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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 1915)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1913. GOVERNOR REVIEWS STRIDES AND .Jr. i est, ii raicncu iucssogt m - - . i . - SALEM. Or, Jan. 1L Governor West's message follows: f ts Honorable, th. Mmbrs of ths r.-t.T.'(r. r.r th. State of Oreson OentleitK-n: In keeping with the usual custom and with the hop of brinfrlnc to )our attention information and sar-sj'atlon -wbich will If 4 t lurh ajovernmenlal re forms a make for reduced ipni ana . ... -n -nv ' I Mm T.lea-d to sub mit for the consideration of your honorable body tills, my last, message as liovernor ol Lrr?on. The four rears Just past have riven us ..n,rtn. l,ria:atlon. While other per.ods have b-ouht seat fundamental -! , .... nnimfatll system, none i... i i 1 -.--:! ton which has cov ered such a broad field and yielded such splendid results. tv. i, ,.r....ht battle of the peop.e for a-nendmeni. to our Federal Constitution which would permit the Imposition or an Income tas and the election of Senators by a dire.-t vote of the people has been won. Our le.s!tive bodies, were prompt to ratify . ..r,.im.n!. and Oreroa IS therefor i. ...i . tit. wr.tun of Drrsnive states . i.. . - veu . r. . t reforms. t. for eaual sufrsae and a drr i . ...eceufuL Additional safe tuards have been thrown around the ballot 1 1, roich eitendins; the nonvoting- period of the newly arrived alien and the o.d bar barous 'tern of capital punishment has been abolished. t-Mimrtlti Laws raaeL Numerous laws have b-en parsed which create . broad policy makins for the con servation and development of our resources lhe, laws have aided the lnv"tlE""7"0' l.-r n .ml r-0T poelOl I IteS. aid the construction of the Tumslo Irlrga t:on tjatem; have made provision for a fctate r-or-ster and the protection of cur timber asalnst fire; nave r.'" 7i ....j. r e mineral resources: have made . . t.t.,. fe ih oropasatton and prolectlon of our f.h and same, and have i.rolded for the publication of a booklet ... ..fn B t Inn tO OI- """"J which carries to th. PC nnv ue o. - . . ontrol and a splendid sjeie... reference to the purchase of supplies. The fe4'.y..rm In ,h. State rrint.n, : Office h been abolished and the Printer has i been placed up.H. a flat .-.lary The state now owns th- println. plant and la saving ".- h, a yeir our educational Institutions h. ."been "placed upon a nulla, u. which Insur.s liberal support and removes Usm as a factor In legislative log-rolling. Bogua 1rm lHveo Out. r-r.etir.llv all public service corporations h.en" Placed "under t. J""' i'i. Rallrcad foinmlesuio and a D.ue-j uZdnr bogus corporation, from our .t.r .Plrn.lld banking U sr i have been i.ivcu regulation of loan sharks. given Neeay mo!..-.- - nlie work- 'iv.lofh:ore15or.k. n'nidlnr C.,;dP.o woTk Iti convicts upon the PuuH'nhlrhw.vs. The ocean beach ha, been HZ? i?- eg-ISt-"if b. nr,.':avry,n.nroeneI'.lmi...8 ,h. sale o. revolvers.priMo B,form rrgreeS lorrn. ''Tax-.T'otr than ..ate. collected or to itla.t.si hr the mvrrt countlo tnn rer c?nt. lit. 8 r.n.3 14.-! 6 5 1K County Srh r! flart Mlj"'niiT.eeomi CUte nd town.- . fi..""S..'it n ;.' 1.1 M. "''HI .. :.s4.wo Trttl Stat (annual average 1113- rj, 1 2 $Jl.oTS.rH HHJ.O 7tm V'n' VherVforc. that If Poclor Thorny ouTd V.p out th pW-mlc of rvT.nc- an ln our tax burdens he "irt iSJ SnTln. hi- visit, and hi. djj. 71 the ati. but muM well to th rtumlr. and citi and road and .chool dlMrlCtfc iNnrl Ta" lner. K rtatrmnt .hnwinit Croth f PPu1; , ton. abased valuation and .late tax s follow.: . Buallv. . i... it .itinnL durlnr the rat ahSOlutel uut. hav. been ahsolutelr The present official ;,,..v.l from politics. e.d, hav. : bn selected solely upon men, ami na.o been left free to select the r stlb "dln.Te. These men hold the safety welfare of thousanas 01 n"i" "- -r. J V.. -r .heir hands, and It aould be instlt itlona back into the siougn oi V" a . .srr:nn UDOH which the political bTriU of prey may feed, would find bitter opposition. Institution Berime rrieI. Our Institutions are rapidly beln placed n a splend.d condition through the earn.st :.?.....;.lon of officials and employe, ana . e nit or int r en1'. Placed In a class or nsrii. .n..n..titis will alve one a A visit to tne Idea of tne h.sh standani which obtalrs. The total expenditures for all purposes In rocnertlon with our penal and eleemos nary institution, for the biennlum ending Septem lr SO. 1KI4. are shown by th. statement which follows: Oresron ftate Hospital v:as:ern Oregon State Hospital., btate InstUuUon lor Feeble minded - Oretson State Venltentlar.v. . . . . . . tiregon State Training School.... Oregon state Industrial School for Ol'ls Oregon State Tuberculosis IJosp 1 tireson State School for the Blind (rrsou Slate School for the Deaf Oregon state Soldiers' Home.... fir'n.lM.'.M 14.!10T.B2 JTd.llt.tll ;a,oos.3 ,-.O.43.10 a.S91.04 S4.6-0 07 7!1.;S ".17 54.TVB.4fi Total 1.6S.733.S These figures mean that for eeery In mate an average annual expenditure or over $-' Is necessary. The tottl population of thee- Institutions on September M, 1P1I. was 30T2. being an Increase of 4O0, or nearly 15 per cent, during the btennium. The greatest Increase of pop ulation ar-peara to have been In our hos pitals for th. Insan. and our Institution for the fcble-mlnded. The combined pop v atlon of these two Institutlona shows an lacreas- of JI per cenu This growth of population Is alrmln and drives h.1" ,0 us the necessity of giving earnest tlAjught public the needs of th. different rnent. of state has b-en provided for .too th. audltinB of the accounts or s al- and county officiala handling pub.ic '"no- nal and ciecmo. r - I on. er single wi--i o 1. ... ' ...,...r..n..n act and nunimuiu --- . . nih.e -niPTidld measure .J ."e products of the past rV"ilS ' our state government V,,? J Vjt is hut ciMtt In round numbers '' this amount. --b ' . ny trr, and unused tniatlon and I hew ";", annual amount ;;,.,dPr'rec,T';axV.rorn':durlng the said yfMr. Population. i "';-" ;;:;;iii;6oo l-M I""' "' 100.000 n-t v.'ij T so.'ooo It will ba noted that while our PPU': tlon has mcrea.e.1 K' PT cent In the last O j.arV our direct state tai.es have ln .'reased -t r'r rent and that while the '". r the lt'13-14 blcnnml I. "lr ml", a, .ra.nai mill. ! iv.3 4 our ass-seed valuation has In- "rnrVor.t'a.V-expenai.ure. were lVsTSr SZTVX: a"- ?f .0 DC- cent. It Is reasonable to assume fiat JT sat n Increase In the cost of cou,;.nTc.!r sovernmen, . taken plaej in th tate government, and If so, oui and 'sovernmen, 1. .ln io per cent more p- r capita than In -'- in Th.J words. !er capita .cos of enr government was no more today "'" 4 a savins of SU.OvO.WO would resu.t an Keenm. the calamity sn.m.a uir.r . , ,V. ranks r.Milb-U of politics. There are In the ranks !f .M parties those who believe In the old dcH-tr re "to the victors b- lone thj 'ir'1" Sml -hv insist that our I"";""""" provide berths for the faithful. The ureal majo.y. however. tr.ke a .Ulferent view of ' J t nv -ttemn. to throw these tn. suua.iuii rv... if TeiatnrA Prnisp Prison Pnliev. Warns Dry Forces to Prepare for Difficulties, Pleads for Economy and study to the cansea which produce thia grat army of dependents. The records covering; the I'nlted States appear to show that each inmate of a state penal or elemosynar? institution represents an expenditure of $10-0 in lands, buildings and equipment. Oregon has been far more liberal in thia direction than most states, and 1IK is a very low figure upon which ro bane an estimate. Figuring upon thia basis, however, and from recorda available, it will be found that we have over 3.0O0.000 invented in land, buildings and equipment devoied to Institutional purposes. Our annual expenditure for maintenance runs about iW.'i.W'O, and for ordinary im provement 2-"O.O00: taken together. It means that when a charge la committed to our state Institutions the taxpayer must contribute $H0 to provide shelter and. an. Dually ih-reafter. 