The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1919-01-31
WHAT THE OREGON sOLONS ARE DOING
Road Legislation Is Uppsmost at Salem


structIyo measures. In which the peo
ple OF the state At large are interested
such as those relating 10 highways
finance and consolidation OF manage
ment OF state institutions, we're etill
incubating whom the legislature ad
journed for the week end. Several
bills on these vital subjects are sched'
uled for introduction this week. but
Il will doubtless be some time before
they are passed.
The Joint consolidation COMMITTEES
has agreed upon several bills designed
TO merge various state bureaus. They
seek TO create several departments.
viz, n department OF labor. n depart
ment OF agriculture. Q department OF
health, q department OF state institu.
tions and buildings and possibly one
or two other departments. Passage
OF these bills would result In the mer.
ger OF a dozen or more boards and
commissions.
Some members OF the joint consoli'
datlon committee seem TO think that
their program will not meet with very
strong opposition. but others believe
opposition will develop when the bills
are reached on the calendar. and IL
would not be surprising II they are
held up and swamped in the conges.
ton usual during the closing days Of
the session.
Road legislation ls uppermost In
the minds OF members In both houses.
and all concede that comprehensive
highway program should be passed at
the present session. but the trouble is
that petty jealousy. politics and per.
sonai ambition are hampering any
prompt action. The senate and house
committees are Jealous OF each other
and there are members In each house
who would like to so down In history
az the father OF the states highways.
Road Bills Appear
A number OF road bills have been
introduced. some OF which have merit.
Several seek to hit the so-cailed paw
ing trust and permit open competition
In road construction.
While It is impossible to tell just
what the road construction program
viii be. II seems certain that slO..
100000 bond issue win be provided
for. TO be financed by funds derived
from an increase in the motor vehicle
tax and tax on gasoline.
Reconstruction has received slight
consideration, but thus far no definite
plan has been formulated.
During the first two weeks OF the
session so bills were introduced In the
senate and 1sl In the house, and In
addition a number Of resolutions and
memorials have been presented. Eight
house bills were pending in the sen.
ate and % senate bills In the house.
A flood OF bills to increase salaries
have appeared. So far II counties
are reported to have offered bills to
increase salaries OF county officers,
and bills are In to increase the salary
OF the justices of the supreme court
superintendent OF public instruction.
insurance commissioner and dairy
commissioner, According to lobby
talk more salary bills are coming,
ss42,sti 10 Cut From Budget Figures.
The Joint ways and means commit
tee, during Its first two weeks Of
wrestling with the financial problems,
has tentatively allowed $2,002.s6S.As OF
the sa,S45.176 OF the budget require
ments to be put up to the law makers,
having Topped off ss42.sil.5s so far.
These slashes leave only little more
than 100000 more to be cut off to
meet the provisions OF the per cent
limitation amendment and there is
every indication that the committee
will make good on this task.
The main reduction made has been
the looping off of the $6s0,o00 which
the Industrial accident commission es-
timated would be its share for state
aid during the next two years.
The next heaviest reduction is that
OF the state fair. $4,000 being pruned
from the estimates of that institution.
The Normal is shaved off S24,441,56 to
bring It down TO the s74,2Ss.A4, or
tax basis. The forestry board
is hit by reduction Of $4,000, while
the institution for the feeble minded
has so far lost only $4,000 OF the
s345, 700 appropriation sought in the
budget estimate,
Senate Favors Dairy investigation.
Senator Pierces proposal for the ap.
nointment OF a legislative commission
10 make an immediate and thorough
Of the dairy industry In
Oregon, met with the unanimous ap-
proval Of the senate and resulted in