SectionOne
Pages 1 to 18
88 Pages
Eight Sections
PRICE FIVE CENTS
VOL. XLI 0. 9 Entered at Portland .'Oregon) -
,v' ' Postofflee as Second-class Matter.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 26, 1923
OUR-PDWERPACT
BIGGEST HURDLE
BOND INTEREST ASKED
RAILROADS PLA
SCIENTISTS TO HUNT
$179,000 MORE ADDED
TO SOCIETY SWINDLE
L
E
WOMEN TO RECEIVE
TAXES HELD
FOR.FINANCING BONUS
GHOST TO HIS LAIR
THANKS FROM CHEST
SiNESS REVIVAL
L HELD
F
T OF PEOPLE
30 RKPLBLICAN HOUSE MEM
SPOOK AVHO CHASES FAMILIES ' MRS. DOROTHY ATWOOD GIVES
APPRECIATION MEETING WILL
BE HELD WEDNESDAY.
BERS INDORSE PLAN.
FROM HOMES IS PREY. I .LOSS AS $276,000.
RQYA
Ml
REHEAR5A
enators Do Not Question
Other Treaties.
Reservations are probable
Eventual Ratification, How
ever, Seems Assured.
ODGE IS BEING PRODDED
ack of Candor in Telling Public
That Agreement Was to Super
sede Alliance Attacked.
BT MARK SULLIVAN.
Copyright by the New York Evening Post,
Inc. Published by Arrangement.) '
WASHINGTON. D. C, tea. io.
Special.) At the present -writing It
U still a dependable Judgment that
11 the treaties arising out of the
Vashlngton conference will be rati
ied by the senate. The only one
bout which there is any serious
uestlon Is the four-power pact. As
o that, many senators, possibly even
majority, may vote for certain res-
rvations. The reservations will ln-
lude not only 'the familiar one to
lie tffect that America is not pledged
o anything in a military -sense, but
Iso a reservation inserting the worn
unprovoked" before the words "ag
sressive action," so that this part of
he treaty shall read, "if the said
ights are threatened by the unpro
oked aggressive action of any other
ower," etc. There is a good deal of
lscussion about the omission of this
vord "'unprovoked" in the original
reaty. It is claimed that ' unpro
oked aggression" Is the phrase com-
nonly used insuch treaties.
Senator Borah Opposed.
But, apart from reservations, there
s going to be some opposition to the
vhole of the four-power pact as such.
Senator Borah will oppose it. Very
robably Senator Johnson of Califor
ia will oppose it also.' Senator John-
on is coming up for re-nomlnation
n California next August, and for re-
lection in November; and eome ol
Us political opponents are making
aggressive threats to the effect that
hey Vill make trouble for him if he
ails to support wholeheartedly the
ntlre set of treaties arising from the
Vashlngton conference. Nevertheless,
he greater probability is that Sena
or Johnson will oppose the four-pow.
r pact, at least.
At the present writing Senator
KlcCormack of Illinois, and Senator
Moses of New Hampshire, are said
o be dubious about it, but to feel
hat the general public demand for
omplete ratification of all the re
sults of the conference as a step
oward better things in the world
s such that it is best to "go along.1
f any widespread popular movement
Lgainst the four-power pact should
lirlse, not only these, but a few other
republican senators might turn up
n opposition.
Many Democrat! Hesitate.
Among the democrats, Senator Heed
land Senator Shields are confidently
A-ncterl to nnnnNA th four-nower
1 '
ftact And here again, If any wide
spread movement should arise a good
many other democrats might Join, the
opposition. For the present the
great bulk of the democrats are in
clined to give to this pact their sup
port, although, in a sense, against
their better Judgment. They hesi
tate to give to the world the spec
tacle of seeming to "act ugly" in
the matter of international relations.
They hesitate to give to the world,
for a second time, the spectacle of
the . United States senate upsetting
an agreement arrived at in an inter
national conference. Nevertheless,
theae "democrats feel strongly that
not only are there inherent objec
tions to the four-power pact, but
also that they are b ing asked to
sacrifice a personal Judgment and
f Continued on Page 6, Column 3.)
