12
çise of moral stamina and a realization
that "we, the, people” sink or swirp
together. No nation, no state, county
or city can be stronger or better than
the individuals of which it is composed.
Burdens become light as they are shared
among the many. The cost of govern
ment becomes much less than a burden
when all contribute as a privilege and
duty.
State, county and city governments
in Oregon have struggled along for
many years with limited funds. Many
of our schools have labored under fi
nancial conditions tyhiteh have prevent
ed our children from - receiving proper
education. Oregon ranks quite low, na
tionally, in its grade school educational
facilities. Our sister states outstrip us
in the pay- schedules and working con
ditions for state, county, city and school
employees* Oregon is still behind, she;
is the pauper State of the Pacific Coast.
Paradoxically, Oregon has more poten
tial wealth,'and more potential advant
ages than most any State in the Union-
What holds us back? California was
nearly financially broke during the last
depression, then voted a sales tax and
has done well since.- Washington has a
sales tax and gets along quite nicely,
Residents in those States are not com
plaining about their tax structures. Fi-
n a n c ia 11 y prosperous governmental
bodies create conditions which invite
new people and new enterprises. Oregon
deserves the development and prosper
ous growth which our sister states have
already enjoyed for years. The proposed
sales tax raises revenues from a larger
group of people than now support oUr
governments. As population increases, it
seems reasonable to assume th a t it will
provide the added revenue necessary to
insure financial prosperity for the State
as a whole.
The people of Oregon have recently
voted favorably^’ to raise our school
standards, to reconstruct and expand
our State institutions, I to compensate
our public servants more equitably.
Such provisions are foresighted .and evi
dence the increased realization that if
Oregon is to progress it must invest
now in its future.
I The raising of revenues for invest-:
ment in Oregon’s future is a privilege
which all should want to share. An
opportunity to make such an invest
ment presents itself on October 7, 1947;
when the sales tax issue will be decided.
The stabilization and equalization; Of
our tax structure can then be realized
by the broadening of our tax base.
A n Economic Question
I take personal exception to any view,
expressed or implied, that the O.SÆ.A.
should take no official stand on the
tÿx measures before the people of Ore
gon qn October 7. All state employes
are individually interested in being em
ployed by a solvent and prosperous
State. The Association isSaterested in
the welfare of the State and of'-iTtS em
ployees. In my opinion, the subject of
taxation is not a political matter in the
usual sense of the word. I consider it.
to be a matter of economics, a problem
of1 equalizing the costs of gOvernmenl
between its beneficiaries, a problem 'of,
insuring fair and équitable distribution
and Use of funds placed at the disposa)
of governmental agencies*'
Our Association S has I consistently
studied and recommended many mea
sures intended to improve the général
welfare of the State and its emplqyees.
It is recognized as being a high-minded
groupj'frëe from selfish interests. It en
joys enviable prestige for these reasons,
The writer has tried to point out factual
data and its' meanings in such a way
as to arouse-the reader’s iptetest in the
subject, that he may give further un
biased thought^ to the matters involved.
The subject of taxation is worthy of
our serious consideration. The right rag
vote is a special privilege’ "reserved to
the people in a democracy. An intelli
gent Vote is a responsibility and a duty.,
It should be counted in the interest of
good government and for the progress,
of the sf ate, county^ city - and school
district in which we live.