Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1899-02-24
rW4. y71E7H BI4'NNlAh SESSION.

TIE1. Y7IETH BIt'NNl4L SESSION.
The twentieth biennial session OF
the Oregon legislature closed at 1880
p. m. on Saturday last, and what
ever may be said or thought OF its
actions of one thing we are certain,
that with of course the usual ex-
ceptions, no more honest nor con.
scientious body of Legislators ever
assembled to make laws for the
state. Many of the things which
it has done, and many of the laws
it has passed will of curse meet
with adverse criticism, but it is
impossible to please everyone.
Laws were passed that do not meet
with our personal approval, but we
recognize the fact that they meet
the approval of a majority of honest
men and are content to try them.
Severe criticisms and Wholesale
denunciation of Legislatures and
their actions seems to be the
fashion in Oregon. Such fashion
is deserving of condemnation. 1t
is wholly unmerited and besides
bringing discredit on the state it
has the effect of keeping men who
dislike unjust criticism out of legis-
latures.
The appropriation bill is large,
but it must be remembered that
we are a growing state and that
each succeeding bill of that nature
must of necessity be larger than
the one that preceded it. The
needs of the state institutions must
increase with our population. The
state has too many schools in its
charge, but being under its care
they must be provided for. The
unfortunate and the vicious must
increase with population and they
must be cared for The business
in the executive offices is increasing,
and the state lands and the school
fund are constantly requiring great
er care and attention, and there
seems to be no possible way to
provide for these things except in
the appropriation bill, SO it grows
larger as the state grows in wealth
and population, and we see no help
for it.
Many very good laws were en-
acted at the session just closed
The registration law which passed
was crying need of the state. 1t
will be signed by the governor and
this time it will stand the consti.
tutional test. The school laws were
amended in several important par
ticulars, notably the granting d
state papers. No one can get g
state certificate now except by
working up to it from the thiro
grade county certificate, or those
who have taken a five years course
above the grammar school, in some
chartered educational institution O
the state, and then only after pass
ing the regular examination.
The method of selecting tex
books has also been changed. Tht
new law provides that the governor
shall appoint five textbook com
missioners, and this takes tht
matter of school books cut of thu
hands of the American Book Co
that has had monopoly of th'
business for the past fifteen years
and opens the matter up to compe
tltlCn SO tnat we Will get good BOOK
cheaper than heretofore.
The assessment laws have beer
improved, the land laws of thu
state have been codifed and i'm
proved, and the interest on loans
made from the school fund has
been reduced to 6 per cent; thiI
will apply to old loans as we'll al
new after the interest has beer
paid up.
Many other useful and ne ,essary
laws were passed, and although i
has some extrayagances to answe
for yet on the whole the Goth hi
ennial session of the Legislature O
Oregon has a good record.