THE MOENIKG OREGONIAN, THUBSDAT, JANUARY 19, 190o.
LEGISLATURE
COST OF THE SESSION
CROW FOR ONE JUSTICE
TWO. POPULAR STATE SENATORS AND TWO WARHORSES CAUGHT BY HARRY MURPHY AT OLYMPIA.
BILL IN THE HOUSE CALLS FOR
$50,000.
ROOT OR MORRIS WILL ALSO GO
ON SUPREME BENCH.
Deficiencies of $47,000 and $35,000
for Scalp Bounties Are Also
Included.
iraaiiiiiyion i-cgisiaiurc rasws niij,i
Providing for Increase to Seven
Members in Higher Court.
SALEM, Or.. Jan. IS. (Special.) The
first large appropriation bill appeared In
the House today carrying $133,147.42, of
which $47,000 is to cover deflclences. $50,000
the expenses of the present legislative
session and $35,881.31 for meeting unpaid
ecalp bounties. The bill was introduced
by Vawter, of Jackson, chairman of the
committee on -ways and means. The
Items are as follows:
Deficiencies, 1903-1904
For two-thirds of the bounty pio
vlded by the act or Feb. 20. 10oi..$ -.l-31
For tschool for Deaf-Mutes ,rrS"J2
For State Insane Asylum lwu.ou
For State Penitentiary 6..-KMW
For salaries of Judge of Circuit
Courts and District Attorneys and
deputies -.jOO.ii
For transportation of convicts to
State Penitentiary OOO.ou
For publication of Executive procla-
mations ... .......... 1.2-0.00
For public printing, ruling and bind
ing and purchase of paper; print
Ins and binding election blanks;
compiling, printing and binding
election law, and purchase of elec
tion supplies 10.000.00
For expenses of legislative session. 60.000.00
Total 1133.147.42
To raise money for school libraries is
the object of the bill introduced by Car
ter of Benton this afternoon. The code
Is amended so that a tax upon all prop
erty amounting to not' less than 10 cents
for each child of school age in the dis
trict, the tax to be levied and collected
as are other taxes. The books to be pur
chased with this fund arc to be selected
by the School Board and County School
Superintendent.
The bill does not apply to Multnomah
County.
The everlasting fight between local
agricultural implement dealers and trav
eling implement salesmen has been
brought into the House by a bill intro
duced by Kuney of Gilliam, Sherman and
"Wheeler today. It provides that all sales
men bringing implements, fan and wind
mills, stoves, wagons and buggies into
the state and selling them in the manner
employed by all such salesmen shall pay
Into the County Treasury a license fee
of $500 for each year or part of a year.
The bill has been put In partly for the
protection of the local dealer who dislikes
to see a smooth salesman from St. Louis
or Chicago sell more goods in a week
than he has sold In a month and then
leave the country without paying a cent
of license. It is also for the protection
of the farmer who is often overcome by
the salesman's persuasions and buys a
plow or buggy, thinking he has a bargain
straight from the wholesalers, only to
discover In a few weeks that varnish
hides many defects of cheap construc
tion. The House had Its first debate this
morning over a bin to restore popular
election of Road Supervisors. The pres
ent law provides that Supervisors shall
be appointed by County Boards. The bill
was adversely reported by the committee
on roads and public highways and was
Indefinitely postponed.
The argument for the bill was that
supervisors are frequently appointed by
Counts' Boards for political purposes. The
other argument was that Inasmuch as
County Boards are responsible for high
ways, they should have power of appoint
ment and dismissal over those persons
engaged in road improvement.
The bill was introduced by Mayger of
Columbia, who defended the measure on
the floor. Others who championed the
bill were Smith of Josephine and Jagger
of Clackamas. Those who argued against
the bill were Hermann of Coos, chairman
of the committee on roads and high
ways: Edwards of Lane. Cornctt of Linn.
vawter of Jackson and West of Tilla
mook. The vote to postpone indefinitely
was 47 ayes. 10 noes. The noes were:
Bramhall. Burns of Curry. Cavender.
Colwell, Holcomb, Hudson. Huntley, Jag
ger, Mayger, famlth of Josephine.
Smith was the most vigorous advocate
of the bill. He declared that appoint
ments by County Boards were frequently
parceled out to comply with demands of
political machines.
