Page Twelve Thursday, September 25, 1975 Nyssa Gate City Journal. Nyssa, Oregon Junior High School Crazy Days Band A Salem Scene «MYCWZE 7immertnn by Jack 7imn>ertnin In the shortest special session on record—a meeting marked by its efficiency and lack of acrimony as well as dispatch—Oregon lawmakers stuck to the script, repealed the faults law that prompted the September 10 Salem gathering and headed for home again all in one day. The script, announced when the session was called five days earlier by Gov. Bob Straub, was carefully outli­ ned by both the chief execu­ tive and legislative leaders. It called for a solution correc­ ting informational problems arising from House Bill 2579. which had become law September 13 and effectively- blocked the public from records involving criminal arrests and convictions. Only othcT potential activity was to involve Senate consideration of gubernatorial appoint­ ments and possible over-rid- ing of some eight bills enacted during this year's regular session and later vetoed by the governor. The Senate quickly confir­ med ■ all 84 executive ap­ pointments. The House voted to override one veto—involv­ ing a bill dealing with farm use property tax deferrals— but the veto was sustained in the Senate. Most of the activity occur­ red in the House regarding HB 2579. which originally was designed to restrict certain criminal records from public access and was promp­ ted by computerization of records and widespread dis­ semination among law en­ forcement agencies. Raws, earlier overlooked, involved the fact strict compliance barred enforce­ ment agencies from revealing records on which many segments of society depend heavily. These included title companies, insurance firms and many businesses which bond certain employes and REGISTER FOR FREE DRAWING! 2 only AMF AND 1 only sentri POWER MOWER BRIGGS A STRATTON ENGINES MG. *119« and *129« *20°° OFF a ALL RUBBER t PLÁSTIC tose " H OFF Reg. We Give A Redeem SRV Stamps Firrstone STORE NYSSA utilize other in employment that requires access to private homes and other businesses. In most instances the firms involved depend upon police and court records in the process of properly conducting property tran­ sactions. issuing insurance and employing individuals entrusted with special duties on the job. Then there also was the First Amendment problem and news media was first to blow the whistle on the law that prohibited reporters from even examining police blotters. Another issue de­ veloped when a number of people spent more time in jail than normal because no one other than arresting police agencies were aware they were behind bars. Whether to repeal the entire law or mend it by deleting offensive portions provided the session's major controversy. But in 12 hours and 45 minutes the issue was resolved and the repealer signed by Gov. Straub ten minutes later. It also con­ tained a provision absolving anyone from violating the law that had been in effect only four days. Although wiped from books, the issue is due continued ainng before interim committee in months ahead and likely will be introduced before the 1977 Legislature. At the same time. Gov. Straub has indi­ cated he will attempt to implement portions of the repealed law by executive order The meeting was remi­ niscent of the one-day mini­ session conducted January 24. 1974. which saw repeal of HB 2607—another faulty piece of legislation changing subdivision laws but in effect brought the homebuilding industry to a standstill. Lawmakers only recessed at the end of that day's efforts however, and reconvened February 11 for 13 more days to solve budgetary problems and others anticipated even during the regular session the year before. So techni­ cally. the mini-session was part erf the 14-dav WM special session. This year's was the Oregon Legislature's 17th special session since the first was conducted in 1865 Special sessions in 1903 and 1909 lasted three and two days respectively, while special session problems tn 1920 and 1921 were solved in six days apiece. Two special sessions were called in 1933. the first lasting five days and the second stretching for a 20-day span—a time period equalled in 1898 and 1935. A 23-dav special sesamt in 1967 holds the all-time record for length. The casual observer today might figure special legis- lative sessions are invoked to correct boo-boos committed during a regular session, especially in light of recent experience Others, if asked, might say most are called to solve budget problems. But the record fails to sustain either impression. There is nothing to indicate I I I I prior legislative mistakes as far reaching as HB 2607. repealed in 1974. and HB 2579. repealed last week. The same record refute» the impression the »tate is constantly on the brink of financial disaster and law- makers must reconvene an extra session to raise more revenue. True, this was largely the case in 1074. 1971. 1967 and I96J. But in 1965 lawmakers were summoned to redistnct Congressional Districts. And in 1957 they met to reduce taxes lest burgeoning re­ venue create an embar­ rassing budgetary surplus. The 1935 special session dealt with problems resulting from the fire that destroyed the former Capitol Building and the two sessions in I til reflected problems of the Depression years. Frequency of special ves­ sions in this decade and that of the Sixties is often offered as an argument in favor of annual regular sessions, in­ stead of odd-year bienniel meetings. This argument hasn't convinced voters so far. however thev will get another chance next year to vote on a Constitutional Amendment that would per mil a majority of both chambers to call a special session without waiting for gubernatorial decree Absenteeism during spe­ cial sessions hasn't been a problem for quorum pur­ poses. according to existing Fifth Graders Get Calendars Fifth graders in Oregon won't have any excuses for not knowing when Friday rolls around due to the efforts of Johnny Horizon, the U. S. Department of the Intenor's environmental leader. Last week, all 1.888 fifth grade classrooms in the state received a Johnny Horizon Environmental Calendar The calendars were distn- buted by the Bureau of Land Management tn cooperation with the Oregon Depanment of Education. The calendars, unlike re­ gular twelve month calendars begin with the month of September ahd end with June, the regular school year In addition to days and dates, the environmental calendar has space for the class to identify the environ­ mental monitor for each week. Each page also has suggestions for class projects dealing with environmental matters such as litter control, recycling, and resource con­ servation. There is room for an en­ vironmental honor roll for top students who complete out­ side projects and a list of idess for teachers to show how the environment affects each student. HI M estimates that about 50.000 fifth graders will use the cslendars this school yesr Additional information about Johnny Horizon can be obtained from Johnny Hori /on. c o BLM. P O Box 2965, Portland. , Oregon 9720« records But two members