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About The Semi-weekly democrat. (Albany, Linn County, Or.) 1913-1926 | View Entire Issue (March 7, 1913)
Linn County Solon Claims There Is Too Much Legislation on Statute Books. GOOD ROAD MEASURES HAVE MERIT SAYS LEBANON SAGE He Favors Passage of Consti tutional Amendment Limiting Number of Legislative Bills. Continued from Tuesday, March 4. Declaring that he regards it as the first duty of every member of the state legislature to return to Salem and complete the business of the ses sion, Senator M. A. Miller left on the evening train last night for the Capi tal Citv. While in the city Senator Miller gave out the following interview to a Democrat representative: "It was a very industrious legisla ture and passed some good laws. It met with the same experience that most legislatures meet with, and that was a congested condition of business at the closinir davs of the session. This is a condition that ought to be i remedied and can be. A proposed amendment to the constitution was offered to be voted for at the next general election. It limited each member of the legislature to fivc bills, and it lacked but two votes of passing in the senate. I gave it my earnest support. 1 believe that if such an amendment was proposed that the people would adopt it, and it would be one of the greatest reforms that could be brought about. Two' years ago the legislature broke all previous records in the way of introduction of bills, some 725 being introduced. This time they rcat-htd nearly 1000. It is impossible to consider so many bills in forty days, and the result is that many laws are passed without careful consideration, thereby loading up our statute books with matters that cause the succeeding legislature to repeal. "Oregon is not in need of very much legislation but what she needs is good legislation along certain lines. ''Among some of the more import ant matters of public interest that were passed upon at this session of the legislature, was the question of good roads, including two bills, one providing for a highway commission consisting of the governor, secretary of state and state treasurer, with pow er to appoint a state engineer at a salary of $3XX) per annum. It also provides for a quarter of a mill levy on all taxable property in the state and the commission has power to let out work to the lowest bidder; also to work convicts on the road. The state engineer is to establish an of fice at Salem and work in conjunction with the various county courts throughout the state in constructing roads. The other bill is the county bonding act which provides that bonds may be voted at a popular elec tion by the' people themselves, leav ing the matter in the hands of the voters. Both of these bills were compromises and I believe are very good bills." Mr. Miller served as acting chair man of the committee on roads and highways during the time these last two bills were under consideration. STUBBORN MAN REFUSED TO PAY FINE; SENT TO JAIL Otto Lesch Eccentric Character Before Police Court This Morning. Refusing to pay his fine of $10 and costs or to work on the .streets as punishment for his offense, when he was brought before Police judge Van Tassel this morning. Otto Lesch, a laborer, was sent back to jail to think over his troubles. Lesch was arrested late last night on a charge of drunkenness and passed the night in the city bastile. It is said that he had plenty of mon ey to pay the fine and was perfectly able to work but out of stubbornness refused to do either. BANK WILL BE OPENED AT SHEDD-. CAPITAL $15,000 C. J. Shcdd. of Shedd. arrived this morning on a short business trip, pre- j paratnry to the opening of th nw ' bank at Shedd. The ban u.is oie.au- : ized yesterday with Mr. :d 1 as ; president, J. li. Hell vice prcsil.-nt and j V. M. Meals. Jr.. as cashier. The cap- j ital stock is $15.0.10. Mr. Hell went to : Salem today to make the proper M- j ings with the state bank examiner, ' and the bank will probably open to morrow. Shedd first banking insti- I tution. It begins business on a solid basis, in a prosperous section of the ! county. Ben Barker, O. K. motornlan, who passed south at 9:40 o'clock this fore noon, reported his father A. D. Bark er, recently stricken with paralysis, as greatly improved. MARK WOODRUFF TELLS OF P. & E. EXTENSION PLANS The Road Between Albany and Wellesdale Will Be in Oper ation This Year. That the electric line between Al bany and Wellsdale, on the West Side road, will be in operation this year, was the statement of Mr. Mark Woodruff, publicity man of the Port land, Eugene & Eastern. Mr. Wood ruff arrived this noon with a large number of maps of the system be tween Portland and Eugene, showing three hundred and forty miles of elec tric road in all. From Portland there will be two routes, one the old West Side road, the other a new line run ning south justjvest of the Soutlfern Pacific