When Capron's Joint resolution for a
joint committee to Inspect the De.af Mute
School came up In the House this morn
ing. Smith of Josephine offered to amend
by instructing the committee to investi
gate the practicability of using the build
Ing of that institution as an annex for
girls to the Reform School, if the Deaf
Mute School shall be moved from its
present quarters. The resolution with
the amendment went to the committee
on resolutions.
The trustees of the Deaf Mute School
desire to move that institution into Salem.
Representative Sonnemann's joint reso
lution for more eauitable rates in Inter
state railway traffic was adopted by the
House this morning. The resolution calls
on Congress for remedial legislation. Son-
iiemanu Is chairman of the committee on
railroads.
A good deal of comment is being in
dulged m among members of the Mult
nomah delegation at Salem regarding
House bill No. 130. introduced by Rep
resentative Colwell, which Is an act
authorizing the assessment of property
to build bridges and for bridges already
constructed. The delegation is not
unanimous in favor of the bill, some
claiming that a district assessment Is
1 V
is m
the only equitable way of providing for
the cost of public bridges, while others
maintain that costly structures such as
arc contemplated in different parts of
the city would work a hardship on
property-owners to be assessed there
for, where a comparatively small dis
trict would have to pay for same, and
that it would amount to confiscation of
property In many cases.
These latter argue that a bridge pro
viding a link in an artery of travel
that assures a permanent way for the
general public, and further permits the
extension and growth of the city far
tnd beyond the bridge itself, the cost
thereof should be borne by the whole
community. Mr. Colwell is working
hard for passage of the bill.
A concurrent resolution offered by May
ger of Columbia in the House for a Joint
committee to confer with a like commit
tee of the Washington Legislature for
concurrent salmon legislation on the Co
lumbia was favorably reported by the
committee on resolutions this morning.
A similar resolution was Introduced by
Burns of Clatsop, but Mayger"s was
given the preference
BUILDING OF CELILO CANAL.
Washington SenateMeasure Demands
Continuing Contract.
OLYMPIA, Wash.. Jan. IS. (Special.)
The Senate this morning considered a
concurrent resolution protesting
against delay in the construction of the
Celilo Ship Canal around the Celilo rap
ids above The Dalles in the Columbia
River. The resolution demands that
the work shall be made a continuing
contract carried in the river and har
bor bill. Good faith with Oregon, the
resolution declares, can only be kept by
the construction of the canal.
Temporarily, the scale of wages paid
Senate employes in 1903 was adopted.
The following new Senate employes
were elected: George Gregory, minute
clerk; C D. Wood, docket clerk; J. T.
Jones, night messenger: A. T. Haynes,
Robert Taylor, J. B. Hagins, janitors.
Bills introduced were as follows:
S. B. 49. by Joint Judiciary Committee Pro
viding for an increase of the Supreme Court
from five to eeven members.
S. B. 50. by Tucker Making the desertion
of children by a parent a. misdemeanor, pun
lshcable by & maximum fine of $100. to -which
six months' imprisonment may be added.
S. B. 82. by WlUon Making the following
appropriations for the Agricultural College:
Rebuilding and equipping college hall, $40,000:
enlarging mechanical building. $15,000; pur
chase of farm land?, $SO00.
S. B. 53. by Wilson Making the name of the
Agricultural College the "State College or
Washington."
S. B. 54. by Palmer Appropriating $555.30
to pay the mileage of electors.
Will Ask New Trial for Lauth.
OREGON CITY. Or.. Jan. IS. (Special.)
District Attorney Allen and Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney Schuebel and Hon.
G. B. Dlmick. counsel for the defendant,
go to Salem tomorrow to argue a motion
for a new trial before the Supreme Court
In the case of State vs. George W. Lauth.
Lauth Is the convicted murderer of Mrs.
Leonora B. Jones, of this city, and Is sen
tenced to be hanged at Salem. Friday,
January 27. The convicted murderer now
occupies the murderers' cell at the State
Penitentiary. The murder was committed
In this city last September.
4 4 TAIM KAJ ntHTl I
SMITH OPENS BATTERIES
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES
THE TARGET OF HIS WRATH.
Democratic Member From Josephine
Declares Against Alleged Junket
ing Trips and Soft Berths.
SALEM. Or.. Jan. IS. (Special.) The
custom of appointing numerous joint com
mittees to Investigate state offices and
Institutions was scored In the House this
morning by "Bob" Smith, of Josephine.