III yyiu wouwuta -vwv. fa)
- , In - Hi
Joint Open Letter Opposing Sales
Tax Levy Is Dispatched to
Chairman Fordncy.
WASHINGTON, D. C, Feb. '. 25.
Thirty republican members of the
house of representatives prominent
in the group opposing the sales tax.
came out formally today in favor of
using the refunded foreign bonds to
finance the soldiers' bonus. . '
In a Joint open letter to Chairma-n
Fordney of the ways and means com
mittee, they said - the use of these
bonds would "remove a grossly un
just proposal, prevent the political
overturning of congress, and will be
just to the ex-soldiers who saved for
us these foreign debts."
'The bonus should be passed with
out any obnoxious tax and should be
passed without delay," added the let
ter, which was framed by Represen
tative Frear of Wisconsin, and signed
by 29 other members, mostly from
western etates.
"Your action of yesterday, support
ed by members of the sub-committee,
in discarding any sales tax on the
bonus bill," the letter said, "will r-
ceive the hearty Bupport of members
of congress generally. We believe
the sub-committee vote of seven to
two against such a tax Is a close in
dex of public Bentiment on the sub
ject. .
"A sales tax would penalize every
ex-soldier and compel him to pay to
ward his own meager bonus. Nine
hundred thousand jobless ex-soldiers
will be obliged .immediately to pay
consumption taxes under any sales
tax law. -
"No sales tax law could get through
the house and senate in less than 90
days, if passed at all. Ninety days
more would be -required to obtain a
clerical force to put the law in op
eration, thus taking until September
or October of this year.
Congressman Longworth Is au
thority for the statement that when
British bonds are received in June or
July next, these can be used with the
approval of the president to finance
the bonus, or several months before.
any safes tax funds would be avail
Me. .;
"Semi-annual Interest on this debt
amounting-to H25,000,000 has been
voted in the British budget, and is un
derstood to be colltctible by June 1
next."
With this letter, sales tax opponents
gave notice that their campaign would
be vigorously waged despite the re
jection of the tax proposal by the sub
committee.
The republican membership of the
ways and" means committee will meet
Tuesday to consider the subcommittee
action, and the fight of consumption
tax opponents will go on, at least up
to that time.
Chairman Fordney declined to say
today whether he would consult with
President Harding before the com
mittee meeting Tuesday, but the im
pression gained today at the capitol
was that Mr. Harding would be ad
vised of yesterday's action by the
subcommittee In rejecting the sales
tax advocated by the executive and
voting to report out a bill without any
provision for , providing for needed
revenue.
Some pressure to speed up the
bonus bill in the house is being ex
erted now, but leaders generally, ap
parently, are not inclined to rush the
legislation.
2 ENGINES IN COLLISION
Cowcatchers Lose by Shasta and
Freight Near Albany.
ALBANY, Or., Feb. 25. (Special.)
The loss of a cowcatcher by each of
two engines 'was the extent of dam
age in a collision between the north
bound Shasta Limited and the engine
of a local freight at Millersburg, tour
miles north of-Albany, at 6:30 tonight.
Freight train No. 227, southbound
from Brooklyn yards to Albany, had
pulled onto the siding at Millersburg
to let both No. 11, the southbound
Shasta Limited, and No. 12, the north
bound Shasta, pass.' As No. 11 ap
proached the station the freight train,
too long for ( the siding, pulled out
onto the frog t? clear the main line at
the same time No. 12 approached from
the south and the two engines collid
ed. Traffic was, delayed 50 minutes.
Each engine was able to proceed, han
dling its own train.
sv Ijjjj
Great Northern to Spend
More Than $15,000,000,
LABOR WILL BE IN DEMAND
Oregon and Washington's
Share $3,500,000.
EQUIPMENT NOT INCLUDED
Expenditures Will Add Greatly to
Traffic Facilities of Line; North
west to Supply Material.
The movement to bring about a
business revival by railroads through
the use of their money and credit
to buy materials and start up a large
demand for labor has been joined by
the Great Northern railroad, accord
ing to Ralph Budd, president, who
came to Portland last night.
