Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-02-08
Senate
Stands by
Governor

The senate this morning further
backed up the administration by pass
ing the bill substituted by the judi
ciary committee for McColloch's bill
empowering the governor to appoint
special prosecuting attorney and peace
officers.
The bill passed differs from the ori-
glnal bill in that 1t makes provision
for hearing of officials against whom
charges are preferred by the governor
before the circuit Judge In the district
in which the officer is located. The
original made the charges Of the gov
ernor sufficient ground for the appoint
ment of special officers. Twenty-Five
senators voted for the bill.
Object to Original.
Senator Moser explained that the
judiciary committee felt that the ORR
ginal bill gave entirely too much pow
er to one man because 1t made the
governor both complainant and Judge.
The strongest opposition to the bill
was voiced by Thompson. He de-
nounced the hill as Ineffective. sayin"
that be considered that any other
measure to the same end except the
recall provisions Of the constitution,
would be ineffective, His chief objec-
ton was that the bill merely throws a
bucket Of mud on an official and then
keeps him in office even after he has
been proven to be corrupt He object
ed strenuously to the 9O-day provision,
the limit for which special officers may
be appointed by the governor, and de-
clared that he would support no meas
ure that did not make 1t possible to
oust a corrupt official entirely.
Butler to the Defense.
"The bill does not conflict with the
constitution in any way" declared
Senator Butler in defending the meas
ure. "I believe it will prove to be the
best law We have ever placed on the
statute books. If any official is hailed
before court and found not wanting
after hearing, he will become a power
for good because his reputation for in
tegrity will be established. If he is
found wanting there will be sufficient
grounds for his subsequent removal
from office.
Senator Dimick declared that the
bill was a big step toward law en-,
lforcement because It automatically
provided that the governor must make
good his charges. "If his charges are
found to be not justified" said Dlmlck
where will be the bucket Of mud
then?' Why It will be on the gov.
ernor. believe the bill means better
law enforcement than any other Law
ever placed on the books"
Says People Listen.
Senator McColloch, champion Of The
measure, explained the bill as "a Law
enforcement measure to make 1t posi-
BILE to enforce the laws on the books.
"The ear of the people of Oregon II
placed to the wall of this senate t
hear the vote on this measure" h,
said.
After long debate the senate pass
ed the Neuner bill requiring the plac
ing of electric headlights on locomo
tives. Neuner, Kiddle and Barrett ar
gued for the bill from the point o
view Of the Brotherhood Of Locomotlv
Engineers which order was instru
mental in having the measure intro
duced before the senate. Kiddle sal
that the railroad companies are favor
able to electric lights because they ar
placing them on all new engines, bu
hat they are opposing the measur
merely because II will necessitate
slight expenditure in equipping tn
old engines with electric lights.
Joseph Opposes Bill.
Senator Joseph, as representative {
the Columbia Great Southern roa
"the shortest and crookedest line in tn
world" as It has been termed in II
senate, opposed the bill. He said ele,
trio lights had been found inefTlcieI
and that the bill was a scheme OF u
Continued on paRo 81