73 for improvements and repair and J 21 6 for maintenance. These growing expenditures present ques tion of deej concern to the taxpayer of the state and to society in general. Prob lems bearing upon the care of these un fortunates are being met by the official of our institution, but those having to do with the removal of the causes which pro duce these dependents are largely xor your solution. Drug; and Ram Blamed. Tn :udylng this question it will be found that alcohol and habit-forming drugs twin vlls are larcelv responsible for the population of our penitentiary and asyiums. By voting the state dry the people have taken a long step towarn removing ouv of the cause. It I incumoenc upon jou, therefore, to take the next step, and tnrougn unnrunriat leelslatlon restrict, if not pre vent, the tale of habit-forming drugs. Meas ure aime-1 to check this awful evil have heretofore been launched upon the legisla tive -sea. but have been driven upon ine rooks or sent Into port in a battered and worthless condition. Under our law a hun dred gates are open to those who wouia engage in the illicit traffic of these drug. No dimd thnuld be permitted to capitalize th) uMkhM of an unfortunate nromer, .ml hm hn enrasea In or nrotcct this traf tie will have much to answer for when he ftianrts hefor the .-rent last tribunal. Should this lPKHlatur perform no other duty tnan Hi.: of restricting the sale of hablt-forrolng drug.. It will he entitled to the thank of ail good people. Out Hide Insane Sent to Stale. Onlv 1.1 per cnt of those admitted to our honi.itals for the insane during the past bien ilium were native Oregonians; 30 per cent were found to be natives of other states and HI per cent of foreign countries. Oregon has long been the dumping-ground for the insane of all states and nations. Th present Board of Control and Institu tional hettds have adopted a vigorous policy of deportation and repatriation, with a re sult that 141! persons have been returned to their home states or foreign countries dur ing the pat biennlum. Had these charges been retained in our Institutions and lived the period of their expectancy they would have cost the state nearly $1.10.000 for main tenance alone. This policy of deportation deeply concerns the taxpayers of the state and 1 one wnicn snouia. do given cij legislative encouragement. No other state in the L'nlon has done more to nrovide for the treatment and comfort of It insane and feeble-minded than Ore gon. Commodious buildings, well equipped and surrounded by beautiful grounds, offer a safe retreat for these unfortunates. Broad acres of productive land and orchard yield ing bountifully provide a wholesome food suddIv. One has to but visit these instltu tlons to be impressed with the great strides whirl, have been made in institutional man, agement. Prison "Bathed and Aired. Great change have taken place In and about the prison during the pat four years. The Institution has been given a bath, a supply of e'ean clothe and plenty of fresh air. All buildings and structures have been placed in good condition and painted. Im nroved ventilating facilities have been in- .stalled and the old, obsolete and expensive system of heating has given way to an m proved system with a central neating plant. Forty-eight new steel cells have been built with the expenditure of an appropria te n Intended for but one-naic mat num ber. An automatic telephone system now connects all department, including the guardhouse, and through the Installation of a. new electrical system all wires have been placed in conduits, A long-needed cold storage and ice plant nas oeen auuea nu is giving splendid results. The guards' old Quarter, over the administration build ing, have been turned Into a women's ward. The guards have been provided with new quarters through the remodeling of the old brick stable near the prison entrance. Old barns have been rebuilt and long-needed shelter shed provided for the farm ma chinery. Alodel chicken and hoghousea have been constructed and every effort made to develop theee industries. (.rounds Made Beautiful. In the prison yard disorder has given way to order; grassy plots, cement walks and good roadway have taken the plac of rubbish and debris. Roaua leading to other tate institution have been improved, and a large acreage of prison lands cleared, drained and placed In cultivation. The low ground along Mill Creek, near the prison entrance Is being filled in and certain nat ural advantage turned to good acocunt. An unsightly tract of land will thu be transformed into one of beauty. With a view of utilizing the surplus labor of the prison, former Industries have been enlarged and new one established. The old brickyard has given way to a modern plant, the Innd and equipment for which were purchased with prison earnings. A dram tile plant ha hen lately Installed and Is proving profitable venture. The shoe shop and the tailor shop have been en- . ..0 State tax nied br direct rate of levy taxation. Mills. fl.lJI.sl.y.ll T. . ; ;s2 .'!( 4 3 S.'l 7il0.000.00 4.tl l.L".'.".HH).0i) 7.06 8 I.1L"J.1"14.4S J.S4 4.160,000.00 4.S0 2.8 Assessed value, Sltin.-.'ta.4 no 14su!',.,.!oVl-" r.o.V.ui i.T ..'" H.-Jb2.3-.V l.trged and provided rrlth needed equipment. The blacksmith, machine, tin, carpenter and paint shops absorb a share of the surplus labor and produce good returns far the state. Tit prison and other institutional farms and the county roads jff-r further means for taking csre ot the prison labor. It was found that a char.se of plans wou'd save the expenditure of a large part of an appropriation made by the last Legis lature for Improvements and the sum of $'S50 mi therefore being returned to the general fund. The revolving fund .Tested at the last session of the legislature has grown rapidly and now contains nearly i:.ono in cash and stock. The reclamstlon of waste prison lands. Imptovement of its dairy herd and suc cess In hogralslng have surprisingly re duced the maintenance cost. Our appro priation for maintenance has not only been ample, but has taken care of many Insti tutional neeile, which otherwise would have necessitated special appropriations. Critics of our prison policies hare made much of the fact that we found 1.20O.0O0 brick on hand when taking over the Insti tution in January. 