Mr. Budd said the 1922 budget of
his railroad is more than $15,000,000.
Of this amount approximately $3,500,
00O will be spent in Oregon and
Washington on materials and labor,
but this amount will not include any
equipment, as this is not allocated to
any particular district.
- Northwest to Supply Material.
The bulk of the material to be used
in equipment to be built will come
from the northwest and all of the
lumber will Oome from along the
Great Northern and the Spokane
Portland & Seattle railway. The ex
penditures will be on freight and pas
senger equipment, improvement to ex
isting . equipment, additional main
tracks, block signals, elimination of
grade crossings, bridges, heavier
rails and track material, ballasting
and strengthening roadbed, telegraph
.lines, additional and enlarged engine'
terminals, shop buildings and ma
chinery and an ore dock on the Great
Lakes.
In talking upon business conditions
Mr. Budd said that he believed there
had been enough rate reductions un
til at least it was learned how the
roads will come out under present
conditions.
.- Railroads' Case Set Fortk.
"The railroads should be as much
concerned over the business depres
sitn which now exists the country
over as any other industry can pos
sibly be and should be willing to do
their utmost to assist in bringing
about a restoration of normal busi
ness conditions," he said.
"Their net earnings fall so far short
of giving them a fair return upon
the investment in property used for
transportation purposes at the pres
ent time that there ia great danger
of such serious impairment of their
credit as to do Injury to the very
industries they seek to aid if they
should make any further drastic re
ductions in rates before transporta
tion costs are correspondingly re
duced; but,
"I believe they can assist in brlng
ingabout a business revival by using
their money and credit to come into
the market for materials and labor.
By thus creating business for others
they may be able to remedy their own
ills and at the same time the facilities
that will be created will be needed
in order to handle the commerce of
the .country when normal business
shall have been resumed.
Definite Policy Adopted.
"The Great Northern has adopted
this as its definite policy and will
undertake the expenditure of upwards
of $15,000,000 in improvements and
enlargement of its facilities in 1922.
Included in these are the purchase of
1500 freight, cars. With the 500 re
frigerator cars already delivered, this
will make an increase in our refrig
erator equipment of 1000 cars in the
J2 months ending September 1, 1922,
when the new cars will be received
(Concluded on Page 3. Column 2.)
SKETCHES BY CARTOONIST PERRY ILLUSTRATING , S OME RECENT NEWS TOPICS.
N THE. 0 SY .OfcJ.cVlo4M.l
Publishers Gather Party to Find
Out Whereabouts of Spirit
That Terrorizes Country. .,
.1- f "
HALIFAX, N. S, Feb. 23. The
famous "ghost of Ancigonish county,"
who stands charged with arson, as
sault and cruelty to animals, tonight
was assured, of an opportunity to
clear his name before a jury ot
scientists. '
William H. Dennis, proprietor of
the Halifax Herald, announced that
George F. Sleggs, assistant professor
of biology at Dalhousie university,
soon would leave for the haunted
house, which the spook is alleged to
occupy near Caledonia mills, and that
the Canadian investigator would be
joined there by Dr. Walter Franklin
Prince, director of the American In
stitute for Scientific Research in
New York. "
Mr. Dennis said he was determined
to get at the bottom of the unex
plained fires and dying cattle that
drove Alexander MacDonald and his
wife from their farm house in mid
winter. He appeared much impressed
when one of his reporters and a de
tective attached , to the provincial
police force recently returned with
reports that they had received spook
ish slaps while ghost hunting.
The matter is not to be taken
lightly, according to Mr. Dennis, who
has drawn up a fresh indictment
(Concluded on Page 9, ColUm. 1.) (Concluded on Page 9, Column 3)
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather. 1
YESTERDAY'S Maximum temperature, 48
degrees; minimum, 32 degrees.
TODAY'S Generally fair; easterly winds.
Departments.
Editorial. Section 3, page 8.
Dramatic. Section 4, page 0.
Moving picture news. Section 4, page 1.
