THE MORNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, JANUARY- 28, 190o.
OREGON MAY SOON HOLD A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
SENATE IS DIVIDED
ESCORT OF INSANE
HARRY MURPHY CARICATURES THREE STATE SENATORS
Convention Is Favored by
Asylum Attendants to Take
the Place of Sheriffs,
Nearly One-Half.
SOME ARE NOT FULLY DECIDED
.BILL PASSES THE HOUSE
Magnitude of the Undertaking Is Act
ing as a Deterrent on Many Who
Admit Old Clothes Have
Been Outgrown.
JO EST ASSEMBLY PROPOSEb.
The following Joint resolution -was
sSopted by the Senate and referred to
the Committee on Resolutions In the
Houee:
"Whereas, Senate Bill No. 2. pro
viding for a constitutional convention,
Is of great importance to the people of
the state, and should, receive the most
careful consideration;
"Resolved, the Houao concurring,
that the Senate and the House of Ttep
TsentativesTneet in joint assembly In
the House of Representatives, for the
genera! purpose of . considering eald hill
on Wednesday. February 1, 1905. at 2
o'clock."
SALEM, Or.. Jan. 27,. (Special.) One of
the strong probabilities of this session of
the Legislature Is the calling of a con
stitutional convention. Sentiment In fa
vor of a convention has been growing so
steadily that the judiciary committee of
the Senate has reported favorably a Wll
for an act calling a convention and today
the Senate adopted by unanlmouK vote a
joint resolution providing for a joint ses
sion of the Senate and House Wednes-
dav afternoon, February 1, for the pur- j
pose or aiscussing me suojeci. xnc nnuse
referred the resolution to the committee
on resolutions, and it will be considered
Monday, A careful canvass of the Sen
ate today shows that the members of that
body are quite evenly divided upon the
question whether a constitutional con
vention should be held. Two members,
Ilolman and Mays, of Multnomah, were
absent, and could not be seen. Of the
other 28 there were 12 who expressed
themselves In favor of a convention. 13
against, and three declined to express an
opinion.
A number of those expressing opinions
en one side or the other were not very
pronounced in their views and may' change
their minds after giving the matter more
thought. Those most pronounced in favor
of a convention arc President Kuyken
dall. Brownell of Clackamas, Rand of
Baker, Booth of Lane; Malarkcy, Hodson.
Coe and Sichcl of Multnomah, and Far
rar of Marlon. Coke of Coos, McDonald
of Union and Whealdon of Wasco were
favorable, but not so emphatic as tho
others in their expressions.
Among those who had wcll-detined ideas
in opposition to a convention were Crol
san and Hobson of Marion. Howe and
"Wright of Yamhill, Miller of Linn.
Coshow of Douglas and Carter of Jack
son. Avery of Benton. Bowerman of
"Wheeler. Laycock of Grant, Loughary of
Polk. Nottingham of Multnomah and
Smith of Umatilla were of the opinion
that no constitutional convention is nec
essary, hut their convictions wro not j
very pronounced. Haines of Washington.
Pierce of Umatilla and Tuttle of Clat
sop had no opinion to express cither way.
The canvass of the Senato showed quite
clearly that it is doubtful how a vote on
the question in that bo3y would result,
and that quite a number of Senators
will not finally make up their minds one
way or the other until the question has
"been debated. From tho standpoint of
public importance this question of calling
a constitutional convention is one of tho
largest that has come before this session
of the Legislature, aud should the two
Houses meet in joint assembly next Wed
nesday, It is safe to predict that there
will be a discussion well worth going to
hear.
It Is chiefly because of the magnitude of
the undertaking and of the consequences
That may follow that many members ap
pose the calling of a convention. They
admit that some of the provisions of the
old fundamental law of the state have
been outgrown and that it has some faults,
tut ihey believe It is better to continue
under a constitution such as that now
in force than to take tlio chances with
one that might be adopted In its stead.
On the other hand, those who favor a
convention admit that it lsf possible a
draft of a now constitution mights be in
acceptable, but they think such a prob
ability is small.