1911. They claim we have taken credit for products of a former administration. For the Information of these critics. I wish to say that notwith standing the fact that we have manufac tured and sold several million of brick and delivered about 300.000 to other state insti tutions free of charge, wo have on the yard and ready to turn over to the succeeding sdmlnletratioa practically the same num ber as came into our hands upon taklog office. Oregon has taken the lead In prison re form and with most satisfactory results. Many good people, however, through lack of information as to our true aim and pur pose, have thrown obstacles in the way which have made progress most difficult. Notwithstanding statements often made to the contrarv. we have never lost sight of the fact that the prison was a place of punishment; nor have we. on the other hand, forgotten that a prison should be a place of reformation. Society should bs more concerned In the reformation of the man than in his punishment. Tarule System Vpheld. There is an Impression abroad that the policy of paroling prisoners which has been inaugurated and maintained during the past few years has been too liheral and has prac tically done away with punishment for crime It will no doubt surprise those who have h-en most critical to learn that from June 3i. lull, the lime when the new parole law was put Into actual practice, to June 30, 11114. the average time served by pris oners carrying indeterminate sentences wss IS. months, and that the average time s-rve.l during the previous four years by the same class, most of whom were serving a definite sentence, was IT. 6 months. In other words, offenders of the same class are serving a looser time under the present law than under the old. When we take Into consideration the fear ful conditions which have In the past pre vailed in many ot the penal Institutions throughout the land and which prevail In many of them today, and think what prison reform means to hundreds of thousands of unfortuna'.e Individuals, we ask ourselves why we have been so long In coming to our sens-s In this direction. The trouble is, we havo from time Immemorial been giving . ----- ................. 0UTG0ING GOVERNOR, WHOSE MESSAGE TO LEGISLATURE WaAS DISTRIBUTED YESTERDAY. .m. awaMWSSSW.S; 'i - - W:- -JS :-.--.vt-r;--,'nriiiaiii OSWALD more thought to property rights than to personal rishts; more thought to the pro tection of the thing than to the protection of the person. In other words, we have been placing the dollar above the man. and wo have yet to get away from that prac tice. It was not many generations ago that it was the custom across the waters to mete out the severest punishment to those who dared trespass In the slightest degree upon property rights. For petty offenses men were degraded, their ears were cut off. their nostrils were slit and they were branded upon the forehead or in the hand. Sim- nf this old snlrit has been handed down to this day and we see It breaking out occasionally through an Insistence upon tue lash and the dungeon and the prison labor contract. Otvine to centuries of effort upon the part of many, who have controlled the wealth of the land, to throw protection arouim property and their unpardonable neglect to accord the same consideration to Individ, uals. there has grown ud through custom and usage an overbalanced regard for prop erty rights and an undemaiancea regaru for the rights of the person. -A little more thought to the protection or our unionuimit; hrnihpr and less concern for the aitniehty dollar would go far to strengthen our Gov ernment and spread happiness throughout the land. As a rule, men d not become criminals from choice. They are largely victims 01 circumstance. Health, prosperity and hap piness usually follow the route of an up right life; no normal human being will, therefore, deliberately turn from this pleas ant pathway to the byway of crime, which he knows will lead only to his downfall. Prison tabor Is Problem. Day by day the factories of poverty, vice and greed are grinding out a steady stream of criminals and defectives. Heroic work is heine- done by unselfish workers, who seek these floaters upon the sea of life and bring them ashore, but tl.ose tn touch with the situation know that for every one res cued a dozen are carried to sea. As far as tho care of the prisoner is concerned, the fight in this state has been won, but the big. never-ending battle Is for the removal of the causes which make criminals and defectives. One of the most annoying questions m connection with prison reform betore tne people today is the utilization of pur prison ithnr R.lievina organized labor to be op posed to tho working of convicts, the po- itlcally ambitious nave Deen uiiaiu, o role, to take hold of tho matter. i nese gentlemen would undoubtedly be surprised to learn that organized labor has done more toward the solution of this problem than any other agency, although It Is bitterly opposed, and properly so, to tho contract system and the placing of convicts In direct competition with free men. The reason for thi. oiinnalilon is that the nrlson contractor can produce cheaper than the manufacturer who employs tree laoor si living -s Is in position to undersell In the markets of the world. His price, therefore, becomes the price at which all must sell, and the em ployer of free Inbor Is driven to reduce wages to meet this unfair competition. If a careful classification 01 .no pn.- ers Is made and those who can mm placed In "honor camps" and employed at institutional farm work or in the construc tion and maintenance of public roads, and others employed In the upkeep and main tenance of the prison and In the manufac ture of articles for the use of state Institu tions it will be found that prison labor ,i...rh,il in a direction which will reduce to a minimum competition with free labor. Employment Plan Laudel. Those who have given the question care- 1.. ihoi the state use system offers one of the best solutions to the prob lem. Our laws provide: -am u-a,-a nf the state who are capable of a reasonable amount of work without physical or mental injury 10 ii.uj.. shall he used as fully as possible In the production and manufacture of articles for the use of, and In the performance of labor for the state, but It shall be unlawful . . to enter into any agreement or con tract with any private person, firm ot cor poration for the employment of convicts . or to place prison-made goods on sale in open market In competition with prod ucts of free labor." With the view of providing employment for the men left Idle through the abolish ment of the stove foundry