Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1895-02-14
1oeeo lincoln County, Oregon, thursday February 1896
Il Shameful Betrayal.
Daily Oregonian, February Z.

der their hopes of economical re-
form. The spirit of faction and
the spirit of greed have formed a
close alliance and control the legis-
lature. Against this combination
the interest of the people stands for
nothing. The legislature does no
business. 1t can do none, because
it is held UP by those who are OBJ
structing id a factional spirit the
election of a senator, aided by those
who are fighting to prevent the
reduction of salaries, emoluments
and fees. Such an alliance against
the public interests between body
of bitter factionists and gang OF
official freebooters presents a new
phase of depravity in the history OF
the legislative assembly of Oregon.
To find the benefciaries of official
extravaganza doing all they can to
retain their hold on the opportunity
to draw money from the people
through taxation and put it into
their own pockets is not surprising.
But it is surprising, as it is extra
ordinary, to find this effort abetted
as a means of defeating the inten-
tons and expectations Of the peoT
pie and of majority Of the domi-
nant party. in the Legislature as to
election of senator. Nor is the
consequence of this combination
limited merely to obstruction. 1t
leads to profigacy in and about the
public Offices and Legislative halls.
The session was,opened under the
most sacred pledges in behalf Of
economy. But prodigality is in
full swing in all the operations OF
the houses. There are clerks by
the dozen to do nothing; the bills
for printing and "incidentals" are
large as ever; a lobby, organized
for the joint purpose of preventing
or debating the election of senator,
and of defeating the expectations OF
the people as to reduction of the
public burdens, is and has been,
from the first day of the session in
possession and control of the capital
of the state.
Is this to be the outcome of the
pledges of the republican party3
Then its pledges should not be be-
lieved again. The party will have
trouble in 1896 to make the people
credit Its professions. 1t will not
be surprising to hear them say that
the populists could not possibly do
worse. Every day it becomes more
and more improbable that a single
useful measure will be enacted.
Partisan faction and official greed
hold the legislature by the throat.
The only thing that can be done,
it seems, is to sit down and wait
till the sands Of the forty days ses.
sion shall run out. Three. fifths Of
the time has already expired. I'm
less there shall be quick reform, the
other two-fifths cannot 60 too, fast.
The people Of Oregon begin to
realize that they are betrayed, and
the republican party is In q. fair
way to find out what punishment
will be fit such recreancy topledges
and to duty.
Further discussion Of measures
for relief of people from the burdens
Of taxation is useless. The legisla'
ture will do nothing, All the
efforts of a year past in preparation
and discussion of measures Of
economy and .retrenchment are
wasted. 1t is deplorable, result
And the worst of it Is that tner
have. done it who are wholly in
significant, except for their present
! power to do evil; they are protected
by their responsibility, and care
nothing for public indignation, be
cause they never expect a public
trust again.