T: c:::;:: DAitv jz"z::al. rcr.7LAi:n. tiiuhiday cvr::i::a jai:ua::y i', .
t."-
-tiGW TO
"a'.'
T ' 'Gentlemen of the Senate and' Houm
' of KprMnUrtn! In compliance with
' section i oi article v of the oonstltu
i.. tip of -Oregon, wbloh provides that the
.governor "shall, from Una to time, five
;. ' to tbe legislative assembly Information
1 touching the condition of the atateTand
- recommend ansa- measure a bo
deem to bo expedient," It becomes my
duty to address ou in relation to the
aeveral institutions' of tbo etata. and to
. suggest such leglelatlo for your eon-
' , slderetioa aa my experience aa executive
-.- leada me to believe will bo conducive to
'. the beat Interests of tbo otate. -
; 4 Tbo report of the treasurer abowa ea
' excellent condition of the publlo fund.
- It abould be' particularly gratifying to
.- you to note that while on October 1,
" HOI, there was In tbo bands of 'the
" . treaaiirer of the Irreducible school and
unloaned t71.415.41, there waa only
t' 1200,141. 14t tbo close of tbo laat fiscal
, .... year Thla baa been roduoed materially
. . alnco that time. Tbo amount or tater-
eat distributed to tba aeveral counties
1 of the, lust apportionment was lilt,
' ,' ,39.20, 'tha largest In the blatory of the
state. The principal of tbo fund' la
t ' 4,104.O1.17, and tta proper Investment
in interest bearing securities requires
and receives the earnest attention of the
stats land board.'"':'- x-c-v-
The' principal of the Agricultural col
lege fund amounta to 111I.771.H, and
. that of the university to tlOI.41S.IO.
- Only lll.H2.4S ot. ths former ana lit.
. I7l.il of the latter le on hand and unloaned:-
On tha Id day of May, 104,
-; Mrs. . A. R. Burbank, executrix of the
laat will and testament of bar lata hue
band. Hon.. A. R. Burbank. forwarded
Z. to tn coventor, secretary of etate and
otaU treaaurer the sum of 11,110.17 and
V deed to certain lands In Yamhill. Xtn-
torn and Multnomah counties, estimated
to be worth about 110,010. Thla gener
: otis legacy waa directed to be invested
In Intereat bearing securities, tha rove-
nua derived, therefrom to bo used . foe
- ,the Orphana" homo at Salem and Port'
land. It would bo a gracloua act on tba
part of your body to recognise by con-
, current resolution your appreciation, as
representatives of the people, or mis
splendid legacy 'to tha unfortunate or
chana of tba stats.' thanking Mra. Bur
bank for the fidelity ahown by her In
carrying out. tb wishes of. her lata
husband. ,'.. '
The treasurer s report la complete in
all Its-details, and show with great
pnrHn.il.rtty the financial finnditina and
f. aUnding of the state,
' ' " '.' Swamp
W On. September SO. 1002, interest bear-lag-
warranta - were , outstanding... which
bad been issued In repayment for awamp
'-'.' landa theretofore oold by Aha etata and
to which tha state could not convey title,
amounting to 111.040.01 .of principal, on
i " which tha Intereat accumulated and un
ili paid to April 1, Hot," amounted approx
T 'lmately to S1S.018.4S.' Of the principal
sio.oit.SS beam Interest at the rata of
- I-.-' eight per cent per annum, and ll.01i.TO
at six per icenr per aanum. aiace njij
:4-. time payment have -been made on that
; portion of these warranta which bears
L. the larger rata of Interest, out of moaw
bnvu realised from the sale of awamp
r .- lands, whilst tha principal of tha ln-
- - uebtednese, jghich. bears six per cent
'' " ' perannum, has been increased because
-of ; repaymenta for other awamp -landa,
r U-which no title could be conveyed.
V lteferenca to the report of tha treaaurer
' Olscloeea. that at tha and of tha last
l i - fiscal year there were outstanding war
- rants ott r-account of awamp- landa
Xwamountlng to 44,10l.( ot prlaolpal and
l.7.10f intereeti- ui tae prtnojpat
T-' " tl4.8J4.SI bearalntaraatat sight per
".., T cant parannnm, .and llt.7J.IL at sU
, per cent per annum. There is no fund
- ut of wblcK these warranU can be paid
- -t- xcept aa moneys are realised from-the
sale ot swamp landa,' and ao little of
thia remalna to- tha etate that tba in
1 - terest on the tndebtedneas is barely kept
: down bv tba aalea thereof.
An appToprtatloa should ba made for I
-the payment of these warranta and youft
. -earnest attention la oaiieaio vne matter,
- for as a business proposition tha state
.'" ought no longer to be eompelled. to pay
' r- . .Jlhls enormous Interest chargaj . -:
; Scalp Bounty Xadebtednsoa. 'ft. '"
' :'' In addition to thla. at the laei aeaalon
"of tba legislature, clalma for repayment
1 of two thirds of tha bounty paid by the
""'vrat i counties of the state under the
" " scalp bounty law of 101," had been, pre
r u Mnted und remained, unpaid, amounting
""'r to S4,I.(0. -' An appropriation waa
: then I made to meet this Indabtedneaa,
'' , but It waa Included in a btll which ap
' propriated large sums for. other, and
UlHtlnct purposes. This bill waa vetoed
.i .. because violative of seotlon SO, article
. ' IV ot the constitution, and not bee use
of any objection to tha partlctilar Item
" now'under discussion.
