Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/96

78 meeting might impose an ad valorem tax on all taxable property in the district for the erection of school houses, and to defray the incidental expenses of the districts, and for the support of teachers. All children between the ages of four and twenty-one years were entitled to the benefits of public education.

It is unnecessary to the purposes of this history to follow the legislature of the first territorial assembly further. No money having been received for the payment of the legislators or the printing of the laws, the legislators magnanimously waived their right to take the remaining thirty days allowed them, and thus left some work for the next assembly to do.

On the 21st of September the assembly was notified, by a special message from the governor, of the death of ex-President James K. Polk, the friend of Oregon, and the revered of the western democracy. As a personal friend of Lane, also, his death created a profound sensation. The legislature after draping both houses in mourning adjourned for a week. Public obsequies were celebrated, and Lane delivered a highly eulogistic address. Perhaps the admirers of Polk's administration and political principles were all the more earnest to do him honor that his successor