Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-09-22
Public Forum
Editor Journal.

/ have heretofore confined my
self to a comparison of the Neb-
raska Legislature, with our Oregon
Legislative body, because the for
mer was referred to as an example.
K Nebraska seems to have adopted a
rule that no one can be employed
who is related to any member of
the main body. We thinA roy
employees in one session of the one
House alore is preposterous and
this is but a small part of the
Jobs in general. One leading SEN
ator expressed himself thus II
never was in a Legislature where
there was more insidious efforts
to create Jobs for hungry office
h seekers than here. We have been
here 40 days and half our time
has been taken up with measures
4 to provide jobs. Is it any wonder
4 that more than half the bills be-
come law for the want of time to
y consider them. If we were to ex-
tend the session one third longer
what assurance have we that they
would not occupy the extra time in
creating Jobs. The Capitol seems
to be over run from dome to base
.ment with employees, boards and
commissions, and we understand
offices are being rented down town
for the overflow II they would
take half day or day to deciae
what employees were actually
necessary they would have plenty
of time for actual business. If not
then cut the time for introducing
bills to 10 days except by unan
imous vote upon measures actually
necessary as we are already over
burdened with laws in SO. much
that people can hardly comprehend
<them. My theory is less laws and
strick enforcement. | am so far
as concerned opposed to an in
crease or time. AS for increase in
salary. There seems to have been
IA applicants for five jobs. I ad-
init the salary is low and am in
favor of an increase whenever the
Legislature shows an inclination
to practice economy but we should
have the proof in advance. They
will soon convince and they can
then give us the evidence and we
can consider it~next Autumn The
extension of time means several
things. 1t means 20 days more
tune and SO per day extra for the
whole time for each member. 1t
means IS per day fora II employees
and they have no rule to prevent
Legislators from employing menu
bers Of their own family. Mem
bers get SIS per day for so days
and meleage. The employees get
SIS per day for go days and prob
ably overtime Instead of the usual
10 cents per mile. The measure
calls for SO for each 20 miles.
This means that a member in Sal
EN- would draw pay for 20 miles
each way or SO. Those living Il
miles away would draw pay for 40
miles ea.n way or s12, portland
members So miles away would
dray for 60 miles or SIS for round
trip and they ask to have the term
divided. This would mean double
the above ammounts or s12 from
Salem. Those 21 miles away S24,
Portland members $36, etc. DO not /.
be deceived. There is no law to |
compel anyone to work for nothing
and pay their own expenses and /
there is no provision to pay for less
than 20 miles. AS some readers
may have lost or mislaid the pre-
yious articles l will here with print
the comparison:
Oregon population, $4,000; Ne
braska population. 1.101,192. Ore
pon employees in house of repre-
sentatives. lOs. Nebraska employees
regular and irregular. As. Oregon
employees are on the payroll from
he start, while the Nebraska en.-
oloyes are on the payroll Just as
aeeded. oregon time of convening.
o a m. and 2 p. m; Nebraska time
II convening, a. m. and 1880 p. M
)reeon employees wages, So; Ne
,raska employees wages IS. Oregon
MEMBERS supplied with personal
Jerks and stenographers: Nebraska
aembers no personal clerks or Il
Lenographers. II
No zoos n. 18th 81, Salem