The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-02-05
THE HOLT ELECTION BILL.
Measure to Be Actively Urged by the
Populists.

plOneQ Dy the FOpullStS, ana Lney desire
its passage more perhaps than any
other bill. It has been Endorsed by the
Populist party throughout the state.
The proposed act relates to the ap
pointment of judges by county courts
Its policy is to provide for representa-
tion by the three leading parties or
election boards, and it is made obli
gatory upon the county judge to desig
nate the person recommended by the
chairman of the respective central com.
mittees. The clerks are to be appoint
ed in similar manner from the two lead.
ing parties. The appointments shall
be made on the first Saturday in May,
instead of in January, as at present.
The important section of the act fol.
lows:
"Sec. 8. On the first Saturday in
May preceding each regular general
election, the county judge in each coun-
ty in this state shall appoint in each
precinct in this county three judges OF
election possessing the qualifications OF
electors. In every county the chair
man and secretary of the county central
committees of the three political par
ties, which cast the largest, the second
largest, and the third largest number of
votes, respectively, at the last general
election in the state for justice of the
supreme court shall each have the right
and are hereby authorized to propose
and recommend to the county judge of
such county, in writing, the name of
one qualified elector to serve as judge
of election in each precinct in said
county, and the county judge must and
shall appoint the electors SO recon-
NEEDED. In each county of this state
the chairman of the two political par
ties casting the greatest number of votes
for the justice of the supreme court,
and the second greatest number, re-
spectively, at the last preceding general
election in this state, may also on the
first Saturday in May preceding each
regular general election propose and
recommend to the county judge of such
county, in writing, the name of one
qualified elector to serve as clerk of the
election board in each precinct in said
county, and the county judges must
and shall appoint the qualified electors
SO recommended. If any county chair
man and secretary, as above provided,
shall fail to file with the county judge,
before the first Saturday in May imme-
diately preceding each regular general
election, the names of the qualified
electors they recommend for judges and
clerks of election in any precinct or
precincts in any county in this state,
the county judge of such county shall
appoint said officers on his own motion.
The county judge shall designate one
of the three judges to be chairman.
The judges and clerks SO appointed
shall hold their Office for. two years.
Immediately after the appointment of
said judges and clerks the county clerk
shall make out and send to each Judge
and clerk so appointed by registered
mail notice of his appointment. -
Senator Carter has by request pre-
sented the following bill relating to the
free ferry at Corvallis:
"That the county court of Benton
county, Or, is hereby authorized and
to establish and maintain a
free ferry across the Willamette river,
at Corvallis, Or, and to accomplish
that end shall have the power to buy,
build or lease ferry, grounds and
equipments therefor, or may in the dis
cretion of said court hire or employ
other persons to furnish such ferry,
1and equipments and run the
same as free ferry at all reasonable
hours; provided, that in conducting
said ferry it shall be lawful for said
county court to prescribe rates of ferri-
age to be charged customers for cross
ing said ferry during the hours between
8 o'clock in the evening and o'clock
in the morning. Said county court is
hereby authorized to do everything
necessary to maintain said ferry as
natural person could do. I"
Here is a bill by Senator Harmon
that will be Of interest to many:
"Section 1. Any person riding or
driving any vehicle, whether such
vehicle is drawn or propelled by animal
or other power, using any of the public
roads in the state of Oregon, when met
by any other vehicle shall keep to the
right, and, when overtaken by any
other vehicle. he shall likewise keep to
the right, allowing such rider or driver
to pass him to the left, so as in both
cases to permit such vehicles to pass
free and uninterrupted.
.'Sec. 2. Any person who shall vio-
late any of the provisions of this act
shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
and, upon conviction, shall be
fined not less than $40 nor more than
$50, or imprisonment in the county
Jail not more than twenty-five days"
The Senate committee on assessment
and taxation has under consideration
like twenty-five bills, cover
ing all phases of the subject. It meets
almost daily for the purpose of con-
sidering them. Several of the bills pro-
vide an entirely new assessment of law;
but Chairman Hughes thinks that the
session has SO far progressed that it will
be inadvisable to attempt to enact a
general law. An attempt will prob
abby be made to pass special measure
designed to correct the present assess
ment code.
The total appropriation for legisla-
tive expenses two years since was $685.
BOO.
The Benson house was called to order
1t 2:30 Monday, pursuant to the adj
journment on Friday. There were
thirty present. Several bills were in
,roduced and read
The Davis house held brief session
Monday previous to the meeting Of the
Benson house. As usual nothing was
lone except to call the roll and mova
In adjournment until the day followingi
Senator Price has introduced the