East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-02-21
Good Roads Bills, Public Ser
vice Commission, Are Con-
structive Measures.
SOME IMPORTANT LAWS
WITH POLITICAL TINGE
Little Lawmalsing of First Rank by
Twenty Sixth Session Taxation
and Judicial Systems Left Un-
changed-IIorticultur and Edu-
catlonal Interests Cared For.

A review of the field at the end
shows there was little of first rank
constructive lawmaking, aside from
the enactment Of the four good road
bills, says the Portland Journal in
speaking of the legislative session just
closed.
II the start made under this legis-
lation leads to an awakening all over
the state to the Importance of road
building, as its friends predict, the
road bills may mark an important era
and cause the legislature of 1911 to
be gratefully remembered for what
1t grudgingly gave.
Another measure of constructive
legislation of large Importance is the
Malarkey public service commission
bill. The referendum is promised for
1t, however, and there will be no
state wide regulation of the charges
and service of public utilities for at
least two years.
The legislature did not tackle the
taxation and judicial system prob
lens further than to propose three
tax amendments and name comm s.
sions charged with the duty of franz
Ing new tax laws and proposing a re-
vision OF the judicial system. Con-
sidering the short legislative term
and the divergence of opinion GER
tain to result on such Questions. this
was about all the lawmakers could
do on that line.
Speaker Rusk's Bill.
Taking the political phase OF IegIs-
lation adopted, Speaker Rusk's cho,ce
primary bill, passed in the last hours
of the session Sunday morning, Iooks
large in the sky. 1t is copied partly
from Washington and partly from
the Idaho law, and requires
every voter to name his second as
well as first choice for every office
for which there are more than two
majority Of first choice votes, the one
having the greatest number Of first
and second choice will become the
nominee.
Although not a political measure,
the repeal of the initiative law which
closed Rogue river to commercial
fishing attracted much attention.
Numerous members pledged to oppose
repeal Of the peoples laws modified
their views and voted for it on the
ground that the river should be op-
ened to prevent injustice and because
the people did not understand the ef-
feet of their votes.
Rotation OH Ballot.
Other measures of political tinge
provide for rotation of names on the
ballot and for opening of the polls
all day on primary election days. The
state has been reapportioned into
three congressional districts, with
Multnomah county in district by it.
self, all eastern oregon in another
and the counties Of western Oregon,
aside from Multnomah, in another.
Numerous reforms in the conduct
of the states business have been pro-
vided, most important being the Gre
alton of the state purchasing board,
which will consist of the governor,
secretary of state and treasurer, which
will employ a state purchasing agent
to keep watch on the needs of state
institutions and advise with 1t at all
times in the purchase Of supplies.
Deputies in the office of the secre-
tdTy VI Stdte nave DeeH dutHOTlZeu
to perform the acts of their princi-
pal and a curative act makes legal
what has been done by deputies dur
ing the absence Of Secretary Of State
Benson.
Timber interests of the state have
been given protection, and the dan
ger to property and homes from for
est fires reduced by the appropria-
ton Of 100000 for the biennial pc
riod.
The state board Of health was car
ed for by giving 1t $4,000 annually
to combat disease and look after the
health Of the state. An additional
$4,000 was voted for protection against
the bubonic plague.
An immigration bureau was estab-
lished, in accordance with the urgent
recommendation Of Louis w. Hill and
the publicity interests Of the state. 1t
will have $4,000 to boost Oregon in
the east.
Experiment Stations.
Horticultural interests were not
neglected, as new experiment stations
were authorized in Jackson and Har-
ney counties liberal sums were al
lowed for existing stations, and $780,
900 was voted for investigation of
fruit and plant pests