on the East Side, touching all the built up towns along the way. There will al?o be a diverging line taking in Moltalla and Silverton, on the east side. The line between Albany and Cor vallis will be electrified this summer as a part of the system, and work is now being pushed' on the exten sion of the road south from Cor vallis to Eugene. It is said this system, when com pleted, will become one of the great est electric systems in the United States. Y1C.L BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE HOLDING MEETINGS At Supper in Banquet Room of New Elite Plans Discussed and Campaign Started. The board of directors of the local V. M. C. A. convened an informal meeting last evening in the banquet roo in of the new Elite, when a dainty supper was served. It is the intention of the board to meet every week to discuss the plans pertaining to the local institution and to push the work forward as rapidly as possible. The main topic of discussion be fore the meeting last evening was the subject of membership canvas. It was decided that a campaign will be started to increase the membership of the association. When interviewed Mr. Carl E. Sox, president of the institution, said: "By May 1, wc expect to enroll a mem bership of 250 and I would like to see all who would like to join the Y. M. C. A. come forward and make out their applications without delay for we wish to rapidly increase our mem bership." ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING Of FIRE COMPANY NO. 2 Fire House to Be Rearranged and Cots Installed; New Ap paratus Expected Soon. An enthusiastic meeting of Fire Company Xo. 2 was held last night at headquarters on Lyon street and was attended by nearly all of its mem bers which numbers 32. The session convened at 8 o'clock and was presided over by John Spoon er; chairman of the company. Many matters of interest were discussed. Several splendid talks were given by members present in reference to systematic fire fighting and on the economic way of handlincr anparatus. Many changes are contemplated at the engine house to accomodate the new fire fighting apparatus which is expected to arrive sometime the latter part of the month. Upon its arrival, it is claimed, this city will be equipped with the latest implements for fire fighting. It was decided at the meeting last night that the upper story of the 'building would be rearranged and several regulation fireman's cots will be installed. Fred Hockspicr the chief of the fire department has been out of the city for some time working on the Oregon Electric and E. H. Hor sky, the assistant chief, is acting in Mr. Hockspier's absence. Thomas S. Paine, of Corvallts. was in the city today. Mjss Pauline Birch and Sam Birch, a brother, returned this morning on the early train from Oakland, Calif., where they have been attending school for the past winter. C B. Settlemeir oj Tangent was in to'wn today. J. McDowell, the shoe dealer, vent up the C. & E. this mo-ning, on a iw.ncTcia! trip. Hons. I.. G. Lewelling and Chas. Child s returned to Salem this morn ing by the- Oregon Electric. Mr. Lewelling was accompanied by Mrs. I.e welling. They are entitled to credit for being against the machine. Mr. Lewelling remarked this morn ing that notwithstanding some news paper reports he had voted for all of "ov. West's measures, and doesn't believe in passing any of the vetoed measures over his head just for spite work. Mr. Ilulburt arrived this noon from Frecport, III., while on a coast trip. He ;s the guest of S. Frcerhn Vr. Pi'Ibuit was here three yeirs ?g". II. E. Van Xess. of Cnrvaliis, has been in the city. Mrs. C. V. Littler went to Portland this forenoon, called there by the dangerous illness of her sister, Mrs. Helen Robinson Hcndcrschott. She received a telephone message this morning, telling of the illness of her sister, and the taking of her to St. Vincent's hospital for treatment and HOLDS SESSION Mustered Quorum Last Evening and Held First Meeting in Several Weeks. NOTHING BUT THE ROUTINE BUSINESS WAS TRANSACTED Manager Stewart to Commun icate with Scio Club for Better Train Service. After the regular meetings had been postponed several weeks on ac count of inability of members to be present, the Albany Commercial Club mustered a quorum last evening and held its regular Monday session. Aside from the general routine of business nothing of particular note came up before the board. Recent bills incurred were allowed and sev eral communications, relative to measures before the twenty-seventh legislature, in which the club took an active part, were read and passed upon. A communication from the Oregon Development League was read an nouncing the fact that every measure introduced by them in the legislature had met with success. The thanks of the league were extended to the Com mercial Club for its assistance in put ting the bills through the legislature. Another letter from the Oregon Development