Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-05-27
WILL MAKE VOTER Dizzy
THIRTY PROPOSED LAWS WILL
BE ON BALLOT NEXT FALL.
Measures Submitted for Approval or
Rejection by Electorate Cover
Wide Range.

Just how long the ballot will be at
the next general election in Oregon
and just how many measures will be
submitted to the people for decision
by ballot is still largely a matter of
conjecture, but enough actual propos-
ais have been received at the capitol to
show that they will go far ahead of
two years ago.
Constitution tinkering will come in
for good share of consideration on
November s. and just how many law
making measures no one is yet able to
even guess upon.
Railroads and Taxation.
To begin with, there are the six meas
ures submitted by the last legislature.
Two of these are proposed constitu-
tional amendments relative to taxa
ton and another provides for state
aided railroads. They were passed by
the legislature largely because of pres
sure brought to bear by the lobbying
committee of the State Grange They
are aimed at the present system of
taxation, their prime object being to
impose an additional tax upon fran
chises and other intangible properties /
The proposed railroad amendment |
was passed by the Legislature and sub
1nitted to the people through the in
fluence of the commercial bodies of
Portland, the State Grange and high
potentates of the Peoples Progressive
Government League.
Single District Plan.
Another Constitutional amendment
proposed by the legislature contains
the single district plan for represen-
tation in the senate and house.
Under this plan, Multnomah, Mar
ion, Umatllla, Lane, Linn, and other
thickly populated counties having
more than one senator or representa-
tive will be divided into senatorial and
representative districts. This proposed
plan will do away with proportional
representation and it is therefore con- |
sidered certain that it will be bitterly
opposed by Mr.. U'Ren and his follow
ers.
Legislature Submits Two Bills. !
In addition to these proposed constI- l
tutional amendments, the legislature !
submitted two bills-the Mckinley c
bill, providing for the location of a
branch insane asylum i'm Baker, Una
tilla or Union counties, and the Buch-
anan bill authorizing a constitutional
convention for the purpose of making o
a general revision of the constitution
of the state. Referendum petitions
were filed against the Jaeger bill. in
creasing the number of circuit Judges n
in Multnomah county, and the Hart
bill, increasing the salary Of the cir
cult judge in Baker county to $4,000 a
year. The former measure will not be 81
voted upon, for the reason that the q
secretary of state refused TO accent and
file the referendum petition upon the
ground that the legislature had de-
clared an emergency. Those who cir on
culated the petitions calling for a ref V
erendum vote on this measure threat
ened at one time to bring mandamus
proceedings against the secretary of
state I'm the hope Of compelling him to C
accept the petitions, but no such action NJ
has yet been taken. II is asserted by
those who opposed the measure that
the emergency clause is defective. al
though Judge w. L. Bradshaw. of The pc
Dalles, held to the contrary when the la
bill was attacked in the circuit court
lf Multnomah county about a year ago.
The total number Of constitutional
amendments and bills submitted bv So
the legislature and measures referred
FafprnnHfry,, ,.rfstg,..
Numerous County Schemes.
The initiative, however viii furnish
still larger crop Of proposed amend
nents and laws. Petitions are already
'n file calling for a vote on woman
unrage and for the creation OF the
county OF Nesmith out Of Southern -,
-ane and northern Douglas counties. -
Petitions are IN circulation calling for ''o'
he creation OF Umpqua county out OF
he western ends OF the same counties
nd the residents Of Drain and the sur
ounding country have started a move -
nent to create the county Of Williams. -
whose proposed area overlaps the ter
itory embraced IN the proposed limits
Z both Nesmith and Unpqua.
II Is said that the Williams county -.
roposal Is being advanced 20 confuse
he voters and thereby cause an ad-
erso vote upon the other proposed
ounties. Residents % the northeast .
m corner OF UmatHla county have
.arted campaign for the creation Of
richard county. with Milton as the
'unty seat letiuons calling Tor
ote upon this question arc already I'm ~.
rculation I'm eastern OREGON. Resi-
snts OF the eastern portion of Harney ~
I'd the western part % MaIhcur coun-
es have undertaken a movement for
Ie creation OF Otis county. with Z
reEsey as the county seat
One or two other communities IN
stern Oregon have dreams or conn i-
seat advantages and q IS possible
az the voters Of the state viii be
He'd upon 10 create no icss than
ven additional counties az the No
mber election.
ORGANIZED Ial,or Gets Busy. O.
me forces OF organized labor are iu q
q with their petitions for The rui- soc
yersF liability bin which was kiilaa NOR
ne senate al the last session a the on !
stature. Organized iabor VIII also lban'
seu- a consHtutionai unendmenf las.
iishlnr rcn taxes and othsrutse past