contract, various industries, as heretofore mentioned, have been Installed for the purpose of supplying certain institutional needs. If the system is extended the state will be In position not only to absorb Its prison labor, but to offer a variety of employment to the pris oners and by "assigning to each a task for whi-h he la best suited, prevent that great economic waste which prevails in those prisons where no particular thought Is given to such questions. The prison is surrounded by several hun dred acres of productive agricultural land, where outdoor employment is given to a large number of men. Hogs, poultry and a fine dairy herd, together with an abund ance of farm and garden products, enable us to provide good, wholesome food for the lnmstes of the Institution and at the lowest possible cost. Work on Bond Beneficial. Tho voters of this state recently declared in favor of working prisoners upon the county roads, and at tho several state In stitutions. The law provides: Upon the written request of the County r-,,et nf RDt count v in the State of Oregon, or any superintendent of any state lnstltu-1 tion. the Governor may aeian irum iu State Penitentiary such convicts as In his Judgment may seem proper for use on the public highways, or on or about any state institution. Said convicts shall be delivered to any County Court, or the superintendent of any stats institution on such terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by the Parole Board and approved by the Gover nor." We have from time to time worked large number of our prisoners upon the county roads, and our experience convinces us that, beyond a doubt, road work offers "WEST. a profitable and desirable means of employ ment for a large portion of our prison pop ulation. Until recently we have had but few Idle men at the prison, but the recent closing down of outdoor work on account of Win ter has placed 150 men upon the idle list. These men will be returned to work as soon as the weather permits. In past years- the duty of delivering in sane and prisoners to our state institutions fell to the Sheriffs of the several counties. A few years ago tho transportation of Insane was taken from their hands and given over to the hospital officials and the change has resulted in reducing the ex pense more than 00 per cent. Convicts, however, are still transported under the old system, and their delivery at the peni tentiary is costing the taxpayers three times as much as for the delivery of patients at the state hospitals. Several efforts have been made to secure reform legislation along these lines, but the ever-present Sheriffs' lobby has prevented it. Tho interests of the taxpayers demand that this old expensive system be changed and the transportation of convicts given over to tho penitentiary officials. Land Office Work IJsted. The State Land Board has control ot all lands granted to the state for the support of its educational institutions, and the in vestment of funds arisii.g trora the sale thereof. The grant from the Federal Gov ernment amounted to nearly 4,000,000 acres, as follows: Acres. College lands University lands rlcliool lands Special grant Capitol buildins grant Tide lands Swamp lands , S8.S0O 411.000 3.0.-4,20 500.000 t,400 25,200 201,300 Total 3,081.800 Prior to the year 1903 these lands were sold without regard to their true value, the ruling price being: Per acre. $1.00 1,00 1.1.5 l.M $1.25 and 2.30 Swamp lands . . Tide lands College lands . . . School lands University lands Indemnity lanas The records of the State Land Office ap pear to Bhow that upon January 1, 1903, 3, 000,000 acres, or three-quarters of the en tire grant, had been sold at an average price of $1.40" per acre. Little was ever realized from the sale of our inamp lands, as the greater part of the proceeds from legitimate sales were used In the payment of interest upon awamp land warrants which had been issued in re payment of moneys paid upon lands to which the state could not convey title. Some of the money thus derived was also used In construction of the old Dalles-Portland wagon road. The state is still entitled to several thousand acres of land under the swamp grant, but it seems next to im possible to secure patent on account of the red tape entanglements which surround the General Land Office. Since January, 1903, the State Land Board has made an effort to realize something near the true value of our lands. Notwithstand ing the best has long since been sold, the minimum price has steadily advanced and handsome figures have marked the sale of many tracts. The average price received during the past 10 years has been about $5 per acre. Clearings of Titles Proceed. As a result of an early-day practice of selling lands and issuing deeds before patent had been obtained, the state had outstand ing many defective titles. Through check ing the records all such titles have been un covered and every effort is being made to reach the claimants and repay the purchase price. When a few remaining transactions have been cleaned up a deed from the state will always stand as an evidence of good title. The state has pending in the General Land Office at Washington school Indemnity lists covering about $14,000 acres of land selected in lieu cf a like amount of surveyed and unsurveyed sen op lands within the bounda ries of Federal forests. The Government questions the validity of the base offered for these selections, but the state Insists It is valid and that patents should issue In due course. The compact entered Into with the Federal Government at the time of the state's admission to the Union provides: "Sections 16 and 36 In every township ot public lands In the state, and where either of said sections, or any part thereof, has been sold or otherwise disposed of, other lands equivalent thereto and as contiguous as may be, shall be granted to said state for the use of the schools." An act of Congress, approved February 23, 1S91, provides: "Lands of equal acreage are .... hereby appropriated and granted and may be selected by said state. . . where sec tions 16 and 36 are . . . included within any ... reservation." Timber Instead of Land Asked. Tho department, according to Information received, is inclined to follow a ruling In a State of Washington case (State vs. Whit ney, 120 Pac. 116), in which the court held that the school grant was a grant in praes enti and took effect on the date of the adoption of the state's constitution and the affirming of the enabling act. It was also held that Congress could not change the provisions of the grant. If this ruiling is followed it will not only prevent the making of further selections upon surveyed forest reserve base, but will cast a cloud upon titles covering thousands of acres of in demnity lands heretofore selected upon similar base and patented to the state without question. The state has been endeavoring to secure the permission of Congress to exchange about -45,000 acres of scattered school sec tions