League was also read, commending the legislative delega tion from Linn county for their ac tive and efficient work in promoting the passage of senate bill Xo. 72, and other measures proposed by the league. Communications were received from the Home and Bell Telephone companies, notifying the club that on account of the enactment o'f a new law bv the legislature, they would hercaiKT be unaMe to extend to the club the concession of free phones. The special committee, consisting of the president and secretary of the club, appointed some time ago to look after the interests o'f Linn county at the present session of the legislature in the matter of the division line be tween Linn and Marion counties, re ported that the club's contention had been sustained, and that senate bill Xo. 60, describing the boundary line, and introduced at the request of this club, had been passed and signed by the governor. Before adjournment Manager Stew art was requested to communicate with the Scio' Commercial Club, in an effort to secure a better train service over the C. & E. R. R. between Al bany and Detroit. CITY SPAN OF MOLES ARE CENTER OF MANY REMARKS Splendid Pair of Animals Are Known by Familiar Names of Wilson and Marshall. The splendid pair of mules recent ly purchased by the city at a cost of SSOO and used to haul the new street flusher, present an interesting sight, in their new harness, hitched to the new wagon. The team has been the center of much interest, if the atti tude one person is a criterion. "I don't see why the city wasted its money on those things." said this person. "A good team of horses wouldn't cost any more." "Well, you see," remarked ' a by stander, "it is just carrying out the ideas o'f the incoming administration. The mule, or rather his antecedent, the donkey, is the beast of burden for the democrats." "Doesn't make any difference," shouted the first person, "I suppose if the progressives had won, the city would have bought a pair 'of bull moose or a couple of baby elephants, if the republicans hadn't Ir'st out." "Well, look at it from this point," rejoined the other, ''this is a day of horseless carriages, and it carries out this idea." "Thunder with the horseless, car riages and your ideas," shrieked the first person as he wheeled and strode away. Nevertheless several city officials have expressed themselves as thor oughly satisfied with the work and behavior of the team, and Art Palm er, the driver, says he has become quite attached to them. Already the mules are ik n own by the faiui.vr names of "Wilson and Marshall." Fruit Inspector D. W. Rumlmugh went out to lirownsviUe this morn ing to look after the trees in that section. He reports a large increase Jin the amount of spraying done, prob ably ten times what it was three or four years ago. Farmers arc waking i up to the fact that if tin y have fruit they must take care of their trees. At I the fame time there are .1 good many neglected orchards that need im provement. Mrs. Cox, of Portland, returned home today, accompanied by her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Dr. Cox. Sh had been here several days on a visit with her son. Dr. W. A. Cox. C. C. Colter, Northwest superin tendent of the International Corres pondence school, returned to Seattle today in a response to a dispatch, after being in Albany a few days. F. P. Devancy went out to Leba non this afternoon. $10,000 AVAILABLE FOR POST OFFICE Wire Received from Senator Chamberlain Indicates Bill Has Been Passed. BUILDING WILL CONTAIN ROOMS FOR FEDERAL COURT Appropriation of $65,000 Not Enough for Erection of Suitable Building. That the public building bill has been passed and signed and that the same includes an additional appropri ation of $10. IKK) which was proposed by Senator Geo. E. Chamberlain, was the word received today from the senator by the manager of the local Commercial Club. The wire was received by Mr. Stew art just before going to press and de tail information could not be secured as to the date when the appropriation will be available. The sum of $65. OCX) had been pre viously provided by the house bill but this sum was found to be inadequate. The services of Senator Chamberlain were enlisted on behalf of Albany and the amendment giving .the city an ad ditional sum of $10,1X10 was the re sult of his activity as a member of the senate. With the additional appropriation available the building will be con structed on a larger scale and will in clude room for a federal court and of fices. " News Beginning With This Head Is From Daily Issue of ) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5. ?)i3 TELEPHONE RATES BEFORE THE RAILROAD COMMISSION Hon. Frank J. Miller Goes to Brownsville to Hear Evi dence on Rate Question. lion. I' J. Miller, chairman of the .state railroad commission, went to Mrownsville this morning to hear evidence in the matter of the raising of the rates by the Independent Tel ephone