NO LOCAL OPTION
Senate Has No Use for Such
Reform.
SHARP DEBATE OVER MEASURE
SlnlUer and McGinn Cross Swords,
and Mnttcr Is Finally DUposed
Of by Indcflnlte Post
ponement SALEM, Or., Feb. 12. (Staff correspond
ence.) Senator Mulkey's local option bill
egltated tho minds of the Senators for
three-quarters of an hour this afternoon,
end then the members of that body re
lieved themselves of a troublesome ques
tion by Indefinitely postponing the bill.
Although the bill received prominent at
tention In the press of the state at the
time It was Introduced, many of the Sen
ators had evidently forgotten its purport
or neglected to read It when placed upon
their desks.
"When the bill was read the third time,
few Senators were listening to the read
ing. Senator Mulkcy started to explain
that his bill proposed to give the people
of every city an opportunity to decide for
themselves whether liquor shall be sold
in their cities or towns. One by one the
Senators realized the sweeping character
of the bill.
"Isn't this matter within the control of
ihft Comomn Councils of the different
cities?" Inquired Senator McGinn. "I don't
understand the purpose of this measure."
"The power to issue licenses Is now
placed upon City Councils," repnea sen
ator Mulkey, "but thi bill proposes to
rive the people power to Instruct the
members of the Council as to whether
licenses shall be Issued."
""What was the report of the commit
tee on this bill?" Inquired Senator Mc
Ginn, getting Intensely Interested.
"It was reported without recommendar
tion." answered the Senator from Polk.
"By what committee?" demanded the
Senator from Multnomah.
"On printing." was the reply.
"Of which committee you are chair
man." came back a prompt response.
"Then I move, Mr. President, that this
bill go to the committee on Judiciary, eo
that the merits of It can be Investigated
and we can have a report without any
dodging."
The motion was seconded, and was
about to be voted on. when Senator Mul
key. after considerable effort, secured
recognition from the chair. "If the chair
will permit me," he said, "I would like
to nay that the committee on printing had
no desire to dodge anything when It made
Its report. We could not agree on a
favorable or an unfavorable report, and
eo agreed to report It without recom-
as to my position on tHis bill and the
Senator from Multnomah won t find me
dodging. The committee could not agree
on the bill, eo we left It to be discussed
and decided by the whole Senate.
The motion to refer was lost.
Senator "Pierce thought that the Sen
ators had not had an opportunity to learn
the contents of the bilL He said he
had not read It and wanted time to
consider It. He moved to have It referred
to the judiciary committee, but the chair
.ruled him out of order for the reason
that this question had just been voted
down. Tho chair Insisted that the ques
tion was jiow upon the passage of tho
bill.
Senator Farrar spoke against the bill.
saying that to pass this bill would bring
on a local option fight In every town In
the state every few months, and this he
thought would not be wise.
Senator Sweek entertained a similar
opinion and thought the matter of licenses
should be left to city charters and City
Councils.
Senator Mulkey and Senator McGinn
"were gettlng-ready for another bout when
Senator Daly demanded that a vote be
taken 'and the Senators go on record as
to their opinions of the bill. He wanted
a chance to record his position. Just at
the moment when the President was about
to order tbe roll call Senator Fulton
thought of an easier way out of a bad
situation, and said that he believed the
Senators Ehould have time to consider
the mater further.
"I believe the Senators need tlmo to
tudy this measure," said the sllver
tongued orator from Clatsop, "and In
order that they may have time and a
pood long time I move that the further
consideration of this bill be Indefinitely
postponed."
Happy thought! A pleased smile rippled
over the Senate.
"All In favor of Indefinite postpone
ment will say 'aye, " called out President
IBrowneU. and the call met a joyous re
sponse from about 25 throats. "All op
posed no and Senators Booth, Kuyken
dail and Mulkey voiced their feeble pro
test against .sending the bill Into ob
livion.
J3ut the bill was disposed of. and with
a sigh of resignation Senator Mulkcy
turned to other matters, which he con
siders much less Important than his local
option measure.
