The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-02-09
LEGISLATURE WORKS
ON HIGHWAY BILLS

The Good Roads legislation is occupy
ing first place in the eyes of the law
makers at Salem this week. The bills
which were prepared by the Oregon
Good Roads Association have beer
passed in the Senate. There will be q
strong fight made in the House Friday
morning to make some changes in the
measures prepared by the association.
The Good Roads matter is the one ir
which Hood River is most interesec
and Representative A. j. Derby is tax,
ing vrey active part in the discussion
and framing of this legislation. Prom.
inent among the lobbyists on Good
Roads is A. !. Mason, who is one Of
the enthusiasts for better highways.
Mr.. Mason has not been wholly in ac-
cord with sthe measures which have
passed the Senate and he has been very
active in supporting certain changes
which he said when in town over Sun
day were intended to simply the pro-
cedure for road building and to re
move the possibility Of political job
berry. One Of the principal changes
for which Mr.. Mason is working is to
have the location of the road improve
ment taken out of the hands of the
county courts.
Several papers adressed to Represen-
tative Derby were circulated here Mon
day and signed by many Of the bus-
ness men commenting Hood River S
representative for his work. and assur-
ing him of the confidence of his con-
stituents. The petitions urged the
passage of the Senate bills and seem
ed to express an opinion that the oppo-
position Of Mr. Mason and others
to the bills because of alleged
minor defects might defeat all
road legislation. One of the commu-
nications to Judge Derby made parti-
cular reference to Mr.. Mason's and
the effect of discrediting his part in
the road affairs. Many of The East
Is de orchardist writes the following
reply:
Salem, Feb. 7, 1911.
Editor Glacier: | am somewhat sur
prised at the wording of the Good
Roads Petition recently circulated in
your city, and more than surprised at
the signatures contained thereon. !
would like very much to give you
detailed account of myEwork here but
time at present forbids. But in
answer to the insulting language used
in petition that | am a self constituted
delegate to the legislature, | desire to
state that was appointed by the Ore
gon Good Roads association as one of
two representatives. from Hood River
county. At joint Good Roads meet
ing held by the Pine Grove Grange and
The Hood River Commercial Club, for
which over 400 invitations had ben sent
10 all members Of the Club and which
was well advertised in the local two
papers, was instructed to ask for a
radical change in the Webster Bonding
Act and also to make ian appeal for
more substantial state aid.
The instructions from this meeting
we're given me, signed by the President
If the Club. Again, | was urged by
he Mt. Hood Development League to
.hange part of the Webster bills.
Perhaps | may be a self-constituted
Ielegate, but etIme assuresyou that
I'm one of three delegates here repre-
enting the State Grange of Oregon
md our expenses are paid by this or
We are not fighting good
Dad laws, but are asking for laws
rec from political graft and red tape.
We want roads for the farmer. If our
nemies kknew what we now know
Ibout this whole Automobile Political
Bad Road Laws movement they would
praise US.
Our sister state of Washington has
,iven us an object lesson. Their pres
mt legislature has exposed the whole
arce. One member stated on the floor
# the House the other day that it cost
he State of Washington 80 cents to
nut 20 cents on the road. Do we want
hat kind of road laws in Oregon. The
State Grange says, ''No."
We are willing to stand on our record
md will be able, when an opportunity
presents itself, to make our actions
admired and not condemned.
The personal roast given me in the
petitions sent here will have the oppo-
site effect to that which is desired.
Yours for Better Road Laws,
A. |. Mason.