In the Federal forests of this state for a compact body of timber. Should the exchange be affected upon the proposed acre-for-acre basis, it will prove a very profitable transaction for Oregon. It being discovered that the beds and roffri of Summer and Abert Lakes, In Lake County, contained valuable deposits of min eral salts, and there being numerous appli cations to lease these proprieties, tn btate i SETBACKS OF THE STATE Land Board advertised for bids Ihowj Mr. Jnson C. Moore was me buwc-" der. The lease, which was made subject to vour approval, will run for a period of 40 years. The state is to receive royalties as follows for all commercial salts: Fifty cents per ton for potassium salts. Ten cents per ton for sodium chloride Twenty-five cents per ton for other salts. Should the royalties fall below SH.VOOO In . .1 I A cum etVldl I be any one year, iue - paid in lieu thereof, and as a renuil for tne premises for the said year. A report made by the State Bureau or Mines and Geology covering these deposits is on file with the clrk of the btate Land Board. . , T-he beds of our navigable streams belong . . . i 1 Vi on rrrv de- IO tne smie it-iiu 3 posits of sand and gravel having conslder- a.Oie commercjai wmuc a.,-.. - -concern engaged In the sale of such ma terials. ODiaimns men buf. - . r .-lAlrlintr rov Deas ot earn L.eix.B wi.-v i - - alties to the state. While it is true that the removal of such materials aids naviga tion at BOme pomus, jtri ... o u" " " . 1Z right that the common school fund or tne state snouia snare in ie PIU111D , from auch sales. Legislation, therefore. making it uniawiui iur : materials for commercial purposes without , , 1 . -nm fitntsk T.nnd first ODtammg a permit. - . . t j 1 . 1 a xnna liarfth a rev iJOara WUUIU reouu iu a. - - Large sums are lost to the state annually tnrougn tne unbusinesslike m-m.a , escheats are bandied. Inasmuch as the school . ... . . y : i . aii B,iih sxtrntes. tuna is tne oeneiiwBU ' "a-" the matter should be controlled by the State Lana uoaru, ah "iisaiwu "'" be under the direction of the Attorney General, who should have authority to call upon District Attorneys for assistance. According to official reports, tho amount of cash and securities on hand September GO 1914. in the educational funds, was $6!"09,r.S9.Sl. The manner in which these funds are invested is snown oy me j-u-lowing statement: Common School Iund Principal. Loans secured by first mortgage Certificates of sale -s",-?Sf' Cash -6.&4S.JI Total $6,403,840.46 Agricultural College Fund Principal. Loans secure J by first mortgage eool r,ir1v S 1S9.176.47 Certificates of eale 1,960.00 usu 10,977.32 Total 202,113.99 V'nlverslty Fund Principal. Tann sociirprl Yv first niortcace on real property $ Cash - 103,I41.r.2 493.S4 Total 103,635.36 cives the State Land Board full control over the investment of the funds arising from the sale of state lands. Our courts l ave held that this power of control cannot be taken from the State Land Board and placed in other hands. A customfof turning these securities over to the State Treasurer has grown out of the pat, with a result that tncir conuiuon i never known to tho other members of the board. This practice leads to neglect of duty upon their part and practically leaves tho matter of calling and extending pay ments to the State Treasurer. While State Land Boards, past and present, have made reports covering these securities, none of them has ever been based upon first-hand information, but solely upon data furnished by the State Treasurer's office. For tho purpose of securing a further ruling of the courts upon this most im portant question, an order was entered by the board, under the date of November 13. 1913, directing the transfer of all sucn otes and securities from the office of the State Treasurer to tne oinoe oi tne owiw Lund Board. Upon the State Treasurer's refusal to turn over the securities man damus proceedings were instituted that the questions Involved might be adjudicated at an early date and needed legislation se cured at the hands of your honorable body. Big School Fund Involved. While the matter was heard by the Cir cuit Court and an early decision favorable to the State Land Board rendered, it was the gossip of tho street that an appeal would be taken and an endeavor made to delay the hearing until after the fall election, and, If possible, until after the adjournment of the Legislature. It appears this rumor was well founded, for th State Treasurer, aided by the retiring Attorney-General, has interposed delays until the contest Is all but forgotten. Had the proceedings been expedited it would havo been possible for the Supreme Court to have heard the mat ter and rendered a decision prior to the con vening of this Legislature. The .safety of $6,400,000, the heritage of the school children of this state is in volved In this contest. The Circuit Court has held that the State Land Board la the lawful custodian of the securities. They are, therefore, being arbitrarily held with out authority of law by the State Treasurer and without being protected by a bond. Tho State Treasurer is bonded only for the faithful performance of the duties of his office, and since the Investment of the school fund and the custody of the secur ities is a constitutional duty imposed upon the State Land Board, the State Treasurer's bond would not insure protection. The clerk of the State Land Board Is the lawful custodian of all records and securities and is the only one from whom the board appears to have authority of law to demand a bond, and which may be fixed In such a sum as the board sees fit. While these securities may bo in safe hands today, they may be In unsafe hands tomorrow. The re cent experience of a neighboring state teaches us that even State Treasurers go wrong. It Is your duty, therefore, to take such action in tho premises as will in sure the school fund protection. Old System Called "Graft." Bookkeeping methods adopted In the early fee-ystem days of the State Treas urer's office provided for a number of separate "funds." When the cash on hand in any "fund" became exhausted warrants drawn thereon were "indorsed." and, through underground methods, taken up with cash available in other funds and the Interest earnings turned to personal profit. While the said system of graft has been done away with, nearly 60 separate "funds" still exist. Although there were several hundred thousand dollars in cash in the hands of the State Treasurer at all flmea during the past year, the state paid over $24,000 In interest upon "indorsed" warrants drawn against tneso - mere oooKKeepmg "funds." While there can be no objection to tho maintenance of separate funds mere- lv as a matter of bookkeeping, most of I them should be eliminated as far as segre gation of cash Is concerned. Such action would practically put an end to the indorse ment of warrants and the payment of in terest. The act appropriating moneys for the aupport of the State