Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-01-31
WASTE VALUABLE time
OREGON LAWMAKERS ACCOM-
PLISH LITTLE LEGISLATION.
Sessions Are Mostly Spent in Cheap
Political Rows Over Unimport-
ant Matters.

With more bills introduced than at
the corresponding time two years ago,
the Oregon Legislature is further be-
hind in it's work than perhaps any
other session for years, says the Ore
gonian. Three of the six weeks of the
session have passed, much of this time,
particularly in the House having been
wasted with a lavish hand in trifling,
but protracted, debates over the COM
position of the resolutions committee
or other equally trivial subjects. There
can be only one result from this con-
dition-a scant and improper consid-
Grafton of vitality important legislation
during the closing hours of the session.
A total of 446 bills has appeared in
the two houses. OF that number, 225
We're introduced in the House, while
191 were submitted in the Senate.
Evidence of the congested condition of
legislation is furnished in the fact that
of 255 bills before the House, only 80
have passed that body and of the num-
Der approved by the House, only one,
a minor measure for the protection of
the waters of North Umpqua River,
has passed the Senate. In addition to
the 80 bills originating in the House
and passed by that body, 13 have been
indefinitely postponed and three were
defeated for final passage This leaves
209 bills awaiting consideration in the
House in addition to the new bills yet
to appear and the bills that will come
from the Senate.
Senate Only Trihe Buster.
In the consideration of its own bills,
the Senate has made a slightly better
record, having passed a total of 92, be-
sides postponing indefinitely II others.
To date, the Senate apparently has
sighted House bills in order to give at
tention to measures originating among
it's own membership. This is the charge
made by members of the House who
declare if the Senate continues its atti-
tude respecting House bills the House
will retaliate and hold up considera-
tion of Senate measures
Only ten bills have passed both
houses, and the list does not include {
single measure of statewide import
ance. With the exception of good
roads legislation, to which the Senate
gave considerable time last week, pass
ing three of the four measures asked
by the Good Roads Association, nei-
ther house has tackled any of the i'm
portant matters of Legislation affecting
the entire state, which must be dispos-
ed of before adjournment. So far as
the efforts of the Senate are concerned
on the subject of good roads, it is very
probable that it's work will come to
in the House, where there ex-
lists a decided sentiment against these
very bills, particularly against the bill
creating a State Highway Commission.
Huge Appropriations Asked.
Enlarged demands for increased ap-
Of state funds for all state
boards and commissions,
coupled with charges of extravaganza
and mismanagement at some of the in
will have the effect of caus-
ing the joint ways and means com
mittee to proceed cautiously in dis
bursting state money Not an institu-
tion, presenting its estimate for the
ensuing biennial period, has failed to
ask for more funds. Increases are al
so demanded for various of the boards
and commissions charged with the
of state business. Creation
of additional boards and commissions, |
each proposal carrying a substantial
await the consideration
Of the members of the ways and means
Beginning tonight, the joint commit |
tee will hold a meeting every night
and begin the preparation of its gem
aral and special appropriation bills, /
besides passing on the numerous indi- /
yidual and miscellaneous measures
asking for state aid. Judicious and ,
ncessant application of the pruning
knife win necessarily have to he made
BY the committee if the total of APP
by this session does not
'ar exceed that of any other session
n the history of the state. The aggre-
gate of the appropriations by the 1903
session was $3.915,352, and it will re-
Iuire everlasting vigilance on the part
If the members of the joint ways and
means committee If this total is not
greatly exceeded at the present ses-
lion. Requests to date, and there are
hree weeks yet in which to place
our application. aggregate stagger-
nE total There will have to be many
lisappOintments.