The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1919-02-28
RESUME OF WORK OF
OREGON LEGISLATURE
SoIons Obliged to Hold Over to
Finish Large Amount
of Business.

ate siaughters Salary BiIls-Loca
Initiative and Referendum Bill
Passed-Lieutenant. Governor Favor
ed-Military Training Compulsory
Provide Tax for Farmer Roads
Threshers Regulated.
Salem.-The legislature was unable
to complete its work within the AZ
days legally allowed for session
which expired at midnight February
81, and found it necessary to hold over
this week to clear up the large amount
| of unfinished business. The members
will receive no pay for sessions hel4
after the 40 day period expired.
The senate cleared its desks ans
could have finished In the allotted
| time, but the mass of unfinished bust
ness which clogged the wheels in the
house rendered 1t necessary to extend
the session.
While there was a large amount of
unfinished business to receive atten-
tion when sessions were resumed Mon
day morning, most of it was of minor
Importance, about the only matter of
general interest to the state at large
being reconstruction legislation.
The. biggest piece Of constructive
legislation of the session, the $10,0O0,-
600 road bonding bill, finally ran the
gauntlet in both houses and was
passed up to the governor to become
a law. Inasmuch as it carried an
emergency clause, when the signature
Of the governor was attached the vast
fund created to carry out Oregon's
progressive road building program
could Immediately be made available.
Provisions of s1o,ooo,ooo Bond Bill.
Briefly, the $1O,000,OO0 bond bill
provides that s7,5OO,OOO of this sum
shall be used for completion of the
Pacific highway from the California
line to Portland and the Columbia
river highway from Astoria to The
Dalles, these roads to be hard-sur-
faced. The remainder, $2,50O,O00, is
to be used far the improvement Of
other roads. .
The principal and interest Of the
bonds are to be met by automobile
licenses. All bids are to be let in
open competition and county courts
or county commissioners can bid on
work in their counties. If desired,
the commission can build by force
account
The bond bill provides for issuance
of s10.000000 in bonds in denomina-
tions such as the commission may de-
termine, and to be sold during the
next five years.
Road Funds Made Elastic.
4 1t provides for making more elastic
the various funds under control Of the
highway department and to include in
the state highway fund the various
funds heretofore provided by law. The
highway commission Is directed to
carry out the road programme enacted
by the people in 1917, being empow-
cred to make such local changes in
roads as it deems expedient.
In event royalties are claimed for
patented pavements, the commission
may pay such royalties directly to the
Tatentee and deal independently with
contractors who In that event shall
bid only on the construction of the
road, without including the cost of
any royalties that may be claimed.
Salary Increases Killed In Senate.
The senate upon recommendation of
the ways and means committee mer-
cilessly slaughtered bills designed to
increase salaries of state officials.
While the slaughter was in progress a
storm of protest came from senators
who saw their pet salary bills killed.
The debate at times was bitter and
sprinkied with personalities, but the
only instance iL' which the senators
did not sustain. tho recommendation
of the committee was in connection
with the bill to increase the salaries
of supreme court justices to from
$4,000 to $3.50 year.
The only other salary bill to receive
favorable consideration was a house
bill by Mrs. Thompson, increasing the
salary of the state dairy and food |
commissioner from $4,000 to $4,000 a
year.
House oisapproves Death Penalty.
The house killed senate joint resolu-
tion No. 21, the capital punishment
bill, without debate.
The bill, requiring actual competi-
ton In bidding for public work. over
which the senate wrangled Cor q dsy !