OKKCON. 



673 



7. That the interests of this State demand in its 

 relations with tlio other Stales I tlm 

 , lioth j.i.-M-nt an.l prospective, mid will war- 

 rant, u liberal expenditure) on the part of our national 

 urn-lit in the improvement of our harbors and 

 of our river channels, and it is the true policy of 

 our people that they should be no represented in 

 CongroBS us shall the moxt effectively cecuru this 



nut true economy in the management of pub- 

 He IruuU <>f the United States, us well art the settle- 

 ment of our vast domain and the development of it* 

 resources, demands liberal grants of the public lands 

 t" aid in the construction of railroads and other 

 publio u orks, with such limitations and restrictions 

 .1 .-< cure the ultimate role to actual settlers. 



9. That we are in favor of congressional aid to the 

 Portland, Dalles & Salt Lake Railroad; for the 

 improvement of the Columbia River at the Dalles 

 ana Cascades ; to aid the extension of the Oregon 

 Central Kailroad from St. Joseph, through the ooun- 



1 Polk and Benton, to its junction with the Ore- 

 gon & California Railroad, and the improvement of 

 the Willamette River. 



10. That we favor congressional aid for the con- 

 struction of a wagon-road from some point in Boguo 

 Kiver Valley to the nearest practicable point on tho 

 coast, and that we favor the immediate construction 

 of a good and serviceable wagon-road along tho 

 south bank of the Columbia River, from the mouth 

 of Sandy to the Dalles. 



11. That we are opposed to the purchase or leasing, 

 by this State, of the canal and locks at the falls ot 

 the Willamette River. 



12. That we demand the repeal of the litigant law, 

 Portland police bill, the unconstitutional acts in- 

 creasing the emoluments and salaries of State and 

 judicial officers, the acts increasing tho fees of clerks 

 and sheriffs, and the modification of the school-laws 

 so as to relieve the people of the school-book mo- 

 nopoly. 



13. That we are in favor of the speedy payment 

 in full of all just claims of citizens and volunteers, 

 for supplies furnished and services rendered in the 

 suppression of Indian hostilities in Southern Oregon 

 in the years 1872 and 1878. 



14. That we are in favor of such legislation to 

 regulate the sale of intoxicating liquors as will re- 

 strain the abuses growing out of indiscriminate 

 license, and operate as a needful check upon the 

 growing evils of intemperance. 



15. That we are in favor of opening Wallowa Val- 

 ley to settlement. 



The Independent State Convention was held 

 in Salem, on the 15th of April. The nomina- 

 tions were : T. W. Davenport for Congress, T. 

 F. Campbell for Governor, J. 11. Douthitt for 

 Secretary of State, D. Beach for Treasurer, 

 Wm. M. Hand for State Printer, and M. M. 

 Oglesby for Superintendent of Public Instruc- 

 tion. The following were the resolutions : 



Resolved, 1. That extravagance and corruption 

 have become so prevalent in the administration of 

 the affairs of this State and nation as to burden tho 

 people with taxes that are not necessary to good 

 government, make politics a trade, and debauch the 

 morals of society; that thero is no ground to hope 

 for a remedy for these evils through the agency of 

 the two political parties that have heretofore ruled 

 the country, and that the welfare of the people de- 

 mands that every citizen, laying aside all party pre- 

 judices, and differences of opinion upon immaterial 

 points, unite in selecting for the public service men 

 who will exert themselves to secure public economy, 

 retrenchment, and reduction of taxation in every 

 practicable way. 



2. That wo view with alarm the reckless course of 



VOL. xiv. 13 A 



the Bute and national governments in the multipli- 

 cation of officer* beyond tho requirements of the 

 public service, man,)' of whom, while receiving sala- 

 ries from the public Treasury, are devoting them- 

 selves to their private pursuits. And we deiimiid 

 that officers paid do give their time exclusively to 

 the service for which they are appointed. 



8. That we favor the adoption, by the national and 

 State government, of all reasonable measures of ae- 

 curing cheap transportation; and to this end e 

 favor liberal aid from the General Government for the 

 pi-ning uiid improvement of our harbors and river*, 

 t<T the construction of the Portland, Dalles A Salt 

 Luke Railroad, the completion of tho Oregon & 

 California Railway to the southern line of the State, 

 and the extension of the Oregon Central Bailway to 

 Junction City. That the interests of the State de- 

 mand the completion of the Oregon Central Bailway 

 to Astoria: that we favor such aid as may be con- 

 sistent with prudence and public economy, for the 

 construction of roads across our mountain-chains. 

 And we favor the immediate construction of a wagon- 

 road along the south bank of the Columbia River, 

 from the mouth of Sandy to the Dalles. 



4. That all property rights, indivi lual and corpo- 

 rate, should be subject to law; that we would give 

 all proper aid, encouragement, and protection to cor- 

 porations, companies, or persons engaged in trans- 

 portation, commerce, or any other legitimate pursuit ; 

 but we would hold all subject to law ; and we de- 

 mand that the rates of freight and fare on railways 

 within the State be fixed by the Legislature of the 

 State, and on inter-State railways, by Congress. 



5. That we demand a return to the salaries fixed 

 by the constitution for State officers, and we con- 

 demn all the schemes that have been devised to in- 

 crease such salaries by indirection. That the com- 

 pensation of all officers should be only such as would 

 pay them fairly for the services they perform ; that 

 county clerks and sheriffs should have salaries fixed 

 by law according to their services; that the law in- 

 creasing their lees should be repealed, and a law 

 enacted providing reasonable fees to be charged by 

 them in cases where private parties alone are coi.- 

 cerned, such fees to be paid by officers into the. 

 County Treasury. That we demand the passage of 

 a law to protect the public against unreasonable 

 charges for the State pnnting. 



6. That we favor a liberal system of public schools, 

 but we condemn the act creating a monopoly in the 

 sale of school-books, and demand its repeal. 



7. That we demand the repeal of the Litigant 

 printing law. 



8. That we demand equal right? for all citizens, 

 and accord special privileges to none. 



9. That the interests of the people demand com- 

 petition in the transportation of freights to and from 

 our seaboard ; that we are opposed to the purchase 

 or leasing by the State of the canals and locks at the 

 falls of the Willamette, but would hold both the 

 State and the Lock Company to a strict compliance 

 with their existing contract. 



10. That we especially condemn those acts of the 

 Legislature that nave enabled speculators to obtain 

 the public lands of the State in large tracts, to the 

 exclusion of poor men and men of moderate means, 

 who would take them for homes. 



11. That the removal of a faithful and competent 

 officer merely because of his political opinions U a 

 gross abuse of power. That the use of the appoint- 

 ing power to reward politicians for services in con- 

 ventions and elections is no less corrupt than any 

 other species of bribery. That the removal of foith'- 

 ful public officers for the conscientious performance 

 of their duties is an outrage upon good government. 



12. That personal character is the proper criterion 

 by which to judge of the fitness of men for public 

 position, and it is dangerous business to men of dis- 

 reputable private character. 



13. That the General Government should pay all 