Members of the House liavc not con
sidered the "question of a constitutional
convention as fully as have those of
the Senate. Speaker Mills, when asked
last night whether he favored a con
vention, replied that he was not yet
ready to announce lJis decision; like
wise Representative LInthicum. chair
man of the House judiciary committee.
The bill provides for holding a con
vention at Salem next January of 90
delegates. SO to be appointed by tho
Supreme court and CO to be oloctcd by
the people next June. The constitution
is to oe voted gj by tne people In
Jure. 190b.
ADONIS OF THE HOUSE
LETTER FOR HANDSOMEST MAN
IN APPRECIATIVE HANDS.
FRATERNAL INSURANCE BILL.
Provision Made for Regulation of Or
ders in the State.
SALEM, Or.. Jan. 27. (Speclal.)-Sena-tor
Kuykendall today introduced In the
Senate a comprehensive bill to define and
regulate fraternal Insurance societies. The
bill is the ne drafted by the National
Fraternal Congress, modified in a few
minor particulars to meet conditions in
this state.
Th principal features of the bill are
that it provides for the Incorporation of
organizations doing a fraternal Insurance
business and forbids them to issue any
certificate of Insurance until they haw
approved applications for Insurance on
lives of 500 persons, averaging 51000 each,
and paying advance premiums amounting
to 52500, which sum shall be a trust fund
for the protection of members. Annual
reports must be made to the Insurance
commissioner and pay an annual license
fee of 525.
Tho Insurance Commissioner has power
to examine all fraternal societies and can
cel their licenses If it is found that they
are not complying with the law. The
rates of insurance must be not less than
those llxcd by the National Fraternal
Congress. Foreign insurance societies are
admitted to transact business upon the
same terms as societies organized in this
Btatc.
The joint committee appointed to inves
tigate the subject of establishing an in
stitution for the care and training of the
feeble-minded has decided to report
vorably and to recommend an appropria
tion of 513.000 lor buildings, also the pur
chase of 50 acres of land near the pres
ent state institutions at Salem.
Stenographers Feast on Caramels
When Chamberlain of Umatilla
Reads a Dainty Missive.
SALEM, Or., Jan. 27. (Special.) Repre
sentative Chamberlain, of Umatilla, is the
handsomest man in the House. It Is all
settled. The stenographers have said so,
and they ought to know, for more than
one has attended several sessions and
seen Legislators como and go. And the
sweet things said so to Mr. Chamberlain,
too.
Did Mr. Chamberlain object? Not at
all; he liked it to the extent of S3. And
he blushed almost as prettily as they
did.
Under the incentive of going to Port
land this afternoon cvory one worked
hard during tho early part of the day.
Thero were multitudinous reports to get
out. and tho typewriters were hammered
unmercifully for hours, at a stretch by
Tosy fingers.
As the afternoon session wore on tho
members looked at the clock and moved
about uneasily. So did the girls.
Between Speaker Mills and Reading
Clerk "Pat" McArthur a lot of local bills.
amendments to charters and so forth
wero going through In a steady stream.
"A bill for an act to amend an act enti
tled an act to incorporate the City of
Podunk." shouted "Pat" at the top of his
lungs. The members, except the one or
two vitally interested, didn t know one
bill from the other. They yawned and
stretched their legs and wished the clock
would hurry. .
It was drcarv worlr to listen to it all.
Usually, when the stenographers haven't
anything else to do. they listen to the
proceedings of the House and size up fu
ture work. But those charter bills were
too much for them.
A meeting was hastily called In the
clerks' room, directly back of tho Houpc.
A note was 'quickly indited and dis
patched by a pag The page laid It In
front of Mr. Chamberlain. It .was ad
dressed to
"Tho Handsomest Man In the House."
The note was a polite and dellcatcly
wcrdod intimation that the girls didn't
have anything to do, and really couldn't
go out to buy candy. And if
"The Handsomest Man In the House"
dropped a 55 piece In an envelope and
sent It back. The candy was immediately
sent for. It was so funny that a ripple of
laughter floated out and got sadly mixed
up with "Pat's" sonorous tones.
Mr. Chamberlain was Invited back to
share In the candy. He went. Then an
other laugh could be heard within the
dignified confines of tho House. Scrgeant-at-Arms
Murphy walked over and closed
the door very decisively. But then Mur
phy wasn't in on the candy deal, though
Mr. Chamberlain was.