IX THE SENATE.
Oatcopatky mil Defeated Several
Bills Passed.
SALEM, Or., Feb. 12. (Special.)-The
Senate was opened at 10 A. M. without
prayer.
8. B. 219, McGinn To amend section "37
of the code, relating to parties to actions
"passed.
S. B. 220, Hobson To regulate freight
,rates, was read twice and referred to the
committee on railroads.
S B. S. Myers To authorize the city of
"Portland to construct a ferry across the
"Willamette River in Sell wood; reported
favorably by the Multnomah delegation.
H. B. 207, Orton To Incorporate St,
Johns; passed.
S." B. 179, McGinn Relating to. the lncor
poratlon of cemeteries; passed.
S. B. 22L Crolean, by request To amend
section 6 of the Salem charter; read twice
and referred to the Judiciary committee.
S. B. 192, Pierce To amend the law rei
atlve to apportionment of state taxes
passed.
S. B. 7, Sweek Relative to supplemental
articles of incorporation; passed.
S. B. 112, Fulton To amend the law rela
tlve to exemptions from execution: passed.
H. B. 192, Galloway To prohibit the oale
of adulterated Illuminating oil: passed.
S. J. R., Mulkey To increase the com.
mittee to meet Admiral Clark when -he
visits Oregon, to seven Senators and 14
Representatives; adopted.
S. B. 136, Brownell To create a State
Board of Osteopathy; Indefinitely pest
poned.
; S. B. ISO, Hunt To submttf to the people
the home rule for cltiea amendment to
tee constitution; passed.
S. B. 1S2, Dlmmlck To require District
Attorneys to render legal services for
school districts without additional cotnpen
satlon; passed.
S. B. 184. Myers To limit county ex.
pendltures In counties of 50,000 inhabitants
to the amount of the annual levy; passed.
b. is. iss, smith of Multnomah To regu
late the sale of explosives to children
passed.
S. B. 19$, Marsters and Hunt To require
that proposed constitutional amendments
shall be placed at the bead of the official
ballot; passed.
B. B. 199, Pierce To regulate the lncor
poratlon of church or religious societies
passed.
8. B. O, aiujkey To confirm, title to
state land In certain purchasers; post
poned.
S. B. 1ES, Rand To create Baker County
tbe lghth Judicial District; passed.
3. B. 4. Kuykendail to reduce the ap
propriation for the Oregon National Guard
from J 13.000 to 5.000: read the first time.
S. B. 1ST, Rand To create the Tenth
Judicial District composed of Union and
Wallowa Counties; paraed.
S. B. 190, Maya, by request To require
Judges to render decisions within SO days
alter a case is submitted; passed.
s. u. isi. Mulkey To authorize local
option elections on the sale of liquors; In
definitely postponed.
IX TUB HOUSE.
Panaace of Pierce's Bill for Eastern
Oregon Experiment Station.
SALEM. Or.. Feb. 12.-SpeclaD-The
House was called to order at 10 A. M. by
Speaker Harris.
S. B. SL Pierce To appropriate 20.000
for experiment station at Union; passed.
S. B. 68, Kuykendail To require school
districts to transport pupils to schools of
consolidated districts; passed.
S. B. 59. Kuykendail To consolidate
school districts: passed unAnlmously.
S. B. 16G (substitute for S. B. 52. Mc
Ginn) To regulate child labor; passed
unanimously.
S. B. 197. Rand To Incorporate tho town
of Huntington, Baker County: parked.
S. B. So, Mulkey Amending the law rel
ative to indecent, obscene pictures and
literature: passed unanimously.
S. B. S3, Smith of Yamhill Conferring
right of eminent domain on telephone and
telegraph companies; passed.
S. B. Eg. Mays Appropriating 5000 for
Oregon Historical Society; adopted In
committee of the whole, Orton presiding.
The bill then passed.
Amendments by the Senate to H. B.
192, Galloway, to prohibit Incorporation
and sale of adulterated lllumlnitlng oil.
were concurred In.