Real estate nd building iiewi Section 4,
page 1-
Churches. Section 5, page 2.
Books' Section 6, page 6.
Schools. Section 5. page G.
Automobiles. Section 6.
Mueic. Section 4, page 8.
Flowers for home and garden. Section 3,
page 11.
Chess and checkers. Section 3, page 11.
Radio. Secyon 4, page 8. -
Women's Features.
Society. Section 8, page 1.
Women's activities. Section 3, page 6.
Auction bridge. Section-4, page 4.
Fashions. Section 5, pages 1 and 4.
Miss Tingle's column. Section 5, pas? 4.
Madame Rlchet's column. Section , pas? 1.
Special Features.
A Mllege degree by Vamping. Magazine
'Section, pace 1.'
Proposal embarrassment of being c-ize
beauty. Magazine section, page 2.
"Their Treasures Here Below." fiction tea:
ture. Magazine section, page 3.
News of world, as seen by camera. Maga
zine section, page 4.
Charting the movie face. Magazine sec
tion, page 5.
Forest an open book to timber -cruiser.
Magazine section, page 6.
The income tax dodger and his tricks.
Magazine section, page 7.
Hill's cartoons, "Among Us Mortals." Mag
azine section, page 8.
Fresh air eepe women young. Section 3,
page 5,
Masonic heme ready for occupancy. Sec
tion 3. page 10.
Fort Ticonderoga to be restored. Section
4, page 2.
Portland homes attract visitors. Section 4.
page 5.
James J. Montague feature. Section 4,
page 5.
Toolcraft. Section 6, page 6.
Darling's cartoons on topics of the day.
Section 5, page -7.
Home construction and arrangement.- Sec
tion 6, page 8.
Foreign.
France only asks time to pay war debt to.
America. Section V page o.
V. S. conference on Russia urged. Section
I, page 10..
Genoa conference set for April 10. Section
1, page 4.
Royal marriage rehearsed by king and
queen. Section 1, page 1.
Scientists to hunt ghost to his lair. Sec
tion 1, page 1.
Progress of pact relief to Dublin. Section
1, page 10.
Canadian government watsfe
bonus movement with lntei
American
terest. Section
1, page lb.
National.
America most liberal to veterans, says
Colonel Forbes. Section 1, page 10.
Senate to start debate on treaties. Section
L. page. 5.
Foreign bond interest asked for flsancing
- bonus. Section 1, page 1.
Four-power pact is biggest hurdle. Section
1, page 1.
Capital mourning disaster to Roma. Sec
tion 1, page 6.
American Federation of Labor determined
to control congress. Section 1, page 5.
Gompers attacks farm conference. Section
1, page's.
Harding suggests 80,000 as navy person
nel. Section 1, page 4.
Woman Said to Have Contributed
$97,000 to New York Broker
' Corrects Figures. .""
NEW YORK, Feb. 25. Mrs. Doro
thy Atwood, listed by the district at
torney's office as one of the lesser
victims of A4fred E. Linosay's alleged
"domino club" stock pool, declared
today she ha run Mrs. Lillian N.
Duke, divorced wife of.' James B.
Duke, "tobacco king," a close race
for honors of "chief goat" In the
broker's operations.
Instead of the $97,000 she "was re
ported to have contributed to the
pool with which Lindsay is alleged
to have said he and George F. Baker,
Thomas W. Lamont, James A. Still
man and a few other giants ol Wall
street were going to make a big
"killing" In the street, she put In
$225,000 in cash, about $50,000 in
Jewelry, and nearly $1000 in dogs,
Mrs. Atwood said.
The missing broker, she declared,
carried off two of her pedigreed Mex
ican dogs, after he had got the last
of her ready cash, representing that
he had found good sales for them. He
tried to borrow a third'? she said, but
her suspicious had been aroused, and
she .kept the dog. ' "-' : ' .
Mrs. Atwood has earned her' living
since by raising pedigreed dogs
something that was just a hobby be
fore suave Lindsay came into her
life. Mrs. Atwood said she had first
National.
