Customer Reviews

Legislative Perspectives: A 150 Year History of the Oregon Legislatures from 1843 to 1993

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The incredible history of the Oregon legislature emerges from this book. Readers learn of the early legislative bodies during Oregon's territorial days and the bitter partisan battles over issues such as slavery and citizenship to racial minorities. We learn of some of the important and often amusing political characters through Oregon's legislative history as well as the effects of such measures as the poll tax and other taxes designed to harm members of racial minorities.
19th century political power in Oregon rested with business leaders representing railroads, utilities, and banks. Readers learn the interesting historical fact that Republican legislative votes were for $4,000 per legislator while Democratic legislative votes went for $3,000 per legislator. As Republicans occupied a higher scale of living, they cost more to bribe.
Still, legislative action was not a given. One entire legislative session ended without a single bill passed.
Some more recent Oregon legislative tales will amuse readers, such as the time an Oregon legislator dropped a bottle of liquid from a railroad effluent line and let the smell fill the House chambers. In another instance, a sleeping legislator had his shoe laces tied to his desk and then was called upon by the Speaker to arise from his desk.
People wishing to learn about life in a state legislature will enjoy this book. It is good to see some people capturing these pieces of history. If we can't learn from the past, we can at least enjoy it, as readers will from this book.