S. B. 60, Booth To protect forests from
fires; considered In committee of tho
whole. Edwards presiding, and amended.
The bill then passed.
H. B. 69, Orton Prescribing form of pe
titions and manner of elections under
Initiative and referendum: passed.
S. B. 121, Myers Providing for reloca
tion of county seits; passed.
Courtesies of the House were extended
W. S. U'Ren, of Oregon City. .
ii. is. 341, Kay. to repeal law exempting
public employes from garnishment;
passed.
H. B. IS That no bills be Introduced
after 3 P. M. February 13, except by com
mittees; adopted.
H. C. R. 29. Davey To accept Invita
tion of Chemawa Indian Tralnlng'School
to visit that institution; adopted. The
Legislature will go to Chemawa Monday
afternoon. leaving at 4:30 P. M.
The committee on taxation reported
without recommendation H. B. 196, Har
ris, to tax intangible assets of -corporations.
AGAINST CHILD LAIIOIU
Substitute Senate Measure Panne
the Iloniie.
SALEM. Or.. Feb. 12. (SpcclaU-The
House this morning passed unanimously
a bill (S. B. 166, substitute for S. B. 62.
McGinn), to regulate child labor. The
measure went to passage without debate.
liddy was the only member who spoke on
tho question of passage. "Employment of
child labor," said he, "Is a great abuse
in otter states of tho Union. We need
legislation in Oregon before this evil Is
fastened upon this state. The bill does
not contain radical provisions. It will
prohibit employment of cm.uren under 14
years on farms only during school hours.
Tho bill should pass."
On the question of passage not a sin
gle negative vote wis recorded. The bill
provides in substance as follows:
"No child under 14 years of ace shall
bo employed In any factory, store, work-
snop or mine, or in the telegraph, tele
phone or public messenger service. No
cniia under 14 years qf age shall be cm
ployed for wages or other compensation
during school hours. Attendance at school
shall be compulsory on children under 14
years, and on children under 15 years who
are not employed; No child under 16
years of age shall be employed before 6
A. M. or after 7 P. M., or more than 10
hours a day, or more thin six days every
week. Minors under 1$ years who are em
ployed shall be allowed DO minutes for
luncheon at noon. Children under 16 years
snan not De employed who cannot read
or write, while a school Is maintained In
me town or city In which such minors re
side. Employers of children under 16
yeirs of age shall keep a complete record
or such employes, their name. ace. date
of birth and place of residence. Such
employers are to be required to secure
affidavits from the parents or guardians
or such minors, containing the above In
formation, and the namo of the places
where tho children attended school. The
Governor Is to appoint flvo persons who
shall constitute the Board of Inspectors
of Child Labor. This board shall serve
without compensation, and its members
THE MORNING
shall hold office for one, two, three, foui
and five years, respectively. They are
to draw lots to determine the lengths of
their terms."
The peniltics for violation o the act
are fines from 10 to 25 for tho first
offense, and from 25 to $50 for the second
offense, and imprisonment from 10 to 20
days for tho third and each succeeding
offense.
NO CHANGES YET REPORTED.
Irrigation Committee Has Amend
ments Under Consideration.
SALEM. Or., Feb. 12. (Special.)-De-fplte
the fact that It Is acknowledged by
men who defend the present arid land law
that It Is defective and should be amend,
ed In some particulars, the committee on
Irrigation has thus far made no reports
upon the bills In its hands. With the ex
ception of the representatives of the Col
umbia Southern Irrigation Company,
every person who has appeared before
(ho committee to oppose the Williamson
bill for a new arid land law has ex
pressed the opinion that the present law
should be amended so as to promote the
early reclamation of desert land. The sen
timent of individual members of the com
mittee Is In favor of a repeal or amend
ment of the section of the law giving
the Irrigation companies possession of the
land from tho date of the contract. The
reason for this Is that If tho companies
can get no use of the land they will
hasten Its sale and reclamation.
