OREGON. 



615 



Portland. From a special edition of the " Ore- 

 jonian " it is learned that the death rate in Portland 

 "in 1898 was but 8.66 in 1,000. In 1893 the rate was 

 it steadily decreased until 1897, when it was 

 3.05. The improvement of water and sewer con- 

 litions have contributed to lower the rate. City 

 irbage is disposed of by means of a crematory in 

 ae extreme northern part of the town, which is 

 operated at a cost of $450 a month. 



The city stood fourth among the cities of the 

 Jnion in its shipments of wheat in October, the 

 Igures being 1,370,524, and took the same rank for 

 "le ten months ending Nov. 1. For the whole year 



shipments amounted to 14,363,865 bushels. 

 The list of exports and imports for the year show 

 large balance of trade in favor of Portland, the 

 sports amounting to $12,796,666 and the imports 

 $1,538,887. Receipts from customs were $421,- 

 3.66, as against $269,922.80 in 1897. 

 There are in the city 1,079 firms representing 

 nancial strength aggregating $21,233,500. 

 Legislative Session. The Governor called the 

 egislature to meet in special session, Sept. 26, not 

 iming the subjects for its consideration, but giving 

 i a reason that matters of vital importance to the 

 ?ple of the State seemed to require it. The fail- 

 of the last Legislature to organize not only left 

 cant one of Oregon's seats in the United States 

 enate, but left the business affairs of the State un- 

 ettled for want of appropriations. Warrants were 

 for more than $800,000, and more than $1,360,- 

 was in the treasury with no authority for pay- 

 ent. 



The Legislature, which was elected in June, stood 

 alitically : Republicans in Senate 24, in House 42 ; 

 )emocrats in Senate 3, in House 6 ; Populists in 

 Semite 3, in House 2 ; Silver Republicans and Union 

 4 each in House ; Fusion, 1 in House. 



The Senate elected Joseph Simon President, and 

 E. V. Carter was chosen Speaker of the House. 



The Governor's message set forth the importance 

 of the questions to come before the United States 

 Senate, and the desirability of the State's being fully 

 represented during the whole session, as it could 

 not be if no Senator were elected till the regular 

 term of the Legislature in 1899. He also advised 

 the passing of an appropriation bill to clear up the 

 business of the existing administration before the 

 new one should come in, leaving to the regular 

 session only the appropriations that properly belong 

 to it. The business of the Supreme Court being 

 two years behind, the Governor suggested two 

 methods of relief: one, the enacting of a law to 

 limit appeals to the Supreme Court, in civil cases, 

 to those involving title to real estate, or matters 

 affecting the public revenue, the construction of 

 the Constitution of the State or the United States, or 

 where questions of franchise are raised, or where the 

 amount of the judgment exceeds $300 ; the other, the 

 enactment of a law authorizing the Supreme Court 

 to appoint three commissioners, for a term of four 

 years, to assist the court in hearing and deciding 

 cases. He favored the second method. Other sub- 

 jects mentioned were : A State exhibit at the Paris 

 Exposition, and settlement with a manufacturer 

 vho had taken the contract for the labor of the 

 enitentiary convicts. After the fire at the Agri- 

 iltural College the Governor sent a special message, 

 5inmending an appropriation for rebuilding ; and 

 25,000 was accordingly voted for the purpose. 

 Henry W. Corbett was nominated by the regular 

 epublican caucus for United States Senator, to fill 

 vacancy left by the failure to elect a successor 

 .). II. Mitchell in 1897. But there was a faction 

 the party which was united in opposition to him, 

 id it was" strong enough to prevent his election, 

 ite Senator Joseph Simon was therefore made the 



candidate of the Republican caucus, and was elected 

 by 64 votes against 23 for Harrison R. Kincaid, 

 candidate of the Silver parties. 



The general appropriation bill carried amounts 

 aggregating about $1,220,000. 



The Railroad Commission and the State Board of 

 Equalization were abolished. 



A new fishery law was passed, providing an elab- 

 orate system of licenses, these to go into a fund for 

 the artificial propagation of fish. No one can take 

 salmon or sturgeon except with hook and line, with- 

 out a license, or engage in the business of packing 

 or dealing in fish ; and only citizens of the United 

 States or those that have declared their intention to 

 become such one year previously, and have been 

 residents of Oregon for six months, may fish for 

 salmon or sturgeon, unless they hold licenses from 

 the State of Washington, which has concurrent 

 jurisdiction over the Columbia river to fish there- 

 in. Canners and dealers are classified according to 

 the extent of their business, and the costs of licenses 

 are graduated in proportion. Heavy fines are im- 

 posed on those found operating without license. 

 The act extends the close season fifteen days in the 

 spring, in order to allow the early run of salmon to 

 get up to the spawning streams. Fishing is pro- 

 hibited on those streams at all times, and very 

 stringent provision is made in regard to structures 

 or dams, which require their owners or operators to 

 provide suitable fishways or passageways to be built 

 through those obstructions to the satisfaction of the 

 Fish Commissioner. To make the law fully effective 

 it is necessary that the same provisions be made by 

 Washington, which already has the license system. 



A new school election law provides that any citi- 

 zen, male or female, may vote at any school meeting 

 or school election, in any district in this State, who 

 is twenty-one years of age, has resided in the dis- 

 trict thirty days, and has property in the district of 

 the value of $100, as shown by the last preceding 

 county assessment, on which he or she pays a tax ; 

 and further, in districts of fewer than 1,000 inhab- 

 itants, fathers of school children or widows who have 

 children of school age may vote for school directors 

 and clerks without the property qualification. 



A joint committee was appointed to revise the 

 school laws, and report at the regular session. 



Portland received a new charter, and there were 

 other municipal charter acts. 



Other measures passed were : 



Providing that building and loan associations 

 shall not issue non-contributing stock. 



Providing for the punishment of any person in- 

 juring bridges, etc. 



Making the earnings of a judgment debtor for 

 thirty days prior to service of attachment exempt 

 therefrom. 



Providing for the protection of elk, grouse, and 

 prairie chickens. 



Fixing the legal rate of interest on judgments, 

 etc., at 6 instead of 8 per cent. 



Making proof of policy in force evidence of in- 

 surance in criminal cases. 



Providing for the payment of the rejected volun- 

 teers. 



To permit express companies to bring as many as 

 four sheep at one time into the State without offi- 

 cial inspection. 



A joint memorial urging pension claims of Indian 

 war veterans was passed, and seven joint resolutions, 

 the subjects of which were : For committee to cele- 

 brate a semicentennial anniversary of acquisition 

 of Oregon Territory by the United States : for ap- 

 propriation by Congress for Cascade locks ; urging 

 Congress to open the Columbia river at the Dalles : 

 urging retention of Battery B in United States serv- 

 ice; favoring retention of Philippine Islands; to 



