The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1909-02-05
ole as an effort to circumvent tine 10

ole as an effort to cfrcumvent tine 10
cal option law.
Should the amendment be adopted
any city that has become dry" be-
cause it is in a dry" county, could
by vote of its people be made wet"
by an act of the legislature. This
would practically set aside the local
option, so far as cities are con-
cerned.
Investigate Public Institutions.
Both houses have adopted con-
current resolution providing for the
appointment Of a Joint committee Of
three members, one from the senate
and two from the house, the duty of
which shall be to visit and investi
gate every public institution sup
ported in whole or in part by state
aid. On the information so obtainei
the committee is directed to file with
the Joint committee on ways and
means a detailed report as to the
condition of the institutions SO visit
ed and their needs.
This report is to be at the dis
posal of the ways and means COM
mittee in determining the appropria-
tions for such institutions for the
ensuing two years. The members
of the committee have not been an
nounced.
Bill Aimed at Trusts.
A most sweeping antitrust bill
has been introduced by Senator
Bingham. The bill not only prohib-
its every form and shade of trust
and combination agreement, but re-
quires corporations to make an an
nual statement under oath that they
have not made any agreements in
restraint of trade or for the main
tenance of prices or rates. 1t pre-
scribes as penalties not only fines
and imprisonments, but forfeiture of
corporate existence and liability to
repay all moneys received in VIOLA
tion of the antitrust law.
Five Vetoes Ooverrulcd.
Five of the six senate bills of the
1907 session, vetoed by the govern
or and which were passed over his
veto in the senate at this session,
have also passed the house. Four of
the bills provide for district agricul-
tural societies In Eastern Oregon
and carrying appropriations of from
$500 to $2500 per annum each.
The fifth measure permits the garn-
ishment of the salaries and wages of
state and county officials.
Only one of the .xx bills was de-
feated in the house. 1t was Sena-
tor Beach's bill authorizing the use
of voting machines in this state.
Substitute for History Bill.
Senator M. A.. Miller, of Linn, has
introduced q substitute for his SEN
ate bill requiring that Oregon his
tory be taught In the public schools.
The original bill required the adop-
tion of a textbook on Oregon history
for use In the common schools. The
substitute bill provides for the adop-
tion of textbook on Oregon history
for use in high schools after Septem-
Der /, 1911, and for the publication
of a small pamphlet on Oregon his
tory for use in the common schools.
This pamphlet is to be prepared by
the state board of education.
Medical Certificates Before Marriage.
Senator Coles bill requiring men
to secure medical certificates show
ing freedom from disease as pre-
requisite to securing marriage H.
cense will be passed by the senate
without much opposition. A very
strong argument by Senator Cole in
behalf of the bill swung into line for
its support many senators who were
inclined to be against it or who
looked upon the bill as a joke. The
statement of facts as
to the extent and dire results of GER
tain diseases deeply impressed the
members of the senate
Scalp Bounty Bill Favored.
The house committee on agricul-
ture reported favorably the bill in
t.oduced by the Eastern Oregon del
egation and providing for q scalp
bounty for coyotes and other wild
animals. The only change made by
the committee in the original draft
of the bill was that the emergency
clause be eliminated,
Seaside Gets First Law.
The first bin to become a law was
Senator Schofield's bill to place the
justice of the peace OF Seaside on
salary of $500 and the constable on
q salary of 5000, these officers being
on a fee basis. The bill was filed
in the secretary's Office Friday and
will go into effect 80 days after adj
journment of the legislature.
Many Bills May Not Pass.
The outlook is that the state
board of control bill will fail, al
though the fact that Secretary OF
State Benson will soon be governor
and will have two places on the
boards of the state institutions, and
will, therefore, be overburdened,
with work, may have the effect of
bringing sufficient support to this
measure to pass 1t.
Senator Abraham's bill creating