The consensus of opinion also seems to
bo in favor of requiting either a term of
residence or reclamation of a certain pro
portion of the land before deed issues by
the state, this provision having for its
purpose the purchaso of arid land by
actual homebullders.
Representative Phelps has a bill on this
subject, at tho instance of Sam White,
a member of the Legislative committee
of the State Irrigation Association. After
providing for the repeal of section 6 of
the present law. giving the companies ex
clusive possession of the land, the bill
LEGISLATORS AND LOBYISTS
to
'
" "ITaBORI NCT MEN A5 A RULE'
ARE WILLING TO WORK
TEN HOURS A DAY- WD
Rep-SHELLEY of Lane in
THE DEBATE ON THE LABOR,.
-AMENDMENT TO THE,
' , POITACE.B)uu
OBEGONIAN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1903.
5m TM tf(rfmLL orLAML
rzstf cr CLff5Hp Reform
has the following on the subject of pur
chase of arid land:
"Sec 10. Any citizen desiring to pur-
uij uitoum ijuai iLi ackfcsuta vi
desert land on which there Is a Hen for!
the cost of reclamation' shall pay to the I
holder of said lien Mich proportion of
tho amount of tho entire Hen as the true
value of the tract bears to the true value
of the whole tract subject to Hens; pro
vided, that the State Land Board having
control of these lands shall designate the
proportion of the amount of the entire Hen
which the desired tract bears to the
whole tract subject to the Hen; provided
further, that the settler upon such tract
shall be allowed to pay such Hen In ten
equal annual payments, and upon the full
and complete payment thereof shall be
entitled to have the tract of land so paid
for released from the Hen by the holder
thereof, and It shall be the duty of the
State Land Board to deed such tract to
the purchaser without further payment
upon such proof being made to 'said board,
ax it mnv rnntr, that th attl. haa
actually resided on said tract of land for !
a period of five years and has In actual
cultivation and under Irrigation at least
one-fourth of said tract of land."
Sheriff Form Organization.
SALEM. Feb. 12. (Special.) Sixteen of
the Sheriffs of the state held a meeting
In this city Wednesday night and effected
the organization of the Sheriffs' Associa
tion of Oregon. The purpose of these offi
cers In banding together Is to promote a
better acquaintance among the Sheriffs of
the stato and by a full consideration of
mutual interests advance the administra
tion of laws in the apprehending and re
turning of all evildoers to their respective
sections. Sheriff W A. Stprey. of Multno
mah, was made president of the organiza
tion, and Sheriff B. B. Colbath. of this
city, was named for secretary. The Sher
iffs' Association will meet In this city
next September during tho session of the
State Fair, although the president Is au
thorized to call a meeting at any time the
interests of the members may require.
IN CHARACTERISTIC POSES
WflrTrflNfr HARD FOR THE
UNION GETS THAT $20,000
EXPERIMENT STATION TO HAVE
GOOD APPROPRIATION.
Ganlt Leads Fight on the Measure,
bnt Is Defeated by a.
Large Vote.
SALEM, Or.. Feb. 12. (Staff correspond
encesThe bill to appropriate 20.000 for
the experiment station at Union passed
the House this morning; and will now go
to the Governor. It passed the Senate
January 27, where It was Introduced by
Pierce of Umatilla. Five members of the
lower chamber voted no Galloway, Gault,
Hale, Hlnes and Kramer. The appropria
tion of the last Legislature was 10.000. A
short debate preceded the vote. Gault of
Washington leading the onslaught on the
measure. The bill was considered In com
mittee of the whale. Reed presiding, and
was amended In minor details. After the
section appropriating 20,000 had been
adopted, Gault moved for a lower sura.
"I rise to a point of order," exclaimed
Eddy.
"The point of order Is well founded."
responded Chairman Reed, and Gault sub
sided. After the committee of the whole
had reported, a motion by Shelley to re
fer the bill back to the ways and means
committee stirred up Burleigh of. Wal
lowa to protest energetically. Eddy spoke
against recommitting the measure. "We
should continue the work of that experi
ment station," declared Eddy. "It la a
good work."
