Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-12

the companionship Of their wives in
their declining years. This would not
cost the state very large sum, and
surely the services which have been
rendered by those who would be blessed
and benefited thereby merit the ex-
penditure which is here suggested.
call your attention to the report of
the commandant for information in
detail as to the conduct of the home.
Game and Forestry Warden.
With the small appropriation al
lowed him for game protection, the
present warden has done most excel
lent work. If he has failed to patrol
the entire state it is because OF the
inadequacy of the fund at his disposal
for the employment of deputies, but
an examination of his report wilt show
greater number of prosecutions and
convictions than were ever had IN the
same length of time.
In order fully to protect the game
more money must be provided, and the
warden suggests a means of raising
revenue without exacting it from the
taxpayers. The recommendations en-
bodied in his report are worthy Of
your very careful consideration.
State Board of Agriculture.
| Probably no factor has been more
potent than the annual fairs conduct
ed under the auspices of the state
Board of Agriculture for improving the
product of field and farm and the
herds and flocks of the state. Not only
the products of the soil, but the live
stock as well from Oregon entered into
successful competition with all comers
at the recent exposition in st. Louis
This was source of great gratifca-
tion to our people, in view of the fact
i that this state was barely known to
many of the exhibitors there. Keen
competition at the Oregon state fair
the past few years has been largely
instrumental in bringing about these
results, and the legislature cannot do
too much in the way of giving encour-
agement to this important institution.
Appeal will be made to you to relieve
| the state board of the difficulties
which beset it. The president has adj
dressed a communication to each OF
you calling attention to the needs Of
the board, and / call your special at
tention to his address, as well as to
/ the report of the board. 1t must be
remembered that the indebtedness now
existing against the board is one of
long standing, and although the last
two fairs have been conducted at a
profit, these profits have not beeu
available to apply on the indebtedness
because of the necessity of keeping up
the improvements, putting in a water
system and making other betterments.
| The mortgage Indebtedness mentioned
/ in the report of the board is one due
the irreducible school fund, and really
amounts to transfer from one depart
ment of government to another. There
should be no hesitation about making
the appropriation to meet this and
such other demands as are absolutely
necessary to place the board in n po-
sition to successfully carry out the
purposes of its creation.
Child Labor.
A law was passed at the last session
Of the legislature regulating the en-
Iployment of children and appointing a
board of inspectors of child labor to
Icarry out the provisions of the act, to
serve without compensation. There
was not even an appropriation made to
defray the actual expense incurred in
the work necessarily devolving upon
laCNi
lthey have been most diligent in the
performance of their duties, and are
entitled to the hearty commendation
Iof their fellow citizens for their zeal
in this most important branch of the
public service.
There can be no rugged, robust citi-
Izehship unless the health and morals
of the youth are carefully safeguarded.
Experience teaches us all that the ne.
cessities Of the poor employee as well
as the greed of the rich employer in
various industrial enterprises, are mer-
Iciless in their demands, and without
restrictive legislation rigidly enforced,
lboys and girls barely in their teens are
kept at work day and night in defiance
Of the laws of health and of humanity.
III call particular attention to the re-
lport of the inspectors, and earnestly
recommend that the amendments to the
llaw as proposed by them be adopted
at this session. The amendments are
simple, but if adopted will give the i'm
Ispectors greater power and broader
discretion than they now have, and
will materially aid them in carrying
out the purpose of the law.
A small appropriation ought to be
made TO defray the expenses of the
board.
The Fishing Industry.
l suggest the appointment of a com
mission composed of men in no way
connected with the business of fish
ing to take evidence, collect data, ex.
anime our own laws and those OF
Washington with instructions to pre-
pare law and the result of their in
vestigations, all TO be presented foI
1.-The consideration of the next legisla'
lture. II is my candid opinion that
unless this is done nothing will ever be
accomplished in the way of salmon
propagation and protection.
Labor Statistics.
Demand has been made in certain
L s.. ~a-aaI % tha not QFaaf