Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-06
Some Little Stories and
Gossip of the Legislature

most of the time. "There are three
lunches, he said, cone of which is
playing politics, another playing horse,
and still another that is most of the
time playing he'll. just who he placed
in each class is not known. The cir
Icumstances and conditions would indi-
cate it must be the democrats that are
playing politics, for that is all they
can do in the political line. Tt may be
also that he had Orton and Farrell in
mind when he spoke of playing horse,
for they are the jokers, the amusement
committee of the senate. This would
leave those he classed as engaged in
PLAYING hell the republican mem
bers generally.
| The senate has no real leader, sew
eral running neck and neck for first
place. Olson among the republicans is
the clearest in his statement of sub
tiect and in his explanations of a bill,
/ Dimick is the most forceful speaker,
swinging his arms high over his head
! when he gets woke up as he did Friday
over his duck bill, and bringing them
down as though he was striking a
double handed, drill with an eight pound
sledge. Generally he quits when he gets
through, thing many occasionally ov-
erlook. Eddy is another rather forceful
talker and both the Smiths are some
on 0ratory. Baldwin talks so gently that
what he says is not generally heard,
but he always carries weight. Steiwer
and Haudlev are both good speakers.
Among the democrats Garland is the
most flowery, Strayer the most aggres
isive and Wilbur who talks little, says
much. He like Olson SAYS what he
wants to and quits. His statements are
always remarkably clear and succinct,
and he never speaks unless it is to point
out some matter of Importance. He is
the clearcst debater III the senate, but
has never been stirred to any oratorie
nj effort. Your scrihbler believes if
tsueh an occasion arrives the senate will
hear the most torceful talk of the ses
sion from him President Moser, ON the
few occasions he has been ON the floor,
has shown himself a clear and logical
ireasoner with good flow of language.
Senator LaFollette is the Thersites of
the senate He gets on his feet only to
make few side remarks and these like
the business end of a hornet, get there.
This by no means covers all the talent
in the senate, but the others do little
talking. They are really the hard work
ers, doing the business of the senate in
the committee rooms and rushing BUSH
ness as fast MS possible by refraining
from talking on every bill.
Consideration of the two road meas
ures that are up before the house of rep
resentatives win probably occupy a
large portion of attention this week.
That this phase of legislation is one
lof the most important on account of its
relation TO the development of the state
is agreed and every effort will be made
TO provide new and workable road
code,
The bin by Schimpff provides for a
highway commission two members Of
which are to be appointed by the gov
ernor from ten macs submitted by the
good roads committee and the other
member to be the highway engineer.
The casure provides for Increasing the
quarter mill road tax to a half MILL
The bin by Representative Laur,
gard provides for a highway commits
sion to be appointed by the governor,
one commissioner from each of the
three congressional districts. This com
mission is then to appoint highway
engineer at Il salary of $4,000 year.
Moser is a fine presiding officer, fair
in his rulings. quick to catch a point,
and still quicker to do the right thing
at the right time. This was Illustrated