Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-01-19
OREGON'S
SYSTEM IS
NOT BEST
AT LEAST 1T STRUCK THE SEN.
ATE THAT WAY, AND SOME OF
THEM THOUGHT BOURNE WAS
WORSE THAN THE SYSTEM.

Afetr devOting most OF the fore
noon and all of the afternoon to
discussion Of a resolution declaring
Oregon's system Of government the
best in the world, and declaring the
legislatures confidence in the initia-
tive, the referendum, the direct pri-
mary, the recall and the corrupt prac-
tice law and commencing them to the
favorable consideration of other
states, the senate late yesterday af-
ternoon voted down the motion to
substitute the minority report of the
committee on resolutions recon-
mending the passage Of the resolu-
tions and adopt the majority report
which recommended that it do not
pass
Rot Says Nottingham.
The first speaker of the afternoon
on the subject was Senator Albee,
and he indicated that he would vote
for the resolution II It was so amend
ed that the portion of It declaring
Oregons system of government the
best in the world was stricken out,
This brought forth a motion from
Senator Malarkey to recommit the
motion, and to have such an amend
ment made, and that opened the food
gates of oratory.
Senator Nottingha mopposed the
motion, and pronounced the resolu-
tion pure rot." He also attacked
Jonathan Bourne. calling him the
great / am" and hoped that the
whole thing would be knocked out"
Senator McCulloch favored tha res
olution, and did not hesitate to de-
clare that he believed oregon's gov
eTnment the best on earth.
BOwerman Gets Sarcastic.
"The resolution is too modest"
was the opening remark of Senator
Bowerman, when he arose to speak on
1t, and he made one Of the most sar-
castle speeches ever heard in the SEN
ate, He maintained that If the SEN
ate was going to tell anything to the
other states relative to Oregon's
system OF government that the whole
story should be told, and he desired
incorporated in the resolution the
homa rule amendment the two bills
which annihilated the fishing industry
on the Columbia, and which were
passed under the initiative; the op
Grafton Of the referendum on the ap-
preparations of the state institutions, ,
the single tax amendment the judi
ciary amendment which was so un.
certain that the upper house had
found 1t necessary to call a convention
of the lawyers of the state to ex.
plain It. He wanted incorporated
the publicity pamphlet and an ex-
hlbit Of the 9-foot ballot used at
the last election; the law closing the
fishing season on the Rogue river
and Senator Bourne, with his record
pinned on his back, and which he
pronounced exhibit No l." and
closed with saying that If they would
do that--tell the whole story, he was
favorable to the resolution.
Don't Retreat Under Fire.
Senator Sinnott opposed the amend
ment OF the resolution, and stood for
It in It's entirety 81 do not believe
in retreating under fire" he said
don't believe in modifying the res
olution by putting soothing Ian
guage into 1t, to please those who
have opposed with hatred the Oregon
system of government He then re-
viewed the benefits of the system and
spoke briefly upon the corruptness Of
| the old system, and maintained that.
while he was not a defender or a
detrActor of Jonathan Bomne. that
that gentleman had nothing to do
with the subject, and II the senators
were to seek to vote 1t down, nv
standing behind IT,. pretende shad-
! nW Of Nnurna tl,oA th,,. ,,..,.t.- n.