Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1899-01-20
HOUSE AND SENATE.
Deluge of Bills. DAILY School
Law Attracting the Most
Attention.

PRODUCTION of bills has so far occu-
pied the serious attention of either
house, and there are bills on every
variety of topics from a proposition
to hang m,n only within the walls
of the state prison up to regulat'
ing the practice of the profession ol
barber. There are now about 23C
bills introduced in the house and
1874 in the senate, and the supply
to come seems still abundant
Although, perhaps not more than
one-fifth of these will pass, vet it
must be remembered that up to the
third reading most of them will re-
ceive the same attention as. the
bill that becomes law, and the
time of Legislators is fully occupied
if they do their full duty in watch
ing this mass of rubbish and segre-
eating such laws as he thinks the
state needs
The bill that has attracted most
attention so far is what is called the
Daily school law bill. One thou
sand copies of it have been printed
and yet it is hard to find copy
outside of those in the books Of the
members. It has been scattered
broadcast throughout the state,
and is a matter of great impor-
tance to everyone. 1t has passed
the second reading in the senate
and is now in the hands of the
committee on education. The
clause providing for the selection
of text books will be introduced to-
morrow as a separate bill and will
also be retained in the main bill.
Two bills have been introduced
in the house on the good roads
question and one in tho senate.
Two good bills on assess ment
and taxation hare been presented.
They contain many necessary
Changes in the present method Of
making tax rolls, as we'll as very
fair deduction for indebtedness
clause.
A bill has been presented for the
creation of a new railroad commits
sion, providing for one commissioner
and clerk. In its present form
it provides that the railroads shall
pay them, but this clause will be
struck out as it is illegal and has
been SO decided by the supreme
court. The bill ought to pass for
the people must have some say
in railroad matters. and then the
railroads need protection from each
other.
A bill was introduced to add sew
eral sections off of Lane and Lin
coin counties to Benton county, but
as objections have been raised to
it there is no chance for it to pass,
as Mr.. Nichols will not push it
farther.
The clerkship business is prac-
tically settled and the most stren-
uous efforts have failed to reduce it
much. 1t is very hard for one not
thoroughly acquainted with the
business to understand the enor-
nous pressure brought to bear by
clerks who want positions here.
1t seems simple matter to out
siders, but here everyone knows it
largely affects legislation, and L
see no way to remedy it except by
a bill providing for future legis-I
latures by law. Such law has
been introduced and will pass.
The mem oers of the legislature
are pretty generally aware that
efforts are being made in Corvallis
to provide an excursion train for a
trip to your town, and I think if
you succeed that they will all 20.
Talk of adjournment before the
forty days limit expires is all nom
sense. 1t will take every hour of
the time to secure the passage of
much needed laws, as all laws good
or bad have to go through the same
course, and the bad ones cannot
be weeded out until towards the
close of the session.
There is not sign of faetional-
ism in the legislature, all are work
ing together for the good of the
state, and so far the most cynical
critic has no truthful reason to
growl. The delegation from Ben
ton and Lincoln are working har.
moniously and are carefully watch
ing the interest of those at home,
TheY are not in the backpronnd