Dem. The usually large number of
resolutions have appeared in both houses
for such committees. Heretofore It has
been the usual rule for the Senator or
Representative Introducing the resolution
to head the committee. The committees
hired special clerks and stenographers,
and enjoyed trips to the objects of their
goal.
The patronage and the journeys have
always been prized by lawmakers.
The outburst took place just before a
big grist of resolutions had been adopted
for committees to look Into affairs of
state officers and institutions. Including
the following: Blind School. State Treas
urer, Portage Road, Penitentiary foundry.
State Library. State Land Board, Penl
tentlarj'. State Land Agent, Insane Asy
lum and Soldiers' Home.
When a resolution came back this morn
ing, favorably reported by the commit
tee on resolutions, for a joint committee
to investigate the Soldiers Home at Rose
burg, Smith was all cocked and primed
and loaded. It was the first of a long
train of resolutions. Smith discharged
his artillery, and was supported by the
votes of his fellow-Democrats, but the
resolution was adopted by a vote of 45
HARRY MURPHY STUDIES TWO SENATORIAL ASPIRANTS
to 12. Speaker Mills. In order 'to encour
age Smith in a forlorn cause, voted with
him. whereupon Smith exclaimed:
"Mr. Speaker. I. see we are In a hope
less minority," ahd the two bestowed
broad smiles on one another. The no
votes were:
Burns of Clatsop, Bums of Curry, Cald
well, Cavender. Chamberlain, Fawk. Mun-
kers and Smith of Josephine, all Demo
crab and Cole, Huntley, Jagger and
Mills, Republicans.
Smith charged that many of the com
mittees heretofore have been appointed
simply to afford members opportunity for
junketing trips and to make soft bertns
for political favorites as clerks.
"What is there about the Soldiers' Home
to investigate?" he demanded. In a loud
voice, which made the pictures tremble
on the wall.
Whereupon Cornctt of Linn, who intro
duced the resolution, felt It incumbent
on himself to explain. This he did. say
ing It was customary for the Legislature
to appoint committees to Investigate state
institutions.
"The gentleman has gone far from home
to find something to investigate." declared
Smith, measuring the distance from Linn
to Douglas. "Why not committees to
Investigate the normal school, and the
Dairy Commissioner, and the State Health
Board, and the Health Officer at Astoria?"
running through a long catalogue. "Such
committees are intended chiefly to dis
tribute patronage."
Kay of .Marion remarked that the com
mittees had been appointed as far back
as he could remember. In future ses
sions he said the committees would not
be necessary, if the bill for a state exam
iner shall be passed.
The resolution then went to a vote. and.
on demand of Smith, the ayes and noes
wero called.
The clerks of special committees are
not to be unlimited in number, for their
selection Is made by a Joint committee of
the two houses. When a resolution came
up for a Joint committee to investigate
the affairs of the State Land Board.
Smith proposed to amend so that the
committee might employ only two clerks
at $3 a day each for not more than 20
days, but withdrew the amendment when
reminded by Kay that the selection of
special clerks was in the hands of a Joint
committee appointed for that purpose.
The usual Joint committee for Investi
gation of the State Printer's office was
not authorized, and Its functions will be
performed by the standing committees on
printing of the two houses.
ROGERS WAS MURDERED.
Coroner's Jury Unable to Lay Blame
in Death of Cruiser.
ROSEBURG. Or.. Jan. IS. (Special.)
After taking expert testimony In the Jack
Rogers case until a very late hour last
night, the Coroner's Jury finally formu
lated a verdict finding that the deceased
came to his death from a bullet wound
from a .3S-callber weapon la the hands of
some unknown person.
A .OS-callber Colt's revolver, with one
chamber discharged, was found in the
left hip pocket of the deceased when the
body was discovered, and this is known
to have been his property.
Nothing definite can yet be learned as
to his alleged connection with or know!
edge of the Oregon land frauds. Neither
is there any definite suspicion as to who
committed the alleged murder or sufficient
reason for the deed.
LIBEL LAW IS REPEALED
WASHINGTON HOUSE DECIDES
BY A LARGE MAJORITY.
Two Bills Vetoed by Governor Mc
Bride Are Also Quickly Passed,
Following Senate's Action.
OLYMPIA, Wash., Jan. IS. (Special.)
