Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-02-16
WATER
CODE
KILLED
Recalls the Saying of
the Old Jew ShylOck
That There Be Land Pirates
and Water Pirates. One as
Bad as the Other.

Despite the heroic efforts of Mr..
Perkins, Mr.. Dobbin and several
other sincere supporters of the pro-
posed irrigation code the private and
corporate interests were far too
strongly organized, and this, taken
together with their never ceasing OBJ
structional tactics, which were quite
obvious and carried on to the point
where the patience of Mr.. Campbell
and several other members was en-
tirely exhausted the substitute bill
for house bill 46, introduced by Mr..
Perkins, went down to a disgraceful
defeat at the hands of the house yes
jterday afternoon after the bill had
been considered section by section
and after a greater portion OF the day
had been devoted to its considera-
tion, owing to the dilatory tactics of
its mortal enemies. and adopted
with only one Insignificant amend
ment.
The real cause of the defeat OF
this measure, under all of these
favorable indications, is deep mys-
terry to the minority members of the
house. Some of those who voted
! against the bill say they did so be-
cause the western portion of the
state was not exempted from the pro-
visions, while others say they oppos-
ed the action of the house in sever
ing the emergency clause from the
bill, and this leaves the matter In a
position where II is merely matter
OF conjecture and speculation.
Some contend that the defeat of
the measure was due to the voting
down OF the proposed amendment to
exempt the western portion OF the
state, that is the territory lying west
of the summit of the Cascades, from
the provision of the bill until 1921,
was the direct cause OF the death OF
the measure while others say that
this amendment was proposed in the
interest of certain corporations which
desired to have an opportunity to
gobble up all of the valuable water
rights that remain unclaimed during
the fourteen-year interim. This
amendment was offered as COM
promise and, so Il Is claimed. with
view TO ameliorating the objections
of certain element on the floor
which was opposed TO attaching the
regulations to western Oregon where
they are not applicable, but 1t is
significant to note that the majority
Of the delegates from the Willamette
valley not only voted for the meas
ure Without this amendment but
voiced their disapporval of its adop-
tion,
Then, again. II is claimed that the
defeat OF the bill was due to the sew
cring Of the emergency clause. which
exclGded the people from a vote upon
IL In case there was a desire to invoke
the referendum but the principle ad-
vocates of the proposition of abrogat-
ing this section were those who had
been resorting to the merest subter-
fugs and slightest pretext, including
Representative Coffey. the leader OF
the opposition, and Wilson and Kubh.
who are said 10 be pecuniarly inter-
ested in the defeat of the whole
measure. The principle argument in
troduced by Mr.. Coffey. the spokes-
man for the other two gentlemen,
was that It would be a violation OF
the legislators oath of Office and OF
the explicit provisions OF the state
constitution TO ignore the peoples
rights under the provisions of the
initiative and referendum. Their argu
ments seemed to cary great weight
with the majority. for. when the
question Of the measure was put to
final vote the result was decidedly
in favor of its defeat.
The only salvation that Is left for
the bill is the possibility OF a recon
sideration of the vote by which II
was defeated. and II is understood
that a certain member voted against
II for the purpose OF that privilege
yesterday afternoon. or that a SINH
lar bill, which was introduced in the
senate by Senator Whealdon, be
passed by that body and adopted by
the house. Some action OF definite
nature is anticipated today. in which
case more definite conclusion may be
reached according to the result. The
only delegate from Marion county