Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/283

 ing each surviving veteran the ram of $2.00 for each day he had performed actual service. To secure proof of such service after the lapse of nearly fifty years was often difficult and more than half of the old Indian fighters vrere dead, but the relief that had finally come was gratefully accepted those who lived to receive it In 1901, the legislature had appropriated a rafficient sum to defray the expenses of seven veterans, to be appointed by the Governor, who were authorized to go to Washingtrni* D. C. for the purpose of inducing congress, if possible, to furnish relief to thc»se soldiers, and in 1913 the legislature appropriated die sum of $50,000 or so much thereof as might be necessary to be used in paying all surviving veterans the sum of $2.00 for each day they had used a horse in the volunteer service. In the process of time Congress passed a law providing for the payment of losses by Indian depredations, but in a majority of cases, those who suffered died before there was any opportunity to be benefited by it. There is now a state law requiring each county court to levy a small tax, the proceeds of which are to be applied to the support of all indit^ent Indian War Veterans within the rounly: so that, after the lapse of many years which marked a period of shameful indifference and broken promises, the state is in a measure performing its duty to a class of patriotic citizens who volunteered to risk their hves in the pioneer times for the protection of the country they were trying to reclaim from savagery. The privileges of the Soldier's i lome at Roseburg are also extended to the Indian War Veterans, and several of them have availed themselves of its protection and support.

The Oregon System. It was during the administration of Governor George E. Chamberlain, that most of the features that have come to be known as "The Oregon System** were adopted by the people. Much dissatisfaction had been aroused with what was known as the convention method of selecting candidates for pubhc offices, and the