Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-02-17
OUR LEGISLATORS

SALEM, Feb. 13.-Bowerman
bill to create the office Of assistant
secretary of state was vetoed today
by the governor, In his message dis
approving the measure the governor
calls attention to the fact that the
constitution provides that an appoint
i've official is not empowered with
executive or administrative author
ity and that the measure therefore
is clearly in conflict with the consti-
tuition. The governor further states
that the bill was not sanctioned by
Secretary of State Benson or the
other members of the state board.
Opponents of the Dimmick eight
hour law, which passed the senate,
are making a final struggle to have
the measure killed when it comes up
In the house. The BILLS now in the
hands of the house committee on
labor industries and will be sent to
the house with the committees in
dorsement.
Representative Miller of Linn,
who is chairman of the committee,
Is adverse to the bill, but 1t will be
reported favorably by the other two
members, Clyde of Multnomah and
Pierce of Curry.
In the house Buchanan's bill for
the creation of forestry bureau
passed by a vote of 4S to IL. The
measure was supported by the big
timber interests of the state and the
salary bills following the last session,
explaining his action by stating that
1t is unwise and improper to increase
the salary of an officer during his
term of office.
The letter on this subject prepared
by Senator Norton and Representa-
tive Smith follows.
Salem, Ore, February IL, 1911.
Editor Courier: During the present
session we have been criticized by
some of our citizens for not intro
ducing bills raising the salaries of
various of our county officers, and
We take the liberty of taking this
method to explain our position to
those who may be interested.
We appreciate and agree that
various of our county officers are
highly underpaid and that the SER
vices they are obliged to perform are
entirely disproportionate to the sal
ary they receive. We have been
confronted with the fact, however,
that our county is heavily in debt
and that the tax levy required for
the city of Grants Pass is higher
than the rate of. levy for the city of
Portland
We believe, however, that the
prospective railroad construction
and the general development prom
ised along all lines will be such dur
ing the coming two years that the
members of the legislature from Jo-
sephine county in the next legisla-
tive assembly will be warranted in
introducing bills mahing substan-
tial increase in the salaries Of al
least the school superintendent
county treasurer and county judge
as well as an increased allowance
for deputy hire in the assessors Of
flee. We have at this session, how,
ever, passed bill giving a second
deputy to the county clerks office
and increased the salary OF the first
deputy in both the clerk and sher
IFS office to SIS per month.
We wish to say further, however
that there is now pending house bill
No 2S4, which provides, in sub
stance, that whenever in the opinion
Of the county court the salaries o
any Of the county officers are in
adequate the court may, by order
regulate or fix these salaries subjec
to a referendum to the people, whicl
shall be voted upon at the next reg
ular election.
We would also call attention t
the fact that the members Of tn
legislature are the most highly un
derpaid officers OF the state or o
any county, and we trust that on
county officers will try to bear TEN
porarily with the present condi
tions.
II. D. NORTON,
Member OF the Senate
]. C. SMITH,
Member Of the House