Treasurer' office provides that the appropriated sums, and no more, shall be used. It appears, however, that for a number of years the Treasury Department has drawn upon the common school fund for additional aums for the payment of clerk hire. Expenditures from the said fund to the extent of $30,000 have been made from time to tlmo for such purposes. It seems impossible to end this practice, as $9600 has been taken from the common school fund for the support of the said department during the term of tho incumbent. Fond Method Opposed. The full amount of the said expenditures should be returned to the school fund, as under the terms or tne x eaerai grant an , funds arising from the sale of school lands must be used only for the support of the common schools. The procuring of funds for the use of a department by Indirect j methods Is one of the abuses which lead j to extravagance ifi our state government. Departments snouia De maae to aepenu upon the Legislature, for support. State Printing Department. It Is with pleasure that I report the progress which has been made in the direc tion of a more businesslike ana economical administration of the affairs of the State ' Printing Department. The old fee system having recently been abolished, the State Printer is at last on a flat salary and , the state Is the owner of a well-equipped i printing plant, ThnM who have honestly opposed the state ownership movement have based their j opposition largely upon tne tneory mai mo change would lead to extravagance and ( graft. Whether this charge shall prove : t-n rMtK entirely with the Governor, Sec retary of State and State Treasure!- the board Having tne coairui auu iuus . of this department. There is bouna to do preesuio ui""6i bear from time to time by those who have somathinif tm noil to induce the Leeislaiure or the board to make liberal, if not need less expenditures for equipment. ims something which must be guarded against, as the plant is now large enough to meet the ordinary legitimate demands of the -.r sHnuid an emergency arise at any time, the board Is in position to meet the situation by contracting mouxv ui mo ww to commercial printers. Th r.ior.r a it stands today represents In mimhon an investment of $20,000, and while there is no occasion for increasing rhsi ms nrOVlSlon BHOUia DO UlaUB m iu time tor taking care of the depreciation! and Recommends Abolishment of Several Bureaus. -hlr)i to KntiTtrt in Appur. and to this end I would recommend that the board be author ized to set aside each year out of the earn ings of the plant a limited amount say 10 per cent of Its value, or SHOOO for tne ., Kl sn r and m s i n t an nn OA nt M. deDreda- tlon fund, out of wbiih shall be made all necessary renewals and repairs. This ar rangement will Insure the keeping of the slse of the plant within reasonable bounds and oreveat the possibility of the Legislature being annoyed with requests for appropria tions for needless equipment. Th niH rnstom of nDaroDrl & t in k large sums for public printing and permitting de partments to alp tn to tneir neari cwi'i"". should be forever ended, as such a prut tie makes for waste and extravagance. Each rten-rrment should pay for Its printing from Its own appropriation, and if this change is adopted it will result In more thought be ing given to economy ana a. icmii belnir made in our annual outlay for printing. A statement recently issued by the State Printing Board, and which follows, will fully advise you as to the expenditures which have been made for printing (exclusive of the purchase of the plants during the last two biennial periods, and some idea of the sav ing which is being made under the new system. "State Capitol. Salem, Oregon, November 20, 1914. To the Public: Owing to the con fusion which exists in the mind of the pub lic In reference to the cost of state print ing, the following statement has been pre pared with a view of showing Just what has been expended during the past two biennial periods: Cost of Printing. 1911-1913. Printing, ruling, binding, paper, etc. (printing fund) 1102,202.57 Printing and binding Supreme Court reports 12.600.00 Printing paid for by departments (approximate) 25,197.43 Total 1140,000.00 1913-1014. Printing, ruling, binding, paper etc. (printing fund) $ 84.299.28 Printing and- binding Supremo Court reports 7.425.00 Printing to be paid for by depart ments (approximate) 31,275.72 Total $123,000.00 "'Although the demands upon tho State Printing Department are increasing from year to year, it will be seen that the ex penditures for printing during the 1913-1914 biennial period will be 117,000.00 less than for $10U-1912. "The reduction of expenditures for the present biennial period Is due to tho present system of handling state printing. The records show a saving of over $30,000.00 to have been made during the past year as a result of the change. In other words, had the old system remained In effect, tho ex penditure for this biennial period would have been at least $30,000.00 In excess of the amount set forth in the above table. "The State Printing Board will have on hand in the general fund at the first of the year something over J31.00o.00. This money is being paid to the printing department by the difrcrent departments of tho state and the amount is included in the above i913 1914 cost table. Owing to an oversight In drafting the law no authority was given the board to use these funds, and It was. therefore, driven to ask the Kmergency Board for authority. While It appears, there fore, on the face of the record that there will bo a deficiency to meet on January 1, it must be remembered that there will be ample funds on hand to cover this defic iency, and that Its existence is due only to the lack of authority on the part of the Board to wipe it out. "STATE! PRINTING BOARD: "OSWALD WEST, Governor. "BEN W. OLCOTT, Secretary of Ktnte. "THOS. B. KAY, State Treasurer." State Library Active. A fortunate consolidation was effected by the last Legislature when the Library Com mission was combined with the State Library under the management of a board of true tees who had previously served the state for years as library commissioners, ex hibiting rare public spirit In their devoted care of the library interests and the gener ous financial contributions to it. The state lending and traveling library was combined with its reference document and school col lections making a unified system with over 85.000 volumes. These books reach the re motest regions of the state through over 500 distributing points in which collections are kept, and by means of a mall-order serv ice from Salem, which takes thousands of books each year to people on farms and in villages who have access to no other library. The report of the Library shows that nearly 60.000 books were shipped out dur ing the last biennial period, with an es timated use or 300,000. Many or these books are of the most practical nature and carry the help of the expert to the man who Is