off,
ces made necessary by new counties
are very desirable positions for certain
individuals. For these reasons this
kind of legislation should be carefully
watched by those who have it in their
power to place heavy burdens upon
taxpayers to crafty the personal ends
of few citizens.
The portage road between this city
and Cello is a matter in which every
producer east of the Cascades is di-
rectly interested, and cannot be classed
as local legislation. Our representa-
tives can exert their best efforts in
this direction, as greater misfortune
could not happen to the people than
the defeat of this bill. There can be
but one opinion on this subject, and
that is. an open river is beneficial to
all. Eastern Oregon expects an ap-
preparation for the portage, and it has
a right to demand this relief from the
state. No apology need be made for
advocating this Improvement, and
are satisfied that if the opinion of
every citizen could be taken there
would be but few dissenting votes.
Questions of such general interest are
different from those of county div,s-
ions or municipal interpretations, and,
while the legislator may be somewhat
puzzled to decide between the public
good and private aggrandisemens of
minor matters, the improvement of
waterways 80 as to render them means
of cheap transportation should not
cause q moment of hesitation.
1t is no easy matter to perform the
duties Of legislator for an intelligent.
progressive people, and if, in minor
matters, mistakes are made, the CEN
sure should not be intolerable if sub
jects of general interest receive proper
attention. The citizens themselves are
responsible if counties are unjustly di-
vided; but if great rivers are not
opened to the commerce of the people
the legislators are censurable. 4