East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-12-28


Now that the legislative session is
but a few days distant-it win com
mence January preparations are
being made on every hand for that
event. That Umatila county will be
In the game from the start is indicat-
ed by the plans that are now on foot.
Tomorrow evening the Umatilla del
egation will meet with citizens of this
place and vicinity at the Commercial
association rooms to talk over legis-
lation that is desired.
For Supreme Court Building.
Among the subjects that will be
brought up at the conference tomor-
row night will be that of n bill for
supreme court building and library
for this city. There is little doubt
but that the delegation will be asked
to work for such a bill. The move
ment Is being strongly urged by local
members of the bar, and much as
sistance will be given the delegation
by the lawyers. on next Monday
most Of the legal fraternity of the
regarding the Walla Walla water suit.
and while assembled, the subject OF
a building and library will be taken
up. District Attorney Phelps Is TAX
ing an active interest in the PROPOSE
tion and has declared his readiness to
work for the bill. II has been sug-
gested that n committee representing
the. Umatilla county bar take the
matter up with the other lawyers of
the state. with their endorsement,
which It is believed can be secured, II
Is declared the bill would carry.
Criminal Code Lacking.
That the criminal code of Oregon
is sorry mess has long been de-
clared by those familiar with the
same. and especially by prosecuting
attorneys 1t is held to be replete
with trivial and obsolete laws but
sadly lacking in laws for the actual
proper protection of the peace and
dignity of the state. At present the
ladies conducting a church rattle
may be sent to the penitentiary; a
small boy maybe imprisoned for
smoking a cigarette in public, and It
is almost Illegal for anyone but an
undertaken to breathe upon the Sab
bath. But there is no state law against
conspiracy; there is no Jaw against
passing a fraudulent check; the state
law against selling liquor 20 Indians
is defective, and there are other
needed laws that exist not.
Some months ago Attorney Gener-
al Crawford announced that before
the Legislature met he would call n
convention OF the district attorneys of
the state to work out desired
changes I'm the criminal COde. How
ever. he has not carried out his in
tontion. and seemingly thers' is no
organized effort being made to revise
the criminal statutes.
Phelps Wants Changes.
should the matter not be rGken up
otherwise District Attorney Phelps
declares be will personally seek to
have some of the laws revised. To
this end he will probably consult with
. the members of the Umatilla dele ga
tion at the meeting tomorrow eve
ming. He has frequently declared
himself i'm favor of conspiracy law,
similar To the federal law now in
force. He also is anxious for a fraud
ulent check law mo6eled after the
one now operative in Washington.
At present bogus cheek operator in
this state must be prosecuted for OBJ
tanning money under false pretenses.
A direct statute against passing
fraudulent paper would be much
better, so II is declared by Mr..
Phelps, who Is in a position to know.
The district attorney is also in ia
vor OF n law making It an offense for
one to intimidate an officer of the