Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-02-14
SENATE is
BUSY WITH
Ak AND HOE
CHOPS OFF HEADS OF SEVERAL
MEASURES, But WILL CHOP
MORE AS SENATE BILLS ON
CALENDAR FOR THIRD READ
ING ARE UP THIS AFTERNOON.

Declaring that he did not believe
that 1t should be the policy of the
state to drag skeletons from the fam
lily closets for the purpose of acquir-
ing few acres of land and that If
such policy was encouraged that
unscrupulous attorneys possessed of
private knowledge relative to family
relations, would make use of it in lit
igation for the purpose of securing
fee, Senator Norton this morning took
a rap at the states escheat law rela-
tive to illegitimate children when the
bill of Senator Oliver having for its
object the Quieting of title to the es-
tate of John Morrison, of Union
county, came up for consideration.
The committee submitted a major
ity and minority reportthe former
favoring the passage of the bill. Sem
ator Chase moved to substitute the
minority and that precipitated de-
bate on the merits of the bill Sena-
tor Oliver in presenting his argument
in behalf of the bill said that Morri-
son had died at a ripe age in Port
land about two years ago and that
he had left an estate of some 5000
acres of land in Union county valued
at $4,000 After the estate had been
administered and divided among his
brothers and sisters, the question
was raised that Morrison was an IL
under the Oregon eschieat law he had
under the 0rego Hescheat law he had
no heirs and the land should 60 to
the state Dispositions leading over
a trail extending clear across the con-
tinent and on to Scotland were TAX
en-, and the case carried to the su-
preme court That tribunal reversed
the Judgment of the lower court
which was against the heirs of Nor
rison and ordered new trial and
again the judgment of the lower
court went against them. The case is
now pending before the supreme
court and with the view OF putting
an end to it the Oliver bill was in
troduced.
Senator Chase opposed It On the
ground that the law should be con-
trolling but Senator Abraham and
Norton favored it. The first contend
ed that If there was any shadow of
doubt as to the title that the lands
should go to Morrison heirs and
Senator Norton took the view that
the state could Ill afford to take the
stand of dragging out family skele-
tons for the sake OF acquiring lands
and that It would but encourage un-
scrupulous attorneys to start litiga-
tion to earn fees. The majority re-
port was adopted
Bills SlauGhtered.
The session of the senate began
with the slaughter of bills by com
mittees. Two of Senator Kellahar's
bills-one providing for the revoke
ment of land grant to the o. R. &
NJ and the other to repeal the pub
lie land grant were indefinitely post
poned. The ak was also applied to
the house bill of Clemens giving
counties having population of
100000 the right to construct hospi-
tails; and to the bills OF Senator AL
bee and Carson-the former seeking
to regulate street having contracts;
and the latte~ relating 10 annealS IN
civil cases. Senator Abraham's bill
having for its object the classifca-
tion of railroad rates was given a lot
In the cemetery snd so was another
OF Senator Kellahar's bills relating
to long distance telephone service.
1t looked for awhile as though the
knell might be sounded over the bill
of Senator Selling providing for the
creation Of the Office OF state exam
liner of public offices but the report
favoring its passage was finally
adopted.
Resolutions Passed.
After disposing OF the committee
rerorts ths sspa.a da,.o.a1 ,,sot, -