Senator Harrison ridicules London speech
of Ambassador Harvey. Section 1,
page 4.
Domestic. . v
1170,000 more added to society swindle.
Section 1, page 1.
Fields says he can clear up Taylor murder.
aecuon i, page 2.
Illinois explosion laid to plot. Section 1,
page z.
Debutantes also aided by benefit. Section
1. page 6.
Northwest.'
New Lincoln state live issue ' in Inland
empire. Section 2, page 5.
Washington, state judicial system to be
reformed. Section 1, page 8.
Highway traffic enforcers told to be strict
and courteous. Section 1, page 8.
Oregon generous in matter of bonus to
soldiers as compared with other states
tiectioa 1, page 8.
Attempt at -big land- steal in Idaho
charged. Section 1, page 7.
Industrial club book in demand. Section
1, page 7.
Sheriff of Clat&op exonerated by jury.
Section 1, page 8. - -
Sports.
Coach Bohler sayS he'll give up Job. Sec-
- tion 2, page X. .
Norman Ross sets three new records. Sec
lion 2, page a. "
Jefferson and Lincoln to, battle for scho
lastic basketball .championship. Section
2, page 3.
Teams for 'interclub golf match selected.
Section 2, page 2.
Fielders to play big part in 1922. Section
2, page 4.
Unknown becomes grid star through whim
of chance. . Section 2, page 2.
Boxing commission plans to curb noisy
seconds at boxing bouts. Section 2,
page 3
Most mat events won by Multnomah. Sec
tion 2; page 1.
Leonard has better of Moran in battle.
Section ft page 1,
Oregon Aggies beat Washington Quintet,
31 to 27. Section 2, page 4.
Commercial and Marine,
Three-quarters of million pounds of wool
Contracted for. Section 1, page 18.
All wheat markets higher Jn reduced Ar
gentine estimates. ' Section 1, page 16.
Demand - for foreign war bonds strong.
Section 1, page 17.
Planting started In southern Texas. Sec
tion 1, page 17.
Two steamers booked to- load full cargoes
of grain at Portland. Section. W page
15.
Trading in stocks on active scale. Section
1, page 16.
Portland and Vicinity.
Shrine Initiates 175 into mysteries. Sec
tion 2,page 10.
Old Oregon, trail conference at Baker
brings good results. Section 1, page 7.
Women to receive thanks from chest. Sec
tion 1, page 1.
Dow V. Walker cites need for holiday In
county spending. Section 1, tpage 14.
Maurice E. Cxumpacker announces candi
dacy for congress. Section 1, page- 12.
Waters ot Bull Run now under absolute
control. 'Section 1, page 14.
High taxes held fault of, people. Section
1, page 1. r '
Race for governor is waxing warmer. Sec
tion 1 page 13.
Anne M. Lang ot The Dalles chosen regent
of Daughters of American Revolution.
Section 1. page 12.
Great Northern railway to spend more
lv than $15,000,000 In improvements is
. 1922. Section 1. pasa 1
Purdln found guilty of manslaughter. Sec
tion 1, page 9. . -
Let people know of crisis, is plea. Section
1, page 9.
King and Queen Prepare
for Ceremony.
WESTMINSTER ABBEY VISITED
Hundreds of Craftsmen and
. Decorators Are Busy.
TROUSSEAU IS SIMPLE
Everything Being' Made Ready! for
Wedding of Princess Mary to
Viscount Lascelles Tuesday.
LONDON, Feb. 25. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) King George and
Queen Mary were rehearsing "today
the parts they will take at the state
wedding of their daughter, Princess
Mary, to. Viscount Lascelles next
Tuesday. Shortly before noon their
majesties arrived tft the door of
Westminster abbey in a big limousine
and were met by the d-ean.
They passed an hour in examina
tion, of the elaborate arrangements
made for the accommodation of the
great assemblage of wedding guests
and in being conducted through the
positions they will take during the
ceremony. '
Their visit was a surprise to scors."
of curious, who came for a last peep
at the scene of the wedding of "Eng
land's princess."
Crowd Cheers Royal Pair.