The secret and the candy wore so good
that they weren't shared with the girls In
the connecting room downstairs. "The
horrid things." say the candylcss ones.
Mr. Chamberlain says it was worth 55,
but he didn't say it anywhore near the
press table.
AGE OF CONSENT BILL.
Substitute for Coe Measure Will
Probably Pass the Senate.
SALEM, dr.. Jan. 27. (Speclal.)-Sen-ator
Coe's bill to raise the age of consent
of females from IS to IS years has been
reported unfavorably and a substitute
therefor reported favorably. Coe's bill
provided that any person having Inter
course with a female under the ago of IS
year? hall be deemed guilty of rape.
The fight on this bill was so strong that
it could not pass and it was decided to
leave the age limit at 16 as now and pro
vide by another bill that If any person
shall have Intercourse with a female be
tween the ages of IS and IS he shall be
deemed guilty of fornication, punishable
by a fine of 5101 to 53)0 or Imprisonment
In Jail one month to one year, or In the
penitentiary not exceeding 20 years.
It Is understood that the substitute bill
Is satisfactory to the Senate and will
probably pass. Petitions for raising the
consent age to IS yeara were read today
from several W. C T." U. organizations
and from the Ministerial Association of
Salem.
INSTITUTES FOR FARMERS
HOUSE MEASURE CARRIES $2500
APPROPRIATION.
Jagger Calls It a Graft, but More
Than Enough Favorable Votes
Are- Cast.
SALEM, Or.. Jan. 27. (Special.) The
bill of Newell of Washington, providing
for agricultural institutes throughout the
state, to be conducted- under the direction
of the board of regents of the State Agri
cultural College at such times and places
as they shall direct, passed the House this
morning despite several sarcastic flings.
An appropriation of 52500 Is made for the
institutes.
Newell, in explanation of the bill, said
that tho institutes at present conducted
by the Agricultural College faculty wero
of material benefit to farmers, who there
by learned the result of Investigations
made at the college. He cited as one In
stance the fact that It had been proven
that by the Injection of chemicals Into the
soil of the "white lands" of the Willam
ette Valley alfalfa could bo profitably
grown. From a far corner arose Cornctt
of Linn.
"Though I know this bill is from the
Grangors, and I am a Granger, I do not
see Its necessity. Mr. Newell has said that
the institutes were at present paid for out
of a fund provided by the Government.
Why should the state pay any more?"
Jagger of Clackamas said he considered
It a graft. But tho bill passed with votes
to spare.
TO PUNISH HUMAN PARASITES
House Passes Male Consort Bill With
No Dissenting Voice.
SALEM, Or., Janv 27. Special.) Not
one dissenting voice 'was heard against
passage of Bailey's male consort bill in
the House this morning. When the bill
came up for third reading, after recom
mendation by the House committee on
health and public morals yesterday.
Bailey rose and said:
This bill Is aimed at the most vicious
form of parasite which afflicts mankind.
Its purpose Is plainly stated in the bill,
and I hope the vote will be unanimous."
It was.
The bill applies mainly to Portland, and
naturally was Introduced by the Multno
mah delegation. Men who live from thq
earnings of fallen women aro to face far
heavier punishments than by the vagrancy
law. whose limit for imprisonment is DO
days. It provides that any man who con
nives at the prostitution of his wife or
lives off unfortunate women may be sen
tenced to one to three years In the penitentiary-
Any man who entices a girl
under IS years into a house of ill-fame or
any resort of like character may be sen
tenced to Imprisonment up to five years.
OFFICER WITHOUT POWER.
State Veterinarian Would Be Abol
ished by Senator Smith.
SALEM. Or.. Jan. 27. (Special.) Tho
official head of Dr. William McLean.
State Veterinarian. Is to fall under the
legislative ax. If Senator Smith's bill re
pealing the Domestic Animal Commission
law should pass. The bill was introduced
today as S. B. 153. It Is as short as
the bill repealing the State Health Office
laws, and was introduced for the same
reason.