The Tucker bill repealing the existing
libel law was taken up by the Houee thla
morning under a suspension of rules and
passed by the following vote:
Ayes S3, noes 7, absent and not voting 4.
The emergency clause passed by a vote
of SI to 12. These voting "No" on the bill
were: Ayer, Harper, Levin. Maloncy, Mc
Nlcol. Mohlstad. Wcatherford.
The Mil having passed the Senate. It
requires only the signatures of the pre-
siding officers and of the Governor to
become a law.
The House also took up under suspen
sion of the rules the vetoed Senate bills
of the last session, passed over the veto
of Governor McBrlde yesteray by the
Senate. Both bills were passed. The bill
for the relief of the Puget Sound Sawmill
& Shingle Company, Senator Earle's com
pany, and appropriating $450.39, received
not one dissenting vote. Two were absent
and not voting Roth and Stilson.
When the bill appropriating $2000 for
the relief of Blckerton & Bell, auction
eers of state lands In King County, was
reached, Lyons and Gleason of King ex
plained its Import. Gleason admitted that
Blckerton had brought suit to collect the
bill from the state; he declared, however.
AND TWO MEN WITH VOTES
tLWK
,&tu '
that the Supreme Court held that while
It was a juat bill, the County Commis
sioners had no legal authority to make
the contract allowing the auctioneers a
commission on the sale of state lands.
On this technicality the auctioneers lost
their case.
Bishop of Jefferson opposed the bill. It
was passed over the Governor's veto by
a vote of S3 to 3. Mohlstad, Bishop and
Bradley voting "No.
The House also concurred in the Senate
joint resolution 'commending President
Roosevelt on his stand for extension of
the Interstate commerce law and Instruct
ing the Congressional delegation of this
state to aid him in his efforts to attain
that end.
Among the important bills introduced
was one toy Williams of Pacific, changing
the time of the close season for fishing
on the Columbia River. The Spring close
season is fixed for the time between 12
M. March 1 and 12 P. M. March 31, and
between 12 P. M. August 25 and 12 M.
September 10.
Two bills by Twlchcll Introduced this
morning seek to place an identification
column in registration pollbooks In cities
of the first class, and provide for pre
cinct registration places In such cities.
The following bills were Introduced:
H. B. 71. by Twlchell Amending sections
1382 and 1304 Bal. code, relating to reglstra
tlon.
11. B. 72, by Twlchell Amending reglstra
tlon acts of 1830 and 1003.
H. B. 73. by Fancher Amending section 18
of act relating to Insane patients In the cus
tody of the state, and providing for the pay
ment by their relatives, when able, the sum
of $15 per month to the state for their treat
ment at the state hospitals.
H. B. 74. by Hughes Authorizing the con
solidation of actions for libel.
H. B. 78. by Lambert A new fee bill af
fecting the filing of articles of Incorporation
in the office of the Secretary of State.
H. B. 77. by Dyke Offering a state bounty
of $10 for the killing of each cougar.
II. B. 7S. by Williams Changing time of
close season for salmon fiJhlng on the Cotum
bla. River.
A resolution Introduced by Dawes of
King providing for the purchase of 13
copies of Pierce's code for the use
of the members of the Judiciary com
mittee, precipitated a debate on the
general need for the volumes by other
members. Kellogg wanted an equal num
ber of Balllnger's code purchased. Linds
ley wanted a copy of Pierce's code for
each member and presented an amend
ment to the resolution carrying out that
desire. Maloney wantetd to compromise
on 20 and the House finally voted to buy a
copy for each member at a cost not to
exceed $7 each.
There was no afternooa session of either
House.
Senator Hodson today Introduced a bill
by request providing that riparian owners
on Columbia River tide lands shall have
the right to the use of the river between
low water mark and the channel.
Senator Tuttle's salary bill proposes to
Increase the salaries of Clatsop County
Sheriff and Clerk to $2000 each.
Poultry Show at Albany.
ALBANY, Or., Jan. 18. (Special.)
The third annual poultry show of the
Central Willamette Poultry Associa
tlon opened in Albany this morning.
There are already more than 500 birds
on exhibition and about 300 or 400
more are expected before tomorrow.
The display of birds is the best ever
collected in this city and the show bids
fair to be a success.
OLYMPIA. Wash., Jan. IS. (Special.)
