Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-31
BTPFIcULTIEs OF REFORM UNDER
THE OLD CONSTITUTION.

ibohe WHO nave Whlcheo the htfuR
Ele TO put Oregon state officials on a
nat salary know that there are easier
ahings than 10 bring about any reform
under the old constitution
For this the third session Of the leg.
islatnre has the matter been attempt
ed, and with little prospect Of success
Mr.. Kay, Of Marion county, has pre-.
scented three bills for this purpose.
The present bill has passed the house
and DIR. KAY HAS TRIED HARD TO
MAKE 1T ACCEPTABLE TO THE
SENATE. HE WAS INFORMED II
HE MADE 1T GO INTO EFFECT AT
ONCE 1T WOULD NEVER PASS THE
SENATE.
The senate has killed two fiat sal.
ary bills. when every senator was elect.
ed on fat salary platform, aud the
present state officials were all elected
On sneh platform, agreeing to take
fflat salaries.
IT was the main issue in the cam.
paign Of 1904, and did more TO elect
Governor Chamberlain than any one
thing In that campaign. Yet the poll.
ftieians pretend that there was no
pledge, and no verdict Of the people.
This reform cannot be reached by the
legislature under the old constitution,
az We are 10 accept the terms Of the
Nay bill that has been fixed up so
THAT 1T WILL BE ACCEPTED BY
THE SENATE"
whnt humiiiating features Mr.. Kay
had TO embody In the bin 10 make IL
acceptable 10 that august body
In the first place the senate said
they would never pass the bin IL II did
not exempt the treasurer and secretary
Of state until the end Of their terms, In
1907.
In the next place Mr.. Kay had to put
In A SPECIAL CLAUSE TO LEaAI-
IKE ALL THE FEES AND EMoLu.
MBNTs OF THOSE OFFICIALS UN.
TIL THE END OF THEIR TERM. A
PnovIsIoN IN DIRECT VIOLATION
or THE LANGUAGE OF THE CON.
sTITUTIoN.
IA 60 all other officials the senate
was willing to have II go into effect la
1906. THOSE WHOSE SALARIES ARE
RAISED ARE TO GET THE RAISE
AT ONCE THOSE WHO ARE TO
Nh REDUCED ARE TO BE EXEMPT
UNTIL 1907.
Those august statesmen love the old
constitution because they have learned
no VITO violate It's provisions with ina
punity
IL there anything more plainly fair
and equitable than that the hin fixing
the salaries of state officials SHOULD
90 INTO EFFEcT ON ALL ALIKE
AND AT THE SAME TIMRq WILL.
NOT TIL GOVERNOR VETO SUCH A
RIILq
Mr. Kay admits that the bill IL not
az u should be or as ho would like to
have IL hut says this is the only Kind
of Hat salary bin that he eau get
through al this session
How will II work as to those on
whose salaries IL does not go into eject
uniii 1907 New state officials will be
eleeted iu 1900 upd take oace Jauu
ary first, before The hin goes into ~
feet
WILL THEY NOT THEN HOLD h
ANOTHER FOUR YEARS BEFORE
THEY CAN NE PUT ON FLAT SAL
AnY9
IL there apy WAY 90 place the state d
anicials on hat salaries but by new
sensiitpt'oni We used to thlnk therr ,
was bui are almos, compelled 10 give IN
a np
Tee ofegon state government should
he swcp, rlcan of CRAFTS from the dome y
of 'he state hovss 90 tho cellar. The h
whole ihipg aeeds sleaaipg up and a
ihr state should go, a new FUNDAMENTAL
Ian.
The feature of che Nay hin most a
Nksly Ca reader u defective and dc a
feasahle if it Is takea into the courts
- tho proNision Go legalite an the il,
fees pcrquisltes commissions aud e
rmelNmeni' of tho secretary of state &,
aad state treasurer Nei the senate al
Nill nu, strike out tba, feature ot the
ban q.
Tao iudi,stions are uow that we ii
shall have "a constitutional eonventiau. n
'na that IA oill ribmlt 4 constitution
. she vote ef che people a. ,he same
ime the gsi state officials ago elect
IA. n
~ ihat constitution b adopted D., &,
he peopie iis provisions eau he enset ).
q iple Law and he made 10 take eaes, .,
pea fhe neAt sd ~ state oncials l
Therfore lhe Hay blll should hs G
msadeA - a. 90 50 lnis ene,t ga an 10
Isis oNslsls Affected ihefsiy a, the ID
tnta filna az n NAV eantln.. thaIe.