The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-01-31
STATE HOUSE GOSSIP.
Union Agricultural Co1lege-Senator-
ia1' Strugg1e-Prison Scandal.
Especially

Hal SII IIuSSI6-1TtSOu SCduudls
Especially
Salem, January 2e.-The Cor
wallis charter bill has been signed
by the governor, Its purpose is to
confer absolute authority onIthe city
to grant a water franchise. Dur
ing the negotiations between the
city and Engineer Smyth for bring
ing mountain water to Corvallis,
the question was raised of whether
or not the city had sufficient au-
thority to grant franchise, and
considerable doubt is understood to
have existed. The new amend
ment removes all uncertainty.
A bill to establish state agri-
cultural college at Union has ap-
peared in the house. It was in
troduced by Representative Murphy
of Union. It appropriates $40, 900
and provides for instruction similar
to that given at the Oregon Agri-
cultural College. 1t is said that it
will be impossible for the bill to
pass. Many of the Eastern Ore
gon members are not in Sympathy
with it. Some of them are urging
Mr. Murphy to Withdraw the meas
ure. Senator DAILY who introduced
and secured the passage in the SEN
ate of a bill appropriating $2o,o 900
for the Union experiment station
has brought great pressure to bear
against Murphy's measure. Friends
of the Union college measure are
beginning to believe that if it is
pressed it will endanger the Union
experiment statisn measure, which
otherwise is very certain of passage. .
The latter is now in the hands of
the Educational committee OF the
house, of which Regent dwell of
the Agricultural College is a mem
Der, The Union college bills in
the hands of the same committee.
The opinion of those familiar with
the facts is that the station bill will
be favorably reported and passed
and that the college measure at
the same time will be killed in
committee. Should it, however, be
and pass the house, it will
when it enters the senate encounter
the educational committee of which
Senator DAILY is chairman, where
it is certain to meet with an adverse
report and defeat.
Perhaps nine-tenths of the people
here do not believe that either
Fulton or Geer will be elected sem
ator. Only Mr.. Fulton's inmed-
late supporters say that he is a pos
sibility. They say his coup will
come next week. Even his own
do not seriously consider
Geer's candidacy. Ali or nearly
all of them are supporting him, so
it is said, until something else de
ve1ops. In fact. by the multitude
the present balloting is not regard
ed as the real senatorial struggle
Some well informed persons say
It is only horse play. The lack of
interest in the proceedings seems to
confirm this statement The but
ton. ho1ing, maneuvering and back
alley hustling incident tc former
dead1ocks is not present, The
crowd of hangers on and lobbyists
IS very small compared with form. !,
er sessions.
It is conceded generally that Mr..
Fulton will get more votes. His
concede this. Another .
Marion county man is.expected to
20 to his support. Some persons
n neutral position think he may
ret as high as 80 votes, and his
opponents admit a possible max
mum Of So. The latter say how
yer that there aremen now support
ug Fulton that would not be for