When asked by the abbey verger to
leve, the sightseers reluctantly clus
tered abouy the doors and a little
later they were rewarded by the ar
rival of the king and queen, whom
they cheered enthusiastically. The
queen smiled and the king raised his
hat in acknowledgment of- their
greeting. -
Hundreds of craftsmen and decora
tors have, been busy for a fortnight
in regaling Parliament square, the
end of victoria street, the broad sanc
tuary of Whitehall and the exterior
of Westminster abbey itself for the
approaching marriage. :
Pillars Are Triangular. .
The principal pillars of this neigh
borhood are triangular in shape, tand
have been draped in blue banners
bearing the monogram "M" and "H"
on paneled fronts. (Viscount Las
celles' Christian name is Henry.)
From masts surrounded by gilt cor
onets fly large banners of the Brit
ish national colors and flaga of the
empire. Projecting arms bear on
either side of the pillars flags of the
heraldic lozengy of Princess Mary and
th coat of arms of Viscount Las
celles. , ' .
These masts, 15 yards apaj-t, alter
nate with simple pillars 20 feet high
topped with- capitals carrying gilt
ball heads. The heads of these capi
tails are linked to the mainmasts by
ropes of white floral garlands seven
inohea in diameter, carrying large
gilt lilies.
Trousveau to Be Simple
Simplicity will be the keynote of
Princess Mary's trousseau, now prac
tically complete, except for the wed
ding dreas itself, which conforms to
the precedents of English history for
the attire of royal brides.
The princess was allowed an en
tirely free hand in choosing her
trousseau. A 'large selection of
models was taken to Buckingham pal
ace for her approval and after trying
them on and discussing them with
Queen Mary, the princess ordered her
selections to be copied in her favorite
colors.
Blue .Predominating; Note.
Blue is the predominating note, blue
in almost every shade and tone, from
forget-me-not to deepest cornflower.
After blue comes gray the smoke,
dove and aesthetic French shades and
after gray, wild rose and hyacinth
mauve.
The royal bride-to-be has all her
(Concluded on Page 3, Column 1.)
lip
One-Minute Talks to Be Given on
Striking Incidents in Campaign.
y Total Is $518,490.
Every woman who was enlisted in
the community ches campaign in any
way Is bidden to a big appreciation
meeting Wednesday afternoon at 2:30
in Central library hall. At that time
they will be thanked for their serv
ices to the cause and given their of
ficial discharge, as the work of the
residence division will have been
cleaned up by Wednesday.
Mrs. C. B. Simmons, chairman of
the residence division, sent out let
ters yesterday to all' her colonels and
captains asking them to come to the
meeting, along with their lieutenants
and other workers In the cause. Cap
tains are expected to notify their
lieutenants, but all are asked to
come, regardless of whether they re
ceive official notice.
"Appreciation is rara in this
world," said Mrs. Simmons in plan
ning her meeting, "and our women
who worked so loyally deserve many
kind words for the valiant service
they performed against great odds.
The least we can do is to recognize
their good work."
A detailed report of alt' the resi
dence division accomplished . in the
campaign will be made. Mrs. Sim
mons, who called the meeting, will
preside.
An interesting feature will be ' an
experience meeting, during which
workers will give one-minute talks
on the most striking incidents of the
campaign. Personal contacts and re
actions they brought about will fur
nish the subject for these reports.
For instance, one woman did not
succeed in getting into a house In her
district, the people living' there ex
plaining there was a sufferer from
rheumatism within and they could not
ask her inside.
"House smells of mash," wrote this
skeptical worker on her report slip.
Sidelights like this will, no doubt,
eome to light In the recital of ex
periences and the listing of alibis,
both the airtight and the leaky ones,
encountered by women workers on
their rounds, may be attempted.
Mrs. Simmons anticipates an inter
esting gathering and is particularly
anxious that every -woman worker in
the campaign, attend.
The total of all subscriptions to the
chest yesterday was $518,490.
LEAGUE IS TAX . EXEMPT
Deposits in New York Banks Held
Not Subject to Levy.