Kay. chairman of the House committee
on ways and means, preferred to have the
bill considered by the whole House. The
motion to re-refer was lost, and the bill
was then up for debate.
"That experiment station," asserted
Burleigh, leading off the discussion, "has
done a great work for Eastern Oregon.
The people of that part of the state are
much Interested In the station. The ap
propriation asked for Is approved by the
regents of the Agricultural "College, who
direct the management of the Institution.
The sum of 20,000 Is the least with which
the station can carry on Its work. When
an appropriation Is needed, I say, we can
afford to vote for It. There is no better
way to spend 320,000.'
Gault did not perceive why the appro
priation should be made Just because the
regents wanted It. "Those regents." he
proclaimed, "perhaps see only one little
channel of Industry. They should pinch
along as we have to do In our private af
fairs. It seems to me blind policy to spend
so much money and to pile up taxes so
high that immigrants will be kept out of
the state.
Olwcll of Jackson urged the passage of
the bill. Whealdon., of Wasco said the
appropriation was greatly needed. "Tne
climatic conditions," said he, "of Eastern
Oregon are so different from those of
Western Oregon that the experiment sta
o - r
tlon In the Willamette Valley is of little
benefit to us." The two parts of the state
are as different as two continents.'
Hale of Josephine strongly opposed the
appropriation. "It seems . to me," said
Hale, "that this appropriation is unwise.
I am absolutely opposed to. building up
institutions all over the state in order
that they may ccroe back for redoubled
appropriations. Already this session we
have made an appropriation of 165.000 for
the portage road, which will cost 1,000,000
If the road Is ever finished. I mention this
to show you what we are opening up for
the taxpayers of Oregon to carry.
Reed argued for the bill, saying the sta
tion at Union was as essential to Eastern
Oregon as the one at Corvallls Is to West
ern Oregon. Gill also favored passage,
Phelps of Morrow said that the enlarged
appropriation was to enable the station at
Union to extend its work. The bill then
carried by the following vote
Ayes Bailey. Bllyeu, Btakley, Both.
Burgess. Burleigh. Carnahan, Cornell,
Danneman Davey. Eddy, Edwards, Em
mitt. Fisher. Gill. GInn, Hahn, Harris,
Hawkins, Hodson, Hudson, Hume, Hutch
inson. Johnson. Jones of Multnomah, Kay,
LaFollett. Murphy. Nottingham, Olwell,
Paulsen. Phelps. Purdy. Retd, Riddle,
Shelley. Simmons, Webster 38.
Noes Galloway, Gault, Hale, Hlnes,
Kramer 5.
Absent Adams, Banks. Cantrall, Clay
pool, Cobb, Hansbrough. Hayden, Her
mann. Huntley, Jones of Lincoln, Judd,
Malarkcy, Miles, Orton, Bobbins, Test,
Whealdon 17
Senator Rand today secured the pa-Mage
of Senate bill 16, to create Baker County
the Eighth Judicial District. That district
Is now composed of Baker, Union and
Wallowa Counties. He also secured the
-passage of a bill, which Is a necessary
consequence of the first measure, to create
the Tenth Judicial District composed of
; jo
V
Unlon and Wallowa Counties. The pres
ent Judge and District Attorney In the
Eighth District will continue to hold their
offices in the district composed of Baker
County, while, If the bill passes the House
also, the Governor will appoint a new
Judge and District Attorney for the new
district
Senator Wade, of Union, opposed the bill
saying that there Is no need of a new
Judicial district, as there la no more work
than the present Judge and District At
torney can attend to. The creation of a
new district would make more expense
without Justification. He also complained
that Baker County !a trying to take away ,
juage wno properly belongs to Union
County. Judge Eakln. who presides In
Baker. Union and Wallowa, lives at Union,
but the new bill proposes to make him the
presiding Judge In Baker County, which
would necessitate his removal to that
county.
