MAIL TRIBUNE, Medford, Oregon, Monday, February 2, 1939 3
Legislators Life Said Hectic, Harried
By MARIJANE DUNCAN
It was easy for us to swing
back into the accelerated rou
tine of the State Legislature
in session. In fact, it seemed
almost as though we were
simply picking up the threads
of another very real, very
sarnest, existence, and, con
versely, leaving far behind
the easier and admittedly
more -normal routine of our
life at home in Medford. The
transition, as I say, was easy:
the new life is not. It is busy,
hectic, and sometimes harried
-but by the same token, both
satisfying and exciting.
Bob arrived in Salem sev
eral days before the session
began; and I followed soon
after. We left the children
at home for an extra week
of school and to give us time
to get our "sea legs" and a
chance to get our unfurnished
house furnished. It was quick
ly apparent that this was a
wise move all around.
My first, ingenuous question
to Bob, upon my arrival, was,
"What on earth are you doing
to keep busy this week?" He
gave me a look, and the next
morning at eight sharp, I got
my answer.
Believe me, such official
events as openings of legisla
tive sessions, swearings-in and
inaugurations don't just hap-pen-they
are brought about
by long hours of honest toil.
Nearly a full crew was at
work in the House when I
reported the Friday morning
before th Monday morning.
There were committees to be
worked over, lists to be made,
iob-seekers to be interviewed,
other people coming and go
ing constantly, scripts to De
stenciled, mimeographed, and
distributed, and a host of
other tasks.
Dr. Sly Reports
On Saturday morning, Jan
uary 10, both houses con
vened. together with state of
ficia's, members of the press,
and interested persons from
all over the state to near tir.
John Slv make his report on
Oregon's tax structure. Most
legislators had read the report
already but listened intently
as Dr. Sly, a most appealing
gentleman with an engaging,
wry humor and a vast knowl
edge of his subject, brought
the printed pages to life. From
backstage I heard part of the
proceedings, but there were
still many things to be done
in the office, and I missed
much of the doctor's talk.
Both Bob and I were priv
ileged to meet the Slys that
eveniiig during a dinner party
given by Ira Keller, another
charming and erudite gentle
man who, although an Ore
gon resident of comparatively
short duration, is an enthusi
astic booster of our state and
its advantages over all others.
The party included such nota
bles as then-Governor and
Mrs. Holmes and then-Gover-nnr-to-be
and Mrs. Hatfield.
For all the assembled "brass",
it proved a most lively and
informal evening
Monday came not a bit too
soon. We were ready -just
The Hall of Representatives
was to be the scene of the in
auguration, as tradition de
creed. Another event, impor
tant to us. took place there
in the morning. The House
assembled, its new members
taking their places with feel
ings (I am sure) of excited
fulfillment: and the roll was
called. The new Speaker of
the House was elected.
Oath Administered
It was a proud and happy
moment for Bob and for me,
one made more meaningful by
the presence of many good
and loyal friends, among
them Bill and Jean McAllis
ter. The Chief Justice, look
ing very solemn and impres
sive in his black robe, admin
istered the oath of office to
his ex-partner. It was a sig
nificant moment for them
both, especially when Jhe Jus
tice presented Bob .with the
gavel he once used as Speak
er of the House, admonishing
him to use it wisely and well.
Soon after the House had
organized and adjourned,
preparations began for the in
augural in the afternoon. An
organ had been installed the
day before (and I will say we
who worked all day Sunday
felt the organist had had
plenty of practice, particular
ly on the passages marked
"fortissimo)" and now the
doormen and sergeants - at
arms moved quickly, setting
up chairs and making ready
for the anticipated throng of
spectators.
People began arriving well
before the appointed hour,
and by one o'clock the S.R.O
signal went up. We secretar
ies, however, had our regular
seats, as did the Representa
tives. Places had been re
served, also, for Senators (not.
alas, enough, and at least one
dignified member of that
body found himself sharing a
bench with the young House
pages).
I am sure most of you read
accounts of the inaugura
ton ia the Mail Tribune and
other papers, as well as the
texts of both the outgoing and
incoming Governors' talks.
Suffice, then, to say that it
was all truly impressive and
an experience i wouia noi
have missed. The seauence of
events flowed smoothly from
start to finish and leu one
with a feeling of orderly tran
sition, smoewhat belied, it is
true, by intimate knowledge
of. the shufflings and cnange
ahnntjt that must necessarily
take place whenever an ad
ministration, under our two
party system, changes hands.
Now, ten days later, the
tempo of legislative activity
is, they say, at an all-time
high for this early in the ses
sion. Both House are moving
along rapidly to get bills
processed and into commit
tees, where they can be con
sidered and worked-over thor
oughly before being returned
for consideration by the
whole memberships. These
first bills, many of them
Ways and Means (or appro
priation) bills, are, for the
most part, non-controversial;
though some of the first bills
that came to the floor imple
mented measures suggested
by the outgoing administra
tion. Bob and other Demo
cratic leaders have promised
that Governor Hatfield's ideas
on taxation and budgetary
matters will be given thor
ough consideration as soon as
he presents them.