WASHINGTON, D. C, Feb. 25. The
league of nations is not a foreign
corporation subject to the usual cor
poration tax, but a foreign organiza
tion having all the tax immunities
of a foreign government, according to
the decision of the tax experts of the
New York state government, which
has been communicated to Geneva, the
league headquarters.
The league for some time has kept
an account in dollars in various New
York state banks, the total some
times running as high as $300,000, and
the state officials undertook to tax
the deposits.
"BUFFALO BILL" HONORED
Wyoming to Erect Statue lor Late
Noted Plainsman.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25. Mrs. Mary
Jester Allen announced today, on the
eve of the 75th anniversary of the
birth of her uncle. Colonel William
F. Cody, that the etate of Wyoming
had commissioned Mrs. Harry Payne
Whitney, New York society woman
and sculptress, to carve a statue of
the late "Buffalo Bill."
The statue will be erected in Cody,
Wyo., which the noted plainsman
founded in its pioneering days.
FREQUENT RAINS COMING
Cloudy Week but Normal Tempera
tures Are Predicted.
WASHINGTON, C. C, Feb 25.-
Weather prediction for the week be
ginning Monday are:
Pacific states Considerable cloud
iness; frequent rains; normal tem
oerature. '
WfXHV
'MM
m0
Legislature and Officials
Declared Blameless.
BURDEN THOUGHT ALARMING
Commission Says Voters
Burdened Selves.
HEARINGS ARE PLANNED
Taxpayers All Over State to Be In
terviewedIncome Levy Is
Being Considered.
The people and not the legislature
or other 'officials are responsible for
the heavy burden of taxes now being
carried by the real property of Ore
gon.
This is one fact which the state tax
investigation commission has de
veloped. There Is no difference of
opinion among the members of the
commission on this point.
That the tax burden has grown to
great proportions until the delinquent
tax list has attained alarming pro
portions is common knowledge. In
searching for the reason 'for the
growth of taxes, particularly of state
taxes, the Investigating body has
come to the conclusion that the peo
ple, by their votes, have saddled the
burden upon their holdings.
Institutions Are Economical.
Study of the various state institu
tions, ranging from the state hospital
to the penitentiary, has convinced the
commission that these institutions are
being conducted as economically as
possible. The increase in the . per
capita cost for the Inmates is not out
of proportion with the increas'e in
the high cost of living of the average
citizen. Considering Increased num
ber of inmates, the cost of govern
ment has" not advanced very notice
ably in the last few years. ,
Having surveyed these institutions
and the cost of the Judiciary and other
state functions, the commission's sta
tistical bureau produces figures to
show ,that the great increase in state
taxes has come 'about through the
vote of the people. The heaviest item
refers to education, millions of dollars
being voted for elementary and high
education. , v
Roadn Are Heavy Choree.
Next to education, roads axe a heavy
charge, and the road taxes are aside
from the -money raised from licenses
for motor vehicles, this license money
Utoing to pay interest and principal on
the state bonds issued for the Con
struction of state highways. Market
or farmer roads alone cost approxi
mately $2,000,000 a year.
The people voted the millage taxes
for the educational institutions, and
the people, in counties, voted their
road taxes. Also the people voted
the amendment to the constitution
which commits the state to pay in
terest on the securities of irrigation
districts for a perrbd of years. And
also the people authorized the "bond
Issues Of the ports. All these are
contributing factors to the present
heavy tax load.
Statistics Are Axnemblrd.
Having placed responsibility for the
major part of the tax burden on the
voters, the commission of investi
gators has assembled statistics to
ascertain where the weight of the
taxes fall, and they have found, with
out much trouble, that the real prop
erty of the state is carrying the load.
Visible property is not escaping, al
though the assessments are not
equitable and theVe are about 36 dif
ferent systems of assessment, each
county assessor following his own
ideas. The invisible wealth of the
state, designated as intangibles, is
escaping almost entirely.
The. remedy for this situation the
commission believes is in a state in-
(Concluded on Page 3, Column 1.)
MA. O'&ELS-S
TO TAKE. rWjOQK V VW
i