Senator Smith says that the United
Suites Bureau of Domestic Animal In
dustry Is thoroughly covering the work
mapped out for the State Veterinarian and
that the latter office Is useless and inef
fective. The state office Is without power
to enforco laws for tho extermination of
diseases of stock, while the Government
officials can take effective measures.
Senator Smith says this office should be
abolished the same as the Health Offices
at Astoria. Yaqulna. Gardiner and Coos
Bay. The appropriations under the act to
be repealed arc about 5CO0O each two
years.
Senator Booth's Inheritance tax bill hag
for Its purpose the removal of some doubt
as to the question whether some kinds of
bequests for benevolent and charitable
purposes arc exempt from the payment of
the tax. The amendment he proposes is
In accordance with present practice and
Is intended to settle definitely questions
that have arisen.
HOUSE SENDS BILL BACK
COUNTY PROSECUTING ATTOR
NEY MEASURE IS FAVORED.
Acceptance of an Unfavorable Report
From the Judiciary Committee
Is Refused.
SALEM, Or., Jan. 27. (Special.) The
fight for county Prosecuting Attorneys
did not break out in the House this morn
Ing, as was expected, for when the bill
camo up for passage as a special order
and the judiciary committee reported
against passage, the House sent the bill
back to the committee. The sentiment
of the House at this time is clearly in
favor of passage.
The action of the House Is a virtual re
fusal to accept the report of tho com
mittee. One member of the committee,
"Josephine" Smith, sent In a minority
report recommending .amendments to the
bill to cure the alleged defects in.- tne
measure. This Is the second time the
House has refused to accept an adverse
report on tho bill the first being when
the committee on elections sent it back
with recommendation that It be not
passed. At that time the bill was referred
to-the committee on judiciary.
Chairman LInthicum, of the judiciary
committee, asked the House what It
wanted his committee to do with the bill.
but no clear explanation was forthcoming
and tho Multnomah gentleman sat down
with a blank look on his face.
Speaker Mills jocularly suggested that
Mayger and Kay, the chief objectors to
the report. Instruct the committee.
A. bill to charge applicants for notary
public commissions 510 failed to pass the
House this morning by a vote of 24 yeas
and 23 nays. 12 members being absent,
The bill was Introduced by Representa
tive Josephine Smith and was re com
mended for passage by the committee on
judiciary. Several lawyers In various
parts of the chamber popped up to de
claim against the bill.
Measure Not Only an Economical One,
but It Is Argued Will Mark an
Advance in Humanity
and Decency.
SALEM. Or., Jan. 27. (Special.) That
Insane persons may be escorted to the
state asylum by attendants of that in
stitution, instead of by sheriffs and their
deputies, the House passed the -bill of
Representative Newell, of Washington
County, this morning by 49 ayes against
two nays the negative votes being those
of Burns, of Coos, and Blakley. of Uma
tilla, both Democrats. Burns was the only
member who spoke against the measure.
Those who advocated the passage were
Newell. Speaker Mills, LInthicum. -Kay.
McLead. Edwards, Ritchie and Hermann.
"Let us pass this bill." cried McLeod.
In a speech wherein he Inveighed against
the "revolting and disgraceful" scenes
that have been enacted under the present
law In the transportation of female insane
to Salem by sheriffs, and told of how the
husband of an insane woman had been
refused by the Sheriff of Union permis
sion to accompany her to the asylum and
minister to hef needs. "Let us leave Mr.
Burns in- the minority." added McLeod.
Newell. In urging the passage of the
bill, said it would mark "an advance in
humanity and decency." and quoted fromr
the report of the Secretary of State to
prove that the bill would effect a saving
of perhaps S1C.000 a year In the cost of
conveying Insane to the asylum. He
pointed out that other states had laws
similar to the one proposed In his bill,
and quoted a letter from the superinten
dent of the insane asylum of Idaho, who
said that the cost in that state had been
reduced more than one-half by employing
asylum attendants instead of Sheriffs, and
that the new system was more satisfac
tory In many other ways, especially In
promoting the comfort of patients.
Linthicum called the bill "a very mer
itorious measure." Speaker Mills sum
moned Miles, of Yamhill, to the chair and
took the floor to champion the -hill vig
orously. He scored the present system as
graft of Sheriffs," and declare,! that
failure of the House to pass the bill
would "stigmatize Its members as men
without humanity and without decency."