striving to lncreaso his efficiency as a worker, and who is. by this means. given an opportunity for self-education. Hundreds of farmers are reading the books on agriculture, and workers, students and people in isolated places are using the Library so extensively as to exhaust Its resources at times during the Winter. School Districts Served. Tho Library renders direct service to 2300 school districts by the selection and pur chase of the books for their libraries. As a consequence, Oregon has the best school library in the United States, and the low est price on school library books. Each city in the state Is sent books to supple ment Its local library. Men in public life have access to the reference and document collection and the state generally is served by a system which provides for the eco nomical and satisfactory distribution of its own publications. This successful Institution, the benefits of which are felt In every part of Oregon, represents state effort at Its best, by mak ing it possible, through legislative enact ment, for its citizens to co-operate In the maintenance of a central book supply with a well-organized service for the public wel fare. Many state institutions reach only the afflicted and the unfortunate with their well-defined and limited needs, but this educational department helps ana appeals to the able-bodied and ambitious, and gives them equality of opportunity. The Library is a great asset for the state in helping to overcome the disadvantages of Isolation and poverty. In Increasing the efficiency of its workers and in adding to Its recrea tional' facilities. As the work of the Library Is construc tive and widely extended, and lta useful ness, is limited onlv by its means, it should be put on a permanent basis, with a suf- ficent appropriation to auow ine iruie to form a settiea policy 01 exieneiun mm to acquire the store of valuable books needed to meet the demands made upon it, as the library center aepenaea upon oy the entire state. The present appropria tions, amounting to $17,700 annually, could not be-decreased without directly affecting the interests of thousands of our people. 1, therefore, respectfully urge that you give tho recommendations of the trustees your thoughtful consideration and cordial support Board Termed Extravagant. A Fish and Game Commission, having control of all matters pertaining to our fish and game, was created by the Legislature of 1911. The board Is supposed to be non political and the members to fairly repre sent the different sections of the state. Good men have been appointed from time to time upon this board, none of whom, however, has been able to curtail the ex travagances which, like barnacles to a ship, cling to the department. The division of commercial fisheries Is under the immediate control of a Master Fish Warden and there appears to be no complaint as to extravagance In his de partment, which Is supported by direct ap propriation and certain license fees collected from those engaged in commercial fishing. The game and game fish department Is under the Immediate control of the State Game Warden When the commission was created there was on nana in tne game protection fund $67,000. The law provided that the said sum and all revenues there after derived through the sale of fishing and hunting licenses should be given over to the uses of his department. Since the passage of the law the recepits havo rolled in so rapidly that they have become a bur den to the commission, and it has taken great ingenuity, coupled with unpardonable extravagance, to prevent an accumulation of funds. The game department alone ha spent nearly $450,000 during the three and a half years the Commission has been in existence. . . . Abolishment Is Advised. v The receipts of the game and game fish department for the year ending October 31. 1914, amounted to $119,000. The balance on hand from the preceding year was $.3, 000. making a total of $162,000. The ex penditures for the said year ending October SI, 1914, were $134,600. Thus It will be seen that while the expenditures exceeded the receipts by $25,000, the commission was obliged to carry over a balance of $H8.O00 to remain a burden unless your honorable body comes to the relief and turns it into the general fund. .... The personnel of the commission has con sisted of high-class men men who have made a success of their own affairs and who have had an earnest desire to make the department a success. The members draw no salary and are obliged to make great personal sacrifice when called upon to attend the monthly meetings of the com. mission, where they must pass upon a large number of vouchers covering expenditures of the department. When thesa eapemll- tures appear ex trava saint, tncy "rni it protest, and then approve. The claims are then paid In due coure. The commission hnuld ba abolished. Th Governor shouhl l.e given power to appott.t a State KIMi Warden, who would be ti.e administrative head of tho department or Commercial Fisheries and a tiat name Warden, w ho would be the artmlnlstrsi head ot the Game and Game Fifth Depart ment. Wider Police Duties Favored. Thete two departments should b sup port e.t through direct appropriation by Hie Legislature all leva collect.-! being turnrd in to tho state treasury. While each de partment head should be supplied with few deputy wardens to aMst in the enforce ment of the law and the performance of other duties connected w 11 h the work of the department, the usual police duty ahotiltt be taken over and performed under ih" immediate direction of th Governor, whi ts charged with the enforcement of the law. There is no good reason why the taxpayers money ahuuM be uned to em ploy an officer whose sole duty ts to watt h violations of the game law. The general public is interested not only in Xhm enfon. ment of the fish and gamo law s of the state, but of all penal laws. A man, there fore, employed by the state, to perform police duty should not devote his time to tho enforcement of particular law s, but to all laws. The general police duties of these depart ments should be performed by a fnrto un der the direct control of the Governor's office. This force might be called a stat constabulary, it at police, special a urn is or may be given any name which would please the fancy of the power that crraus their office. When the dry amendment goes lnt ef fect tho Governor will have many additional burdens in tho direction of law enforce ment thrust upon him. Such an rrnr mnt as above bus cent eri would pro ll him not only with tho machinery necessary for enforcing the liquor laws of this Mat, but such as will insure a strict enforce ment of our fish, game and forestry Ih and w ithout throwing a dollar of ad. tit lon:l expense upon the taxpayers. The number should be sufflicent to provide a dput y for each county and several deputies fur special field work. $.'