The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-12-27
REVOLUTIONIzE LEGISLATIVE METHOD
Adoption Of Proposed Changes Will Make Radical Change in Repre-
sentaton--RecdII Measure Will Lift from Office
....... All Who Fail to Do Their Duty

expense for the preceding election.
The proposed bill for the selection OF
United States senators by vote of the
people is short and to the ponit. In
effect it is nothing more than an ex-
pressed instruction OF the legislature by
tie people to vote for one candidate for
senator. 1t is argued that after such an
obstruction no politician would put his
private opinion above the voted express
sion of the people Of the state. The
bill says:
"Section l. That we, the people of
the state Of Oregon, hereby instruct our
representatives and senators in our leg.
islative assembly, as such officers, to
vote for and elect the candidates for
United States senator from this state
who receive the highest votes at our
general elections"
In argument for the proportional rep
resentation bill, it is shown that the
present house of representatives in the
Oregon legislature is composed OF 30
Republicans and one Democrat. If the
voters in the state we're represented in
proportion to the ratio of their numeri-
cal strength as shown at the last elec-
tion the house would be composed OF
aoubt 33 Republicans, 20 Democrats,
four Socialists and three Prohibition
members. 1t is further pointed out
that since 1893 the Republicans have
always had from A to 50 of the MEM
bers of the house, though in 1895 and
1896 the vote of the Republican party
throughout the state was less than one
half of all the votes cast.
1t is argued that proportional repre-
sentation would give each party fair
proportional vote in the legislature,
just as it has in the general elections.
The text of the proposed law is as fol-
lows:
"Section 16. In all elections au-
thorized by this constitution until
otherwise provided by law, the person
or persons receiving the highest num-
Der of votes shall be declared elected,
but provision may be made by Law for
elections BY equal proportional repre-
sentation of all the voters for every
office which is filled by the election Of
two or more persons whose official du-
ties, rights and powers are equal and
concurrent.
"Every qualified elector resident in
his precinct and registered, as may be
; required by law, may vote for one per-
: son for each office. Provision may be
made by law for the voters direct or
indirect expression Of his first, second
or additional choices among the candi'
dates for any Office. For an Office which
is filled by the election of one person
it may be required by law that the per.
son elected shall be the final choice oi
a majority of the electors voting fol
candidates for that Office. These pTin.
ciples may be applied by law to nomi'
nations by political parties and organ
izations."
The Huntley corrupt practice act il
known to a great many of the people ol
the state, as it is the bill which was
introduced in the last session of the
legislature by Huntley, of Clackamas
and defeated on the ground that it was
too voluminous and detailed.
In brief, it provides for the regulation
OF su elections as to campaign expens
es, setting out maximum expense
bill for every Office voted upon by the
people, both at the primaries and al
the general elections. These amounts
are graded according to the importance
of the office and the scope of the cam
paign necessary to present the candi'
date before the people. Rigid pro-
visions are made against indirect cam,
paign contributions and secret expens'
es, and it is required that all political
parties must file statements of expense
as must the candidates, with the Off
cials having record jurisdiction over the
positi ons fer which the candidates are
,contesting."