Company, of Mrownsville. This hearing is under the new util ities law. Whenever rates are raised it is necessary to have the consent of the commission. It is said the main tenance cost of the line is more than that of the annual toll, a rare thing in the business. Mr. Miller returned this morning from Medford, where he has been to preside at a hearing in reference to telephone rates there. Considerable busines of this kind and also' in connection with water rates, is now constantly up before the commission, several cities have contentions, among them Medford, Marshfield, and Urants t'ass. LINN COUNTY COURT CONVENES SESSION Several Road Petitions Will Come Up; Road Supervisors Go Before Court. The county court convened in reg ular session this afternoon. The aud iting of numerous bills occupied the attention of the court a good portion of the afternoon. Several road petitions are to come up at this session and the action of the court on these papers cannot be learned until tomorrow. ' Several road supervisors arc in at tendance and it is expected that the improvement of many roads in the county will be ordered. Aside from the general routine of work, Judge McKuight informed the Democrat representative that nothing of particular importance would come up at this session. The court will re main in session all the afternoon. SENATOR SMITH HAS . NINE BILLS PASSEO Senator Smith, of Marshfield, a member of the Senate in the 27th Legislature, in company with James Lewis, a real estate dealer of Cor vallis, were at the Ilammel for dinner this noon. The Senator is on his way home from Salem and when seen was in a hurry to catch the south bound train. Mr. Smith was a prominent figure during the legislative session., con tributing a good many to the 1000 bills introduced in the Legislature. He said that nine of his bills suc ceeded in passing. LEWELLING SAYS Linn County Representive Is Loud in Praise of Work of 27th Legislature. MUCH MERITORIOUS LEGISLATION PASSED Claims Linn County Delegation Voted Right on All Important Questions. Declaring that the members of the twenty-seventh legislature worked harder and more industriously than the members of any previous assem bly and it is his belief that when the smoke blows away the people will realize that a good deal of meritor ious legislation was accomplished, Representative I- G. Lewelling who returned this noon from the capital city, exprcsseil himself as satisfied to let his constituents decide for themselves. The following statement was au thorized by the representative when interviewed: "When the smoke clears away, 1 believe that the people of this state will give the 27th session credit for having passed nmre constructive and meritorious legislation than any pre ceeding session. "It has been conceded by those who have been present at prior session that Wi- worked harder and longer hours than any session heretofore. "I believe we established a prece dent by remaining in session at our own expense unt'l all legislation was considered carefully. I don't mean to say that we didn't make mistakes, but we made fewer than if we had tried to pass upon all the matters before us in the 40 days usually taken. "I think our cnusiitiients will give the I. inn county delegation credit for voting conscientiously upon all meas ures. And upon Gov. West's moral crusade measures we went down the line in support of nil of them. We were also a unit in voting to sustain the governor's vetoes on all salary bills which were pased over his head at yesterday's session, taking the stand that the sooner the legislature is relieved of the power to regulate county salaries the better it will be for all concerned. They are only used now for the purpose of log-rolling and whipping members into line. I am pleased to say that the I. inn county delegation was successtul in securing the passage of every measure which wc introduced except one which I introduced to abolish the slate immi gration office. This office asked for $100.01 (0.00 appropriation, but after niv bill came up to abolish it the ap propriation was cut to $50,000.00 and one-half of this goes to the state board of immigration. I think we were treated well at the hands of the organization, commonly called the "steam roller,' in view of the fact that we opposed it all during the ses- EASTERN MAN THANKS ALBANY FOR GOOD HEALTH Says Climate Is a Good Doctor and That He Is Now a Well Man. Arriving in Albany last Thursday a confirmed invalid, J. II. Kobebaitgh, a former resident of Sharon, Penn sytvania, is now a well man and says he is indebted to the invigorating climate of the Willamette Valley for his recovery. When Uoilebaugh arrived he was conveyed from the-train to his apart ments nt the hotel in a wheeled chair but is now engaged in the construc tion of a barn on a place in Nortli Albany which he purchased from flecker & Heain. Two years ago Mr. Kodchaugh was taken .ill with a severe attack