The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-09-06
DIRECT LEGISLATION AND A sPE.
CIAl eEgafON

DIRECT LEGISLATION AND A SPE-
cIAL SESSION.
The spoils politicians Of the Jack
Matthews stripe in Oregon are doing
their level best to whip Governor
Goer into line to leave the fee and
salary gratis at the state house just
as they are.
II any one thing was decided by the
people at the last election II was that
all state officials should be placed ON
fiat salaries and all fees and per
quisites and unconstitutional emolu.
ments be abolished.
Governorelect Chamberlain made
this the gist OF his whole fight In the
state campaign, and Jack Matthews
orator spent most OF his time reply.
Ing to him and trying 20 prove that the
present system is Just the thing.
At Salem he got different twist
on that fishtrap mouth and said they
we're in favor OF putting the state
officials on fiat salaries. In fact that
part Of the speech was written by
young Salem Republican and recited
as part of the set speech OF the can
didate who didn't mean any interfer.
ence with the present gratis and who
was defeated
Geo. Chamberlain said at Salem n
he had the power he would call the
legislature in special session and
enact the fiat salary law so that II
would apply to the new state officials
going into once in January.
No part OF his speech received
greater applause than this statement.
Il was this statement that got him
hundreds OF Republican votes. The
usual rot of reform candidates about
things away of he entirely omitted.
His direct appeal for remedy was
what took tho voters TO the polls 10
vote for Chamberlain ms the exponent
OF that proposition. The people at
the same election adopted the direct
legislation amendment
The slums and spoils grafters OF
Oregon calling themselves politicians
are so short-sighted as TO Imagine the
ordinary citizen cannot see the differ |
ence between paying a state Official
$4,000 a year or paying him $4,000 a |
year.
The fiat salary proposition was as
plainly adopted at that election as the |
direct legislation amendment and
there Is not a particle OF excuse for
compelling the people TO walt four
years before Il goes into effect.
The truth ls the sharks who play the |
hshtrap game OF politics put that
plank in the Republican platform for
the purpose OF averting defeat and
deceiving the people. but II was also
In the Socialist and Democratic plat.
forms. and the people were honest In
voting for Il.
The petitions for a special session
viii be more than enough under the
Terms OF the referendum amendment
10 authorize a special session for the
purpose OF putting the will OF the
people into effect now and not walt
four years.
II the Republican voters are 10 be
treated as having been honest, sin.
eere and In earnest In going and vot.
Ing their party ticket In June spe
cial session Is direct and logical
necessity.
II no other measure Is considered.
and II the Hat salary law alone ls
enacted Il will mean S20O 900 In four
years TO the taxpayer.
The Ohio legislature Is sitting I'm
special session 10 pass law OF local
mportance--a municipal code bill
and they receive no compensation
but their mileage.
Oregon Republicans are eonslderato
and fair In their demands for reform.
Az a rule they do not demand
enough, II their demand for AZ
salary law Is not needed they viii be
heard from.
II the Republican party meant any.
hing by promiaing the people that
'etorm Il has an opportunity to prove
Is honesty and sincerity.