In his usual winning wav Senator Rand
explained the merits of his measure and
won out with but one or two negative
votes. He said that It Is onlv bv over
working himself that Judge Eakln Is able
to perform his Judicial duties, and even
then Is unable to keep up with the work
before him. Senator Rand didn't deny
that Baker County wants Judge Eakln.
and, to all appearances. Baker County
will secure the Judge as easily as It se
cured some of Union County's territory
two years ago.
Senate bill 112. by Fulton, which passed
the Senate today, proposes to add one
subdivision to section 227 of the code rela
tive to exemptions from execution. The
section Is left Intact as It reads at pres
ent, but at the end of the seven subdl
visions enumerating the classra of prop
erty that are exempt, this provision Is
added:
'In all cases, however, where advances
of goods, wares, merchandise or money
are made to. or labor performed for any
pereon engaged In any undertaking, trade,
business, avocation, occupation or pursuit,
to enable or assist such person to carry on
such undertaking, trade, business, avoca
tion, occupation or pursuit, or which shall
De usea or employed for any euch purpose,
men no article of personal property, tool.
Implement or apparatus used or employed
Dy sucn person In such undertaking, trade,
business, avocation, occupation, or pur
suit, or money due ouch person growing
out of or Incident thereto, shall be exempt
from execution on a judgment recovered
for such advances or for such labor per-
iormea.
senator jtuykendall has Introduced a
bill to cut the appropriation for the
Oregon National Guard from 45,000 per
biennial term to 25.000. When he intro
duced the bill. Senator Kuykendail said
tnat the United States Government will,
under the terms of the Dick law nay all
ine expense of the annual encampment
and furnish all the equipment for the Na
tional Guard. In addition to this, the
State Military Board will reduce the mi
litia from two regiments to one. Senator
Kuykendail says that he believes an ap
propriation of 15,000 would be ample, but
he put the amount at 25.000, so as to pro
vide an abundance for all needs. He said
that he desired the purpose of the bill to
be made public, so that all who are inter
ested in the National Guard will know
of the proposed amendment and have an
opportunity to be heard If they wish.
Because of the large appropriations for
commercial and Industrial purposes, he
thought the Legislature should not fall to
reduce this appropriation, which will no
longer be needed.
At 1130 this morning nearly even Sen
ator was tipped back In his chair reading
The Oregonlan. The Senate was passing
bills, most of the Senators voting mechan
ically. Senator Kuykendail moved that a
recess be taken until 12 o'clock, but to this
Senator Hunt objected.
"My reason for making the motion."
said Kuykendail, "Is that It Is not best for
the Senate to be working under the order
of business of 'third reading df bills when
the Senators are working under the order
of 'first reading of The Oregonlan.' "
A few moments later a rccees was
taken.
Senator McGinn's bill for the amend
ment of section 37 of the code, relative to
parties to actions, passed the Senate to
day. It provides:
Ptnons ererally liable upon tho gams obliga
tion or instrument. Including the partis to bills
of exchange and promissory notes, or for the
same default, or negligent act or omletlon caus
ing injury to person or property and their In
demnitors against loss or damage In conse
quence of, or recoverable upon, any such lia
bility, may. all or any of them, be Included In
the same action at the option ot the plaintiff.
Before the bill passed Senator McGinn
explained that the purpose Is to permit
persons to make Insurance companies par
ties defendant where they are Interested
In the subjeot-matter of the suit.
The lawyers In the Senate pretty gen
erally voted against Senate Bill ,150. by
Mays (by request) to require Judges to
render decisions within 90 days after a
case has been submitted to them. They
evidently thought the Judges should not
be coerced as this .bill contemplates, by
having their salaries withheld If they
fall to render a decision within SO days.
There was no discussion upon the bill,
and It passed by a good majority.
Senator Mulkey's bill to prohibit "the
printing, publishing, importing 'or sell
ing of obscene pictures and literature, and
tne exhibition or designing or selling or
having in custody of such obscene pictures
or literature," passed the House unani
mously this morning. It alms chiefly to
prohibit publication of "Tracy and Mer
rill" literature and the exhibition of
"Tracy and Merrill" shows and dramas.
and other abuses.