of rheumatism and never until he locat ed in Albany has he been free from pain. Don Koss, chief operator of the Postal Telegraph Co., at Portland, for the section running from the Sound to Southern Oregon, has been in the city looking after local inter ests, among other things the run ning o'f a line from Kawlings office to the O. L. depot. Mr. Ross is a former Albany young man, in charge of the postal office here eleven years A little three or four year old boy at the depot this morning, who had evidently seen a little of the world, after looking at engine No. 5, on the C & K., headed for Detroit, remark ed: "I m't that a funny engine. It burns wood." Mr. and Mrs. McDowell, of the Mc Dowell Shoe Store, went up the C. & K. this morning. Mrs. II. K. Cronisc went up to KingM'i'n this morning nn a visit. SURVEYING? s PENLAND & EATON POOM 1 Albany State Bank Bldg. ' Home 303 Bell 457-R. THREAT MADE TO BURN OIL PLANT Anonymous Letter to Standard Oil Co. Demands Resignation . of Howard. REPRESENTATIVE OF CO. IS HERE TO INVESTIGATE Believed to Be Work of Liquor Element of City, Who Seek to Oust Police Officer. l'hat the destruction ly fire of the Standard Oil Company's plant of this ity has been threatened, was learned yesterday afternoon from authorities conneetion with the local plant. A representative of the company from Tortland was in the city yester day to investigate the information conveyed in an anonymous letted re ceived at Portland Monday from this city. The letter was addressed to the Standard Oil Co. at Portland and signed "the committee," and stated that unless tlie company ucmamieu the immediate resignation of the local reoresentative. I. I.. Howard, the plant would be set afire. The letter was written on plain stationery aim contained nothing to disclose the identity of us authors. 1 he hand writing was uneven and was evidently written by an uncultured llaml Willi efforts to disguise the writuiK- It s said that the letter has caused un easiness anionic Standard Oil com pany officials at Portland and upon receipt of the missive al the Portland office an iniinediale iuvcstiuation was ordered, l'roin the representative who was in the city yesterday, noth ing could be learned with reference to the result of the invesliiiation or the probable action to be taken by the company. The letter has caused considerable commotion in local police circles and to-vliose door the matter can be laid or for just what cause such a bold threat has been made oil the local oil plaut is a matter of much speculation. However, police officials are of the opinion that it is the malicious mark of the licpior clement of this city, in view of the fact that Mr. Howard has been closely identified with the police force. Mr. Howard has prov ed an efficient policeman and has taken an active part in upholding the law, having fiKUred conspicuously in the arrest of several hootlcKKcrs who were recently arrested. Similar threats have been made be fore on local city officials and it is believed that in view of the responsi ble position held by Mr. Howard, the writer of the letter thought that the object of his threat would easily be accomplished. Mr. Howard said this morning that he intends to' ignore the matter, as he is satisfied that the threat emanated from a source of lower elements, who arc seeking his downfall because of his activity as n member of the police force. THEY WILL WASH EVERY THING BUT THE The New Laundry Is One of the Best Equipped in the Entire State. "We wash everything but the bihy," -aid li. Wieder this morning when interviewed at the plant of thr,- Al bany Steam laundry. "We would just as soon," continued Mr. AY'itder, "wash a piece of Irish crochette as t wash a pair of socks." Judging from-the equipment of the plant, wlndi was recently purchased bv Messrs. K. L. and C. M.. Wieder and'J. K. Koberts, it appears to be capable of doing any kind of laundry work.. At the instance of M. 1". I.. Wieder, who has had 21) years' ex perience in the laundry .business,' many changes for the betterment of the concern have been made. The plant has been thoroughly over hauled, several economic conditions have been changed, ami it is now practically a new laundry, ' A new ironing machine has been installed, together with new starching and washing machines of the Intent type. A modern extractor was alto recent ly added to the plant. ."The laundry as it now stands under the latest sanitary methods, repre sents a modern concern in every de tail. I'' very thing is kept in a clean and orderly condition and the most efficient help is employed. C. K. Stauard and I. K. X'oppack, prominent llrownsvillc men, went to McMiunville this afternoon to attend the funeral of If. K. Ililleary, former ly a resident of that city. ' Mr. Ilil leary was held in high esteem there. J. C. Lowe, of the Home Telephone Co., Corvallis, went to Mrownsville this morning to take in the telephone r:ir at that ritv.