The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-02-01
At Oregon's Capitol.
Especial Correspondence.)

UulOf ASlOTldHs-
A few lines from Salem just at this
time might not come amiss. The SEN
atorlal fight is still on and one can
hardly appreciate the true situation
unless present, for the ways Of the
politician and lobbyist are both dark
and many, and to be understood should
be given careful study.
A ramble through the capitol build
ing during the recess hour is one Of
profit as well as pleasure, and with
your permission we will enter the
states handsome building at the south
entrance on the lower floor, opening
from State street. Just why this en-
trance should be used almost exclusive
", during the session of the legis-
lature, 1 am unable to say but such
is the fact las not one person in a hun
dred ever enters or leaves the building
by the main entrance, and If your
readers will follow me in my trip today,
they need ask no questions or look for
q directory If they visit the capitol.
During the present session the first
door upon the left is to the room of
the Acknowledgement of the state, but
at present occupied by the committee
on military affairs of the house. Di-
rectly opposite we have the Office of
the janitor of the building, and the
house restaurant. Here most of the
state officers board, not only during the
session, but at all times. A little fur
ther on down the broad hall we have
the armory hall, which is always used
for caucus purposes" and is now oc-
cupied by the committee on enrolled
bills of the house. Opposite this room
is the room formerly occupied by the
board of equalization, but is now in
possession of the committees on COM
merce, counties, corporations, fisheries,
and roads and highways Of the house.
In the next room upon the right, in
what was the lower cloak room of the
house, we find the committees on bank
ing and insurance, judiciary, and ways
and means. On through the lower ro-
tunda, into the north wing of upon the
right, we have the rooms of the board
Of land commissioners, now in the pos
session of the committees on assess
ments and taxation, railroads and cor !
porations, and fisheries of the senate. |
Next upon the left we have the spa
cious quarters of the state printer, and |
here is to be found the committee on
printing, and at all times Mr.. Leeds /
the new incumbent, and that prince !
of men and good fellows, the ex-state
printer, Frank C. Baker. Mr. Baker
Is conducting the business of the Office
for Mr.. Leeds, who is not well. Dur
ing the session the entire west side of
the building is the state printing Office
and gives employment to 46 persons.
This Office was established by the re-
firing state printer, Mr.. Baker, and it
is conceded by experts to be the finest
job office in the state. Ascending the
grand stairway into the middle ro-
tunda, from which open the halls of the
senate, the house of representatives,
the offices of the governor, the secre-
tary of state, and state treasurer, we
at once mingle with the busy hum of
life, and for moment only, / will jot
them down as see them. Standing at
my elbow is the "temerity senator"
]. N. Dolph, as he is now called here,
in earnest conversation with o. N. Den
ny, Steel, Gullixson, and ex-Congress-
man George, of Multnomah. There
seems to be something on the old gen.
tleman's mind. Standing next and lean
ing against one of the great columns
that support the dome is the silver
haired senator from Washington coun-
ty, and the Populist candidate for SEN
ator, w. ID. Hare, in earnest conversa-
tion with Buck" Myers. Everybody
knows Buck Then an Astoria
group, in which is mingled Runyon,
Fox, and Others in conversation with
Captains Belts. Pease and Patterson,
and also Harry Nice, VINO is now To-
Gated in Southern Oregon. Almost all
old Astorians know Harry. He is here
working against the fish bill" Every
where can be seen ex-Speakers of the
House Geer and Keedy, moving rapid
ly from group to group doing earnest
work in the anti-Dolph army, and ev>
cry movement brings into view the
T., f1,0 81
gle among whom are Burke, Baker,
Rinearson, Browne, Keen and Smith,
and l do not believe that there is
place where human character is so
diversified as in the rotunda and lobby
of the state capitol during the biennial
session. Ascending to the upper floor
we find the supreme court room and
the public library, the attorney-gener-
ais office, and the private office of ex-
Secretary Geo. W. Mcbride, and in the
supreme court room and public library
now we have the house and senate COM
mittees on mining, public morals, al
coholic traffic, agriculture and engross-
ed bills.
Unmarried business women in East
ern cities are crowding into life insur-
ance companies. They regard 1t is
better risk than that of matrimony,
mainly because there are not enough
men to go around.
pay for good Coal Oil Cans ten