Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-02-01
BARROW BILL MAY
BE KILLED BY SENATE
Measure Regulating Bequests to Relig-
ious Organizations Strongly Opposed
By Money Raisers.

Before Representative Barrow S bill,
designed to invalidate the gifts, devils
es, or bequests of deceased persons
made to any religious, educational or
other institution made within one year
from the date of the death of the test.
ator when the deceased dies leaving is
sue of the body, which passed the house
Thursday of last week, becomes law
il will have to pass under pretty heavy
fire from the bombarding forces Of the
different religious and educational Or
gani2ations Of the state in the senate.
The bill is now in the hands Of the com
mittee Of revision Of laws of the senate
and if it gets out with whole skin it
will perform little short of the mirac-
ulous.
When the bill was up for final pass
age in the house it did not receive any
serious opposition and Mr. Barrows
chief argument Of defense was based
upon the protection of aged persons
who possess property and who are sup
posed to be subject to the persuasions
of influences connected with religious
and educational institutions and orgnni
zntions to secure q portion of HIS pos
sessions. After it had passed the
house the attention of some persons
who are interested in securing requests
for religious and other organizations
was called to its Effects and they i'm.
mediotely began to get busy. They are
already at work upon the members Of
the senate committee and are determin.
ed to put up hard fight to throttle
the bill in the upper brunch Of the leg
islature.
Under the provisions Of the Barrow
bill If any person, having legal issue Of
the body, adopted child, or legal repre-.
sentative Of either bcqucnths any por.
tion Of his estate to any benevolent, re-.
Iligious, educational or charitable pur.
pose within one year prior to the date
Of the tostator's death, such will or tes.
lament becomes invalid and all Of the
estate goes to the legal heirs notwith.
standing. While Mr. Barrow intended
to protect the aged and infirm from the
influences Of preachers, priests, college
| presidents or other officers or agents
Of educational, benevolent or charitable
institutions who have dcagns upon n
/ part Of his possessions for the benefit
Iof such institution or organization,
those identified with solicitations for
religions and educational institutions
and who are anxious to secure funds
for their respective causes put up the
argument that persons Of more or less
worldly possessions do not begin to
think Of their alma mater or the good
influences of his church or college uu.
I'll he reaches the agc when he knows
he cannot live much longer and wants
to do something in recognition Of such
religious or educational institution.
The great majority Of the bequcsts Ia
churches, colleges, etc, they argue, arc
made after a person of means reaches
the age Of senility aud 10 the Barrow
bill should become q law IL would opcr.
ate to the everlasting dctrimcnt Of the
cause which the testator desires TO ben
eft as one Of the last charitable acts Of
! his or her life, They are very much
cxercized over the passage of the bill
In the house and II is expected that q
big lobby OF church, college and char.
table institution supporters will make
siege Of the Legislature in full force un
I'll the bin Is finally disposed Of.