Senator Marsters Is receiving many con
gratulations upon the passage through
both houses of his bill requiring that ex
ecutions take place at tho State Peniten
tiary. Two years ago Senator Marsters
Introduced a bill on the same subject, but
It passed only the Senate and was held
up in the House. A. L. Beldlng will prob
ably be the first person to be executed
at the Oregon Penitentiary under the pro
visions of tho Marsters bill.
The House today passed tho bill of
Senator Smith, of Yamhill, conferring the
right of eminent- domain on telegraph,
telephone and electric light companies.
The bill la Intended to confer thn same
privileges In this matter on theee com
panies as are now possessed by railroad
companies.
Members of the State Board of Horti
culture are recommending an amendment
to the present law so as to permit mem
bers of the boa.o to appoiut ripu-iis tor
temporary service In isolated localities,
where a deputy can perform the work at
less cost than will be required for the
mlleago and per diem of a commissioner,
who might travel to the place where the
service is required.
W. N. Gatens, secretary to Governor
Chamberlain, wishes to announce that he
did not try to Influence the vote by which
tho bill for a labor commissioner was de
feated yesterday. AH Democrats but two
voted against the bill, but Mr. Gatens.
though u Democrat, says he was not In
terested In the bUl for that reason.
The Senate Judiciary committee today
asked leave to reconsider Bailey's House
bills for the prevention of deception In
securing employes and discrimination
against members of labor unions. These
bills were indefinitely postponed yester
day. Th3 House today passed S. B. 85, Mays,
appropriating 5000 for the Oregon His
torical Society. The Legislafcire of 1901
made the same apprppriatlon. The sum
of 500 Is to.be spent In printing the publi
cations of the society In each of the years
1903 ar.d IKS.
Senator Crotean has Introduced a bill to
amend the new Salem charter so as to
prohibit the sale of liquor In the new ter
ritory added to the city.
TO LESSEN FOREST FIRE'
inntn lSSP.S BOOTH'S mm TU
PROTECT TIMBER.
Provides for Board of Commission
ers, Who Will Appoint Connty
Fire Wardens.
SALEM. Or.. Feb. 12.-(SpccIal.) Tho
House today amended and passed Sen
ator Booth's bill to protect timber lands
and forests from fires. The measure
passed the Senate January 31. It was
considered today In committee of tha
whole, Edwards of Lane presiding. Mem
bers who voted no on final passage were:
Bllyeu. Claypool. Hume and Paulsen.
Tho bill creates a Board of Fire Com
missioners of five members L. J. Simp
son. R. A. Booth. S. Benson, R. A. Em
mett and C. W. Nlbley. Each la to rep
resent a specified district. This commls--slon
Is to "have control and charge of all
matters pertaining to the protection of
forests and timber. This commission Is
to name at least one fire warden In each
county, who in turn are to appoint rang
ers, subject to the approval of the com
mission. These rangers are to be ap
pointed at the request of timber Interests
and to be paid by those Interests. The
rangers are to have police powers to en-'
force the act. Locomotives and engines
must have spark catchers between June
15 and October 15 of each year.
On motion of Eddy the season In which.
permits must be secured for burning
slashings was changed from June 15-Oo-
tober 15 to July 1-October 1. Mr. Eddy
had the bill further amended so that per
mits may be secured from rangers "not
appointed at the request of the land
owner." The bill before amended re
quired permits to be secured from ward
ens. The foregoing quoted words were
added at the suggestion of Cobb, who op
posed Eddy's amendment without the ad
dition of those words.
Eddy secured another amendment to
the bill by the elimination of a provi
sion which made persons liable to pun
ishment who "violate the rules and regu
lations of said Fire Commission." Such
a provision Eddy explained was contrary
to public policy, and the committee of
the whole unanimously took the same
view. Several other minor amendments
were made In phraesology. All tha
changes will be accepted by the Senate.
