Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-02-20
STATE GUARANTEE ON
IRRIGATION BONDS is
PASSED ON BY HOUSE
Voters May Have Another
Chance to Decide on
Capital Punishment

With the size Of the referendum
ballot gradually growing larger and
larger, one more was tackled on ycster-
day by the house when it passed the
bill providing for the appropriation of
81, 100000 for the Roosevelt Military
highways along the coast, running
south from Astoria to the California
line. That is of course, if the bill
should finally become a law.
The conditions are that the federal
government appropriate a like amount
and that the care and upkeep of the
road shall be in the hands of the gov
ernment and not the state. The bill
provides that it is to come before the
people at the next general election.
The eliminating process is now on
in the house and yesterday was a great
day for withdrawing bills and for also
incidentally killing them through ad-
verse committee reports. After taxing
life easy for several weeks and killing
time by needless oratory, the house has
finally speeded up for the final home
run OI Tfludy evening.
The big work of Wednesday was
that of passing resolution stating
that it was the policy of the state of
Oregon to guarantee bonds of irriga-
tion and drainage districts. 1t was
claimed that such bonds are now sold
as low as 80 cents on the dollar, but
with the states guarantee of five
years, they would bring close to 100
cents on the dollar and the irrigation
districts saved this amount.
Mr. Gore, banker of Medford rep
resenting Douglas and Jackson coun-
ties, opposed the resolution on the
ground that it was not good business
for the state to assume such obliga-
tions. "Y3u are assuming an obliga-
tion that you will have to meet some
day that is not your own" declared
Mr.. Gore. However, there was gen
eral getting together of the irrigation
and drainage interests of the state and
the resolution. was pasted with So
votes.
Cheaper school books for pupils in
the primary and high school grades of
Oregon schools are not yet in sight.
Representative Bean of Eugene had in
troduced bill leading gradually up to
the publishing of school books by the
state, but it was withdrawn and that
closes the incident for this session of
the legislature.
Voters of the state may yet have
another chance to pass on capital pun
ishmcnt. The resolution referring to
capital punishment came before the
house with a majority and minority re-
port and the house was inclined to sus
tain the majority report that the reso-
luton be passed giving the people an
other chance to go on record. After
discussion, it was finally
decided to give the house a chance to
discuss the resolution on its merits.
The bill of Sheldon providing $685.,
300 for the construction of a new cell
unit in the Oregon state peni.entiary
was killed.
Ole Hanson, mayor Of Seattle occu
pied some time Of the house It all came
about in the resolution of Kubli of
Portland, wherein the house was to go
IN record as expressing confidence in
Mr.. Hanson for the patriotic manner
N which he handled the recent Seattle
strike. The two labor representatives
we're opposed to the house saying any
hing nice about the Seattle mayor and
Mrs. Alexander Thompson voted with
hem. But members in general were
wiling to congratulate Ole Hanson and
he resolution passed.