Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-03-27

lreal blame anywhere. THE SEN
ATE, HOWEVER, BACKED WATER
IAND ACCEPTED THE HOUSE
BILL, did not retaliate and despite
the house leaders and their affronts
passed the commission bill as II came
from the house, and thereby did the
only good deed of misspent session
But the fact remains that there were
bunch of leaders and peoples rep
resentatives in the Oregon house
WHO DID WHAT THEY COULD To
PREVENT THE STATE HAVING
ANY RAILROAD LEGISLATION AT
ALL. Perhaps the most sublime
nerve exhibited during the entire ses-
sion was when Speaker Davey an
nounced that the senate had passed
the house commission bill and con-
graduated the house on its firm
stand "for the glory of the party
There were enough rabid partisan
Republicans in the house but lot OF
them had to cough before they could
swallow that sort of pill. THERE
WAS MIGHTY LITTLE SHAME OR
BASHFULNESS ABOUT THE
HOUSE LEADERS THIS SESSION,
HOWEVER. Any old excuse went.
and any sort of a chaff did 60 feed
the enquiring constituents.
Normal school Row.
The legislature fought for three
weeks over the normal school ques-
tion. The educational value of those
institutions was never considered
seriously, but the political pull each
could command was regarded earn.
estly by day and by night. THE
OLD NORMAL CLIQUE, THE DEAR
OLD EDUCATIONAL COMBINE.
was on hand and though the people
had said two normals. the clique in
sisted that this was misstatement
and that what was wanted was a
couple more. The tender-hearted
house could not decide which two TO
kill:lt wasted nearly week trying
TO decide. and after It had determin-
ed 10 kill two schools out of hana
some new complications came up on
account of the senate's stand and at
the last hour the legislature
SHOWED ITS RESPECT FOR THE
WILL OF THE PEOPLE BY AU-
THORIZING THE APPROPRIA-
TIONS FOR ALL FOUR SCHOOLS.
which appropriations the governor
promptly vetoed and the people will
probably again have a-chance to say
what two normals schools they want.
THEN THERE WAS THE ECON
ONLY PLANK IN THE PEOPLES
PLATFORM. How closely did the
members line an on their ante-elec-
tion pledges? As matter OF fact.
there were only two members OF tho
house out OF sixty who made any
or snecial effort TO adhere !
TO the economy principles on which |
they were elected. They were j. u. |
Campbell and Mr.. Purdy Some OF |
the other members did on occasions /
oppose certain bills on the grounds /
OF economy. but this opposition was
usually TO be attributed 10 other mo-
ives and economy offered a good
excuse On the big appropriations.
on the University of Oregon. on the
normal school list. on the Corvallis
school. on the increase of state off,
'ers' salaries. on the allowances 10
he various officers for clerk hire and
rayeling expenses, on the question
II sDecial donations aud payments
md on the issue OF payment OF the
members themselves there was
mighty little division.
Most Expensive Yet.
IL was the most expensive legls-
ature the state ever had. according
o the budget approved and former
Expense bills returned To the people
y their servants" II was to be
expected that a growing state would
ave TO face increased expenditures. ,
ut that the budget should be boost
d a million or so for the next two ,
ears was not expected.
After all. there Is but one thing
hat needs to be said TO show where
he legislature stood on the expense
uestion. That Is that every appro ,
Ration measure OF importance. ex-
ept the bills for the jamestown and
cattle eKDositions. went through the
'gislature practically as offered by
he lobby behind them. THE USUAL
'EMANDS or THE STATE INSTI-
UTiONS WE'RE NOT SCALED.
rough an admitted that these state
hcials were accustomed 10 having :