"The saving of 510,000." said he. "Is noth
ing compared with the saving of our rep
utations as men. Women are more or
less at the mercy of men, especially
women without minds, who are put into
the hands of Sheriffs." The speaker
rounded up his remarks by declaring the
present system was one of "cruelty and
barbarity."
Burns jumped to his feet tocombat the
bill. He said that the bill would delay
conveyance of patients to the asylum and
that Sheriffs could take them to Salem In
the same time, or less, than would be re
quired for attendants to reach the county
from which, they were sent.
"If a Sheriff can go out 200 or 300 miles
Into a county for patients." said, he, "and
hold them two or three weeks until the
arrival of attendants from Salem, why
may he not just as well take them tp the
asylum? I look on this bill as presented
In the Interest of persons at Salem who
are looking for patronage. It is unfair
and unjust.
"The allegation that Sheriffs are incom
petent to do this duty and that the meth
od now In force Is barbaric and cruel Is
grave reflection on the humane spirit
of our Sheriffs and people. If Sheriffs are
grafting, the business of this body Is to
enact law for prevention of the abuse.
Show me examples of cruelty and suffer
ing under the present law."
Kay, of Marlon, called the bill one of
tho most meritorious before the Legislat
ure. A similar measure passed tha Sen
ate two years ago. he said, and at once
Sheriffs from all parts of the state hied
to Salem to lobby against It. Kay re
marked that he had seen enough In
stances of suffering and cruelty under the
system now In force to convince him that
the bill should pass. "The bill U for
economy and humanity." he added.
After further remarks by McLeod, Ed
wards, Ritchie and Hermann in advocacy
of tho measure, the bill passed.
HARRY MURPHY'S FANTASTIC PEN PLAYS PRANKS WITH LEGISLATORS
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TO CLEAR THE WILLAMETTE.
House Joint Memorial Is Introduced
by Munkers.
SALEM. Or.. Jan. 27. (Special.) A free
and unobstructed Willamette from Eugene
to Portland is the object of the House
joint memorial introduced by Munkers, of
Linn, this afternoon.
"We respectfully urge favorable action
by Congress upon the Willamette River,
as recommended by Major W. C. Langfltt,
of the United States Engineers, in charge
of this district; and that we earnestly re
quest that immediate action be taken by
tho Congress of the United States to pro
vide funds for the improvement of said
river," is one of the paragraphs.
An appropriation of not less than 540,000
Is asked with which to remove snags Is
asked to be made at once, and a further
appropriation of 540.000 Is asked for revet
ment work on the banks of the river- An
other recommendation is that Congress
appropriate money to buy tho Oregon City
canal and locks. This resolution was re
ferred to the House resolutions commit
tee, of which Kay, of Marlon, Is .chairman-
The special water power committee, of
which Kllllngsworth, of Multnomah, Is
chairman, also sent in a joint memorial
addressed to Congress. The waterpowers
of a number of mountain streams now
held by the Government are asked to be
ceded to the state, together with the ri
parian rights and title to the land3 Im
mediately adjacent. The object of the
memorial Is stated to be partially the de
sire of the state to acquire possession of
these water gifts before they are obtained
by private interests for speculative pur
poses. This also went to the House reso-lutions'committee.
DOCTORS PUT IT TO SLEEP.
Anti-Christian Science Bill Has Been
Postponed Indefinitely.
SALEM. Or.. Jan. 27. (Special.) An
anti-Christian Science bill went to the
graveyard in the Senate today, with the
.aid and assistance of the doctors. They
gave It an overdose of knockout- drops In
the form of a "do not pass" recommenda
tion, and It was indefinitely postponed.
The bill was Coshow's (by request). It
provided that parents and guardians
must provide prompt medical attention
for children who may be sick or Injured
The measure was referred to the commit
tee on medicine, composed of Senators
Coe. Tuttle and Smith.
In reporting the bill adversely. Chair
man Coc said that, although the doctors,
have some very pronounced views on the
subject of legislation regarding Christian
Scientists, they did not feel like taking
advantage of their position on the com
mittee on medicine to secure the passage
of laws against them.