Wields Heavy Gavel
Every day, promptly at ten,
we all brace ourselves for
the mighty thump that signals
the beginning of each session.
Bob wields a heavy gavel and
they say, uses it with little
compunction on members of
the friendly opposition or his
own party, alike. I use the
expression "they say" be
cause I can give little testi
mony that is firsthand, being
more or less confined to quar-
) ters in the rear of the House
i , mi n lfr 4r An
cnamoer. iuc iyi.
and never enough time, and
though it pains me to miss the
sessions I rarely feel I can slip
away from my "chores" to
hear one.
We have our family well
settled in a comfortable house
in the south of town. We are
just across from McKinley
grade school, and David finds
he can make it safely to his
class in about two minutes
flat. Angus has a somewhat
longer trek to Leslie Junior
high than he did to Hedrick
and is given to complaining a
little. esDecially on rainy
mornings (few are not).
Nancy is still down mere in
Medford (I think we have
had no sort of reassuring com
munication, however) where
she will be staying with our
good friends, the Uan huiis,
till around February 17th. If I
may be excused for using tnis
public medium to say so.-. .we
miss you, Nancy, and will be
happy to see (or near irom;
you soon!
While on the subject of
family, I might add that Bob's
mother is with us again, stur
dy soul that she is, having
come all the way from Illi
nois to ease our' burdens and
keep the children out of mis
chief every day.
A report from the Capital
would hardly be complete
without a mention of the gay
life reportedly found in every
capital. Salem is a "socializ
ing" community and as such,
seems to truly enjoy showing
the legislators and their
wives a good time during
their biennial stay. Other
communities roundabout ex
tend hospitality to us also.
Last night (Monday, January
26) we were hosted by the
Sweet Home-Lebanon Cham
bers of Commerce at a ban
quet; and this Friday night the
Eugene people have invited
the whole group to a basket
ball game and dinner there.
Teas Given
The ladies of the Legisla
ture have been feted at teas
given by Mrs. Hatfield and by
the Town and Gown Society
here in Salem. Mrs. Hat
field's tea was held in the
beautiful Oregon Room at
Meier and Frank's, and the
theme was fittingly Centen
nial. A particularly intriguing
feature of the tea table was a
small, highly realistic covered
wagon with real-fur-bearing
oxen! Antoinette Hatfield
-i i i a 1 r
young, Dngm-eyea, auu uuvi- t
ously enjoying her new role
of First Lady is a very
charming hostess. The ladies !
of the Town and Gown enter- j
tained us in Doney hall on I
the Willamette campus.
Both Dorothea Pearson,
wife of the Senate President,
and I. who stood shoul3er-to-
shoulder in the receiving
lines- on succeeding days,
agreed that it is a wonderful
way to meet and greet people,
but just a bit hard on the
feet, what with these new
pointed-toe shoes.
Looking ahead to many
such busy and interesting
days and evenings, I realize
nnre a gain that it is the peo
ple the personalities that
one encounters while wormng
in state government that add
color and vigor to all that hap
pens . . . the sessions them
selves, and the committee
meetings and hearings . . . the
lnnrh hours and coffee-breaks
down in the Capitol restau
rant ... the planned func
tions and the unplanned en
counters. All the stacks of bills and
papers are the work of many
sorts of people, and some of
them embody the dreams and
plans of these people; and
when one of them is finally
come to fruition, and some
thing is done, something is
changed, it is because many
people have thought and
talked and worked together
not only here in the capitol
building, or here in Salem,
but all over this state of ours.
All of you at home have a
hand and a say in all this, if
you want it; and we hope you
do. Be interested let us
know you are interested and
if enough people do this here
in Oregon, we will all be re
warded by having better gov
ernment and more efficient
government and, what is even
more important more REP
RESENTATIVE government.
Presbyterians
Organize Group
Women of Westminster
United Presbyterian church
have organized a work group.
Mrs. K. G. Denman is presi
dent, Mrs. John R. Dellen
back, vice president, Mrs. S.
B. Milne, secretary, and Mrs.
E. L. Lenox, treasurer.
- Mrs. S. V. McQueen was
appointed spiritual life chair
man, and Mrs. L. R. Moyer
and Mrs. J. P. Rowan co-
of the wavs and
mpans committee. The next
meeting of the group will be
held on Tuesday, February
17 at 10 a.m.. at the home
of Mrs. Dellenbeck.
Guests Attend
Chapter Session
Mrs. Carlos Sanders and
Mrs. Donald Thumler were
guests of Alpha Lambda
chapter, Epsilon Sigma Alpha
International sorority, for a
recent meeting at the home
of Mrs. C. C. Peterson.
Everyone dressed as their
desire." Those
with the most outstanding
costumes were airs. o. -n.
Gilbert, Mrs. Richard Harri
son, Mrs. Thomas Makris and
m.. Tnhn weed Mrs. Harri-
XVXIO.
son and Mrs. Robert Shangle
were cohostesses and also
planned the games.
r-Vianter members will pre
pare Easter seal letters Feb-
ruary 9. A wng oi ut
i u j o hsVcH food sale
DelJl aiiU
are also planned for Febru
ary 14.
U JEWELI
Formerly
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