East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-01-13
A PROGRAM OF PROGRESS.
(Oregon Journal.)

Oregon Journal.)
The Journal presents herewith
eight important reforms which II
commends to the intelligence of the
legislators who are to convene this
week in biennial assembly:
Reform of legislative methods
and legislative procedure by mini
mizing the number of bills introduc-
ed and confining introduction to the
first weeks of the session by making
committee assignments a matter OF
merit instead of a known and noto-
rious evils to the end that public
confidence in the legislature may be
restored and the growing use of the
initiative be minimized.
2-The passage of a good roads
bill, framed in a spirit of compro-
mise by capable men, carrying such
provisions as we'll commend it to gen.
eral confidence, and providing the
largest possible encouragement and
introducing the highest practically
into the work of road construction.
3-The enactment of irrigation
legislation in which there will be pro-
vision. so far as the legislature is
able to further it, for giving the land
to the actual settler at actual cost,
and providing to the utmost extent
for the elimination of spectators. and
speculation from the debauchment OF
irrigation in oregon.
statutory reform of court pro-
cedure for abolishment of the notorl-
Gus laws delays, for eliminating ad-
mitted frivolous motions, technicali-
ties and appeals, and for reducing the
great public cost of litigation, all to
the end that it may be sanely done by
those equipped for the purpose and
not be madly done by those mcom-
petent to engage in such a reform.
5-Enactment of the workmen's
compensation law framed by the
state commission named for the pur-
pose which is a measure for ending
ambulance chasing. for greatly reduc-
ing the work of the courts, and the
cost to the state of litigation, for saw
ing the great sums sent out of the
state in casualty insurance and for
bringing employe and employer into
close and amicable relations respect
ing the ptISOHdl udhha6So AOi iiiNNS
trial accidents.
6-The passage of an ample but
not extravagant appropriation for
properly representing Oregon at the
Panama exposition at San Francisco
in 1915, action made necessary by the
fact that Oregon will never have OPP
portunity to be closely identified with
another event of such world signifi-
canoe.
The enactment of a law to re-
strict the sale of the revolver and
to regulate the carrying of conceal
ed weapons, by which a step will be
taken in a great reform that is to
become country wide, and through
which crimes of violence will be en-
ormously lessened and human life be
made far more safe.
S-The passage of greatly needed
amendments to the criminal code by
repeal of provisions, put into. effect
for a primitive time. and the sub
stitution of more effective measures,
better suited to the necessities and
ulation and more highly developed
age.
This Is program of progress. |
The oregon legislature can render no
higher service to the state than to
carry 1t into effect.
There are other measures to be |
passed. There are other statutory
changes to be made. But the above |
constitute a program of constructive |
legislation whose translation into |
law will be a sufficient reply to those
who condemn legislatures and will
be full warrant to the taxpayers for
the great expense to which they must |
go In paying the bills OF the biennial
assembly.