St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1909-01-29
At the State Capitol


tor. The election passed off very
u,.ietly. and without anything what.
ever to ruffle the proceedings In
either branch.
Our genial representative, Hon. H.
G.. Couch, invited me TO take a seat
at the desk beside him, each member
being privileged to invite one friend
on the floor of the House. And Just
here want to say that Mr.. Couch
enjoys the confidence and respect oil
all his legislative colleagues. He Is
a busy man, always at his post of
duty, and always desirous of promot-
ing the welfare OF his constituents.
MIR. Couch, true to his pledge, was
one of the firmest supporters Oh
Statement No. / and while II Is re-
ported that many tempting offers
were made to Statement No. mem
bers TO go back on their pledges
and promises, no one ever approached
Mr.. Couch with any proposition of
this kind. They didn't dare to. They
knew their man too well for that.
The result of the voting your readers
all know. Gov Chamberlain re-
ceived a comfortable majority In each
branch of the legislature, and Is now
n United States Senator for oregon.
During the voting. II was very
amusing To listen To the reasons re.
publican members gave for voting
for a democrat. The majority oi
them fell into that silly and useless
habit OF explaining their vote
Some few simply voted for the Gov
ornor by calling his name; but Others
such as Johnson OF Corvallis ana
Malone of Portland. entered Into
long Trades, the chief point being,
"I am n republican" Now. every
one knew they were republicans, ana
they did not require to be told OF u
in every sentence. One fellow, who
was evidently sick of such excuses
rose up at the call OF his name ana
manfully said: "Mlr. speaker, WIN
out any IFS aud ands ! vote for Geo
n. Chamberlain" hut he was fol
lowed by another who sa,d "Mr'
spcakor. 1 am republican. ! have
always bocn republican. and ! III
tend To die a republican. I have al
ways supported the republican party
1 believe II ls the best party. ana
whether II IN or not. ! intend To No''
tho republican ticket from this time
ON; but I pledged myself To vote foi
the candidate having the greatest
number OF votes. which ! didn't thlhh
Chamberlain could get when ] made
this promise. but did. and no !
must vote for Governor Chamberlain
This kind OF talk created much amnho'
mont for the onlookcrs who filled the
house,
speaker Macarthur bids fair to
male competent presiding officer
bat he does not make mn Imposing
ln.prafnlon In the chair, being rather
n small sized man and anything but
good. looking. President bowermnn'
of the senate. In slow'going hnd
OF man. aud suppose will manage
to worry his way through the session
fear that We are golng To nave
an expensive and reckless Legislature
There are 30 many requests for ap
preparations. 30 many bills intro
duced for the Increase of salaries
80 many unreasonable demands for
all kinds OF gratis and pulls that !
look forward 10 depleted treasury
nj the close Of the session.
Think of the demands OF the IN
dian War Veterans for slOo'ooo f"r
horses used by them which have
been dead over forty years ANA nav
ing already received 100000 tor
their services In addition To "A sec
ton OF land from the state. ThlnA
OF the seattle Alaska Commission
asking for $4,000 over and above
tho 100000 voted last session And
Il has just leaked out that Messrs
Wehrung and Wisdom have been
paying from sl.OO to si.sS for meal''
s3.OO a day for rooms IN addition To
"A salary of $1,000 day II this de-
mand is granted the men VINO vote
for Il should be branded from one
end OF the state TO the other the
Normal schools are again asking IoF
s32O. 900. Last sessions approprla'
tions amounted To sS,OOO.O0O. but th's
sessions are likely To 80 over Si'OOO''
600. Thus, II will be seen, the ca
penditures have trebled In ten yars'
The State Fair at Salem Is as hungry
AS usual, and the managers are ask
ing for AN increase over the appro'
priations of other years. II Is about
time that these gentlemen understood
that the state does not belong To
them. Eastern Oregon wants braneh
asylum and a coyote bounty. A bill
will be introduced for the purchase
OF the locks at oregon city. All the
other state institutions are asking
for increased subsidies, and there are
large deficiencies In every one OF
them. II appears that no matter
how much money may be voted for
them az one session, they are sure
10 come up again next session with
a large deficiency bill. The mem
bers appear TO be fairly stunned by
the demands made upon them from
every quarter. There are two mem
bers-one in the house and the
other In the senate, Mr., Campbell In