-The bill providing for an increase to
seven in th membership of the Su
preme Court passed both houses of tha
Legislature today. It will be enrolled
and signed by the Lieutenant-Governor
and Speaker tomorrow and transmitted.
to the Governor. It Is given out at the
office of Governor Mead that he would
sign the bill immediately upon pre
sentation. As the bill carries an emer
gency clause, the Governor will then
be authorized to appoint two additional
members to serve until the next gen
eral election.
The names of the two new Judges,
It Is expected, will be announced the
latter part of the week. Govenor Mead
has already stated that one will come
from Eastern Washington and the
other from King County. It is known
that the Eastern Washington man in
mind is Herman D. Crow, of Spokane,
and the appointment of a member of
the bench from King County lies be
tween Milo A. Root, a practicing law
yer of Seattle, and Judge George Mor
ris, of the Superior Court of Kin?;
County.
Judge Morris led the King County
ticket in the last general election. Root
was formerly Probate Judge In Olym-
pia. lie Is a law partner of Seiujtor
E. B. Palmer, chairman of the Repub
lican State Central Committee.
The bill providing for the increase
appeared in the Senate today with the
indorsement of the Joint judiciary
committees of the House and Senate.
Under a suspension of the rules it was
placed upon its final passage and was
adopted by a vote of 37 to. 3. Senators
Baker, Bratt and Sharp voted against
the bill. The vote was preceded by a
short explanation from Senator Moore,
who insisted that the Supreme Court
ls-so far behind in its work that "unless
additional help is given the cases now
before the court, cannot be written up
within two years.
The bill was received by the House
shortly before noon. It was taken up
under suspension of rules and passed
without discussion, receiving 86 votes;
Harper, Moloney, Ratcllffe and Weath
erford voted, "No." Benn. Blaker, Dick
son and Clark, absent or not voting.
A substitute for the concurrent reso
lution submitted a few days ago con
cerning the Celilo Canal, was present
ed this morning in the Senate by Rands
of Clark, and was adopted without op
position. The particular point in the
resolution is the demand that the work
on the canal shall be made a continu
ing contract as carried in the river and
harbor bill. Good faith with Oregon,
the resolution declares, can only be
kept by the construction of the canal.
The bill provides that the text of
the resolution when finally adopted
shall be telegraphed to Washington
City, and that telegrams shall be sent
to the Washington delegates in Con
gress, calling attention to the adoption
of the resolution.
The Senate bills giving Kitsap Coun
ty a separate Superior Judge and in
creasing the Superior bench of King
County by one member were received
from the judiciary committee in the
Senate with favorable recommenda
tions. icceecnoe ncl AVI lI d ACTION
Tax Commission Bills Expected to
Cover Several Important Subjects.
OLYMPIA, Wash., Jan. 18. (Special.)
The Assessors of the state in convention
assembled are avoiding action on several
Important subjects on the theory that
they will be covered by the tax commis
sion bills that will be considered by the
Legislature now in session.
The only conclusion reached today was
to instruct teh legislative committee to
work for laws increasing the salaries of
Assessors and removing the term limit by
constitutional amendment. No specific
Instruction was given the committee as to
a schedule of salaries. The legislative
committee had recommended that legisla
tion be favored which would reduce tha
maximum tax levy, but the convention
refused to instruct the committee to work
to that end.
A change in the laws so that the taxes
will be extended upon the rolls in the
Assessor's office Instead of the Auditor's
office was disapproved by the convention
on the ground that the Auditors' organi
zation is opposed to the measure, and
upon the further ground that the change
would require too general an overhauling
of tha revenue laws.
Noble, of Lincoln County, made a strong
fight for favorable consideration by the
convention of an amendment to the pres
ent law so that banks would be subject
to penalties for evasion of the existing
statutes relative to return of property for
purposes of taxation. The convention
voted to ask no change In the law on the
subject.
The report of the committee on mines
and mining, recommending that last
year's schedules be not changed, was
adopted.
The matter of the Assessors taking the
census in each county was left to the
Judgment of the legislative committee, so
far as favoring such legislation.
Walla Walla was chosen . as the next
meeting-place, the convention to be called
by the president for some date between
January 10 and January 20, 1905. The con
vention will hold another session tomor
row and receive the report of the rail
road and other committees. Schedules on
livestock were adopted that are a. slight
reduction from those in vogue last year.