.0,000 Saving roaalblr. An appropriation of $:to.tHH would be required to maintain this force. This sum Is si.'t.ooo less than was paid for the salary and expenses ot the deputy game wardens for tho year ending November 1, 1W14. An appropriation of $.'.0,000 ahould b made for the support of the Gam and Ganio Flub Department. Thta would ni-an a saving of at least $,'.0,000 per annum in thta de partment lon. The uhuhI liberal appro priation should be made for the support of tho Commercial Fisheries Department. The reduction of fire lot-s during the pt few years has more than justltted th crea tion of tho Deportment of Forestry. The State Forester has perfected a splendid or ganization, whereby all Interested aacncles are brought to co-operate In fon-at protec tion and the cost is thus reduced to a min imum. With a view of securing a more, enu'tsbt distribution of tax burden, a fairly accu rate cruise of standing timber lias born made by tho authorities in a n umber of our counties. In other counties th ciul ha, been made only after a faith Ion and cannot be accepted as correct or cuc!. Aa this information In much needed (io:n time to tlmo by both state and countv officials, it would appear mont advlnahi to obtain, through the office of the tit it in Forester, a reliable cruise nf all standing timber in the state. By checking the In formation already secured by th rounifi and that which may be received from other reliable sources, this work could b com pleted within a -reasonable tlm and at a low cost. Data, covering the Government's holding could no doubt bo obtained from the Federal authorities If desired. National Guard K tolled. Through the passage of our mlfltarv cod and the co-operation of th War lepn mont. the efficiency of tho ores on National Guard has been greatly increased durln t the past few years. 1 have found the of ficers and men ready and willing at all times to respond to duty. They desr great credit for the sacrifices of time and money they are obliged to make in tho interest of the organization. As there Is more or leas objection 1 members of the Guard being called upoc to perform police duty, it has been sug gested that a state constabulary be pro vided for. This suKKeat ion van b met with. nit additional expense If the recom mendation as to reorganization of th Flslt and Game Commission la carried out In the Interests of economy the offic of tho Adjutanl-Generni should be moed to the Capitol and provision mud at the Clackamas rifle rang for the storage ot state and Government supplies and equip ment. In the Naval MlMtla discord has given way to harmony. Increased rffleicney ha brought recognition from the Navy lpart menl and a splendid organization Is being muintulned. An effort Is being mads to have the Navy department substitute th battleship "Oregon" for tho cruiser "I.oston." now under lease to this state as a training ship, ComprnNatlwn Art IJkrd. Tho last Legislature passed, and th po. pie approved by a largo vote, a workmen's compensation act. Automatic workmen's compensation is a recognized principle In the industrial life of tho Nation, and It is gratifying thut Oregon lias placed Itself in the forefront throuKh the enactment of legislation of this character. Tho act, while making ampin provision for th work. Ingram and his family, relieves the em ployer of onerous burdens mid legal uncer tainties. Experience will demons! rate the correctness ot the theory upon w hich nui a legislation is based. While tho life of tho act has been short, it has been of sufficient letiath to develop its strength and uncover its weaknesses. Every apparent defect will he seized upon as ammunition by the casualty IriKuranee companies In their rampHign of destruction. It. therefore, becomes the d uly of tho who would aid legitimate business and ex tend protection to those who toll to Join hands not only In withstanding auch as saults, but In supplying amendments needed to insure the stability of the act. There are a few among those who are still unwilling to allow equal rUhts and opportunities to women, that question the ' advisability of naming a woman as a mem ber of the commission. The purpose of the act Is to Insure relief to the wives and children of killed or injured working mn, and no one can be better qualified to csrry out the true spirit and purpose of ths law than a woman commissioner. In the construction of state buildings It has been the custom, In years past, to employ architects and pay them the usual charge of 5 per cent for their aervtees. The State Board of Control believed, how aver, that it would be In the Interest of 00000111 to employ an architect at a fixed salary and havo him devote his entire time to the state's interests. During the period the present State Architect has ben employed he has had charge of ninety H0) building projects, entailing an expenditure of $ I. 39r,iM9.10. The operating expense of the architect's office during the said period has been $42,4.-7.&K, or Just a llttl over 3 per cent of the building expenditure. Under the old fee system ths cost would have been $!-, 4113. 78. It will thus b seen that a saving of $?2.o.'t7.7i has been mad through this board' policy of mploylng and placing its architect upon a flat salary. Utilities U nder Htat Rule. For nearly half a century the penplo have waged a continuous fivht to determine whether this country should have a govern ment controlled by the rail toads or , ra M roads controlled by the Government, Th smoke of the battle la now clearing sway and victory seems to perch upon the ban ner of the people. In this state not only th railroads, but practically eery public utility has been placed under tho control of our Ha 11 road Commission. All disputed legal questions have been adjudicated, and, as a ruin, the results have Deen lavorabie to the people. The railroads are becoming reconciled i the change and are allowing a diipoaitlon to meet the now condition. It 1 incum bent upon the people, therefor, to meet them half way and accord fair treatment. During the last decade Hit hav hen passed In the I'nlted mat? about oiio atatn and National laws having to do wiih the regulation of railroads and extending to almost every detail thereof. VV rs.u:se their rates, service, facilities, safety app ances, hours of labor, at em of account In a and the amount of their taxa. We lea. them but ons unrestricted duty th duly of finding the money to pay ths bUIs. The people's fight anlnt th railroads grew out of unjust treatment, discrimina tions and the piratical operations of thop early In control. Those days are past, how ever, and so long as th railroads lm a disposition to perform their true functions that of rendering ths public adeq iate serv ice at reasonable rates and without discrim ination their problems snd tl.elr needs should always receive courteous console ra tion at the hands of th pop. Fuch laws as may be ndd from t m to tlm to iusure adequate control should be favored, but ail "pin-sticking" legislation, serving no useful purpos. and tending only t ctcal additional buidens and expvuso, to be luit