Orton raised the question whether Sen
ator Booth was not disqualified to serve
on the question by being a member of
the Legislature. Eddy responded that the
office was not one of profit and therefore
Senator Booth's appointment was not In
hibited by the constitution. He cited a
decision by the Supreme Court to support
his argument. When the question of
passage came up Hume opposed the bill.
"Tho penalties are unreasonable," said
he. "A man may set a fire on his own
land and It may unavoidably get away
from him."
Cornett Then he should'be responsible.
"This bill," resumed Mr. Hume, "13 la
the Interest of timber-land grabbers"
Hudson defended the bill from Hume's
onslaught by saying the lumber indus
try of Oregon needed protection. "Could
Mr. Hume." declared Hudson, "have heard
mothers crying over their children burned
by fire he'd say that no law could be too
severe to punish the negligence of tha
men who caused their suffering. We ask
tho Legislature to protect not only tho
lives and happiness of men. women and
children but also the greatest Industry
In Oregon."
Whealdon said that enactment of tha
bill was highly necessary. "TImbermen."
he remarked, "are asking only for means
wherewith to protect their Investments
and to pay for such protection them
selves." The bill then passed.
A petition was read In the House today
asking for reconsideration of the "labor
commissioner bill which failed to pass
yesterday. The petition came from tha
Central Labor Union of Salem.
TO nELOCATB COUXTV SEATS.
Senator Maya' General BUI Passes
the Lower House.
SALEM. Or.. Feb. 12. (Speclal.)-Sen-otor
Myers general bill to provide for re
location of county seats passed the House
today. Eleven members voted no. Tha
argument for the bill was that the Legis
lature would In the future be free from
petty local disputes. The contrary argu
ment was that the proposed law would
cause discord and disturbance in the coun
ties, and that the Legislature was tha
proper body to settle their squabbles. The
bill next goes to the Governor. It pro
vides that, on petition of CO per cent of
the voters bt a county, the question of re
location shall be submitted to an election.
For remo'al of a county seat 60 per cent
of the voters must so express their wllL
The bill came up today as a special or
der. Burleigh at once offered to delay It
by moving to refer to the committee on
counties, but the motion was lost.
Phelps then made an argument against
the measure, saying that Its passage
would be Inconsistent with three special
bills which have passed the House for re
location of county seats In Malheur, Union
and Columbia Counties. "Why encumber
the statutes with special acts," said he,
"and then pass a general act. I bellevo
this general bill will accentuate local dis
putes which ought to be referred to this
Legislature."
Davey said the general act was not In
consistent with the local act. "We are to
notify counties to keep their courthouse
disputes at home," he remarked.
Whealdon spoke of the measure as a
"cowardly bill." "If we pass this bill for
sparsely populated counties, the strife
will become one of town against town, set
tlement against settlement, and family
against family. Just as soon as one town
gets larger than another trouble will
spring up. We- should not shift this re
sponsibility to where it wUl cause endless
troubla."
Malarkcy did not see why the Legis
lature should be the battleground for dis
putes which were local, and In which only
citizens of the particular county were In
terested. He thought the Legislature
should give its attention to more Im
portant questions. Members voting against
tho bill were: Cantrall. Galloway. Hale,
Johnson, Judd, LaFollett, Murphy, Ol
well, Phelps, Webster and Whealdon.
Awarded Injnrlra From Linn County
ALBANY. Or., Feb. 12. (Special.) As a
rfsult of a compromise between the Coun
ty Court and the claimants, 2575 damages
have been paid by Linn County for In
juries received In a bridge accident by
Mrs. Harriet Riley, of Portland; J. E. An
drews, of Corvallls, and Mrs. Ella An
drews, of Corvallls. On August 24. 1902,
Mrs. Harriet Riley and son, of Portland,
and Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, of Corvallls,
were crossing a wagon bridge In the
eastern part of Linn County, when a 60
foot span of the bridge gave way, and
the vehicle with Its occupants fell to tho
water below. All except the little boy
received more or less serious Injuries.
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