May 1926
THE UNITED AMERICAN
Page Twelve
THE COST OF GOVERNMENT IN OREGON
(Continued from Page Seven)
school and high school districts of the state, nor of those of
ficers and employes of the nearly one hundred irrigation,
water, drainage, diking, port and dock districts in the various
sections of Oregon, the total of which greatly exceeds the
number of officials, subordinates and individuals engaged in
the functioning of the state proper.
$26,000,000 in 1925
We find that for the year 1899 the total amount of state
taxes was only slightly over $761,000. This provided the
necessary revenue for practically all of the expenses to which
the state was subjected at that time for the functioning of
its various activities, while for the year 1925 the total net
receipts, including the direct state property tax, aggregated
substantially $26,289,133, of which sum all except $5,375,000
was from sources other than the direct state levy of taxes
upon the real and personal property of the citizens.
Over $20,914,133 came from various other taxes, licenses,
fines, impositions, earnings, repayments, etc., and sundry
fees for privileges regulations and inspections, sales of state
property, charges for the filing of sundry reports having to
do with the conduct, affairs and property of the citizens, in
terest on investments, etc.
Income. Tax $500,670
Among the larger of these items are:- $908,814 from the
income tax imposed in the year 1924; $500,670 from taxes on
inheritances and bequests; $3,065,151 from tax on gasoline
used in the operation of motor vehicles; $5,326,381 from
license fees, etc., on motor vehicles; from corporation annual
license and organization fees, $366,865; from taxes on in
surance premiums and license fees on insurance organiza
tions, $633,916; from hunters’ and anglers’ licenses, $379,184;
from commercial fishing licenses and poundage taxes, $242,-
332; from sale of bonds for loans to soldiers of the world and
Spanish-American wars, $1,000,000; from the federal govern
ment, the several counties of the state and sundry railroads
for co-operative road construction, $1,956,612; from contri
butions to the industrial accident funds by employers and em
ployes, $2,426,144; from repayments upon- loans to soldiers,
$530,481; from interest on state deposits and investments of
public funds, $1,409,281; from sundry fees in connection with
the regulation of certain businesses and proferssions, $465,483.
and from numerous other sources.
New Program Needed
Surely we, who have the best interests of Oregon at heart,
are more than justified in the contemplation and espousal of
any program which has for its object the safeguarding of the
interests of its citizens and relief from any needless burdens
of taxation. Never has the state attempted to visualize its
future growth and that of its several departments and' insti-.
tutions against their inevitable enlargement. Prompt action
along this line is necessary if Oregon is to see its public
business accorded the same measure of intelligence usually
given to the conduct of activities in the realm of industry
and commerce. Serious thought must be given to the re
quirements of the state if we are to avoid sustained financial
chaos.
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*
♦
strative muddles he so frequently has got him
self into.
Let us elect a level-headed governor to take over
the executive office on January 1st, and a level-headed
delegtion to the legislature from every county in the
state, but particularly from Multnomah County, and
the people of the state should in no time have a new
deal in economic, safe and sound management.
Why not put the State of Oregon on a budget
system basis?
It has proved to be good business to put the
federal government on a budget basis, which was in
augurated by the late President Harding; it ought to
be equally good business to put the finances of govern
ment in Oregon on a budget basis.
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♦
♦
This comprehensive summary of Oregon’s present
assessed property valuation and the state’s bonded
liabilities should not be thrown carelessly aside.
Memorize some of those facts and figures. It may
some time be to your credit to show that you possess
intelligence of actual financial facts regarding your
state to back up your opinion in matters of public
economy.
CUT OUT THE KICKS IN TWENTY-SIX
From “Hie Life Line.”
VERY TIME a mule kicks he slows down. It’s a case
of lost motion. Every time a man kicks at something
he loses ground. He has to make up for it. And besides
that, when he kicks he makes some kind of a disturbance.
If he kicks at home he hurts his wife’s feelings. If he
kicks at the office he loses prestige among his co-workers.
If he kicks at the club, or on the street, or in the street
car he makes himself ridiculous. No man ever got any
place by kicking.
Cut out the kicks in twenty-six. Also, the knocking.
Let the other fellow knock. Every knock is a boost, if you
don’t do the knocking. The fellow who knocks tells the
world that he is a weakling. He is trying to get ahead
by pushing some one else down. No one has any use for
the knocker. It’s the booster who gets ahead. When some
one knocks on you, and tries to disparage you, simply do
as the fellow did who was kicked by a jackass — consider
the source, and say nothing.
Cut out the kicks in twenty-six. Save the lost motion.
You might strike a brick and hurt yourself. The time you
might waste in kicking would get you far on your way.
Smile all the time. Make the other fellow smile. And bye
and bye every one will be smiling. Try it in Ninteen-Twenty-
Six. It’s a good formula. And it costs nothing.
E
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I
EARLE WELLINGTON
Another legislative session is to convene January,
next. Sound principles in legislation should be 1
Republican Candidate for
the watchword and a constructive program facilitat
ing reduction of costs should be inaugurated and put
into operation with the incoming of a new adminis
Primaries, May 21, 1926
tration. For a new administration it will be, with |
another executive at the helm, succeeding the pres | Fewer Laws — Reduced Taxation by the elimination
of useless or wasteful expenditures
ent governor, who has forfeited every vestige of |
IF ELECTED, I will endeavor to the best of my
public confidence on the point of administrative econ |
to apply business methods to the work of the
omy, but then, he should be excused because he is | | ability
legislature, and earnestly work for the best interest
not “big enough for the job” — an admission he is | of our State and Multnomah County.
1
EARLE WELLINGTON
I
said to have made through tears, in the presence of I
I
(Pd. Adv.)
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friends who have tried to help him out of the admini- FdiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifinjmifiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifiHiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMmiifiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiDiiiiiiifiimiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiifiiiinitiini,?
State Representative