' This Indebtedness haa been Increased
by tba presentation of ether clalma for
-repayment and now amounta to 111.
181.11, and provision ' ahould be made
V by appropriate legislation for 1U pay--"'
tnent. ' ; .-- ,' -;
'lZ-. 'i- Mata TasiatloB...'-.
The experience of the laat legislature
'' . should be a warning to this not to at
"tempt too much In tha way of amending
' . . statutes passed upon the subject of tax
. ation. A ! general amendatory atatute
hastily passed then necessitated tha con
,: venlng pf the legislature in special sea-
- ston to cure defects that Invalidated tha
same.-' " : '.,- - -
That the lawaofthe stats pearlag
upon this subject are badly out of Joint
T. ;' and sadly In need of revision goes with-
i.ut saying. . There Is a general lack of
.' system In them taken as a whole, but
' -r' It la questionable If harmony could be
:-s restored If tha whole time' of thla ses
. slun were devoted to an attempt , to
. ' bring order out of chaos, " " ; "
, It Im possible, that Jl a . tax
romralsslon were appointed to gather
data, and - - frame a law to
be . reported . two yearn banco,
beneficial results might be attained.
This course haa been pursued In other
states with partial success, and it might
ba well to give it a trial nere. mucd
property escapee Its Just proportion . or
taxation, and thia Is particularly true ir
the ease of personal property and money,
and Improvementa on real property. This
Is susceptible of demonstration beyond
any doubt. The summaries or ins as-
Hi' ' aesament rella of 'tha varleye eeuutiea
for 1101 aa Bled In tha office of tha seo-
retary of state, show that tha value of
- Improvements on deeded and undeeded
lands waa l,40,44l and oa town and
city lots was 111,111,111, or a total as-
' sessed valuation of all improvements
, I40,irr.lll. The risks written by are
Insurance companlea en property Situ
I nted within tha tata for the year end
. Ing December, 1101. amounted to tit,-
ltl.414.04. It is safe te say that more
.than 10 per cent of this Insurance Is
nipon Improvementa sport real property.
When It IS remembered that a Very large
part of theaa ' Improvementa carry no
- Insurance, and that property Is usually
; insured for only, about half Ita value, it
.will "be" seen at a glanoa what aa-enormous
valuation) on thla class of prop-
' erty alone . escapes taxation. The as
sessed value of money for the .same
-year was 11,171.170. If any one la In
terested enough In the subject to give -It
peeslng consideration, be. will ascertain
' from an examination of the last reports
to trie comptroller of currency made by
. the national banks of thai state, that
there are many sm.le tabbing Institu
tions that have oa deposit amounts
largely In excess ot ths total assess
ment on money. Again, a reference te
the abetraet of - the -assessment soils
from lift to 110ft discloses that money
was eases sod In Ills at S1.1S0.1I7, and
la 1S0S at S1.S7S.I70, a decrease of i,.
01.017. while the total assesaed valua
tion of all property for 1MI waa 111!.
011,001, and In 100S only I17S.SIS.SSS. an
Increase In 10 years of only Si.470.0ll.
Every one knows that-this' la not a
faithful Index at the growth In wealth
In our state In 10 years. . What la the
result of this failure upon the part of
county officials te assess the property of
the state and to properly equalise the
assessments when madef : Tha etate has
rapidly grown In wealth and population
ainoa ISIS,' and In tha next few yeare
will grow with greater rapidity. With
aa Increase of .population, the number
of In ma tea la - the eleemosynary and
penal institutions of the state Increases
In ths same, or a greater proportion.
while the expense of maintaining them..
constantly increases in volume, i ne aa.
aessment of the stats remaining sub
stantially the same, as has been the ease
during1 the lest 10 years, tba rate to be
levied for state purposes continues to
Increase, and the burden on those classes
of property wbloh are visible and con
tinue to be assessed from year to year
beoomea heavier and harder to bear.
It la the condition here outlined which
makao the levy for stats purposes ap
pear larger than It ought to be, and the
attention or tne legislature ia reapecv
fully -called to It In the hope that some
plan may be devised now that in the,
next two years may result In a meas
ure of general relief- from, conditions
which are- Inequitable, oppressive and
ttnJUSt: "'
There are many thousands of acres of
land In tba state which have never been
placed upon the assessment rolla. and
which have In consequence escaped tax
ation. - Thla may bevs happened through
many causes, but mainly for two,, reasons;
First, because grantees from the gov
ernment, federal and. state, have, pur
posely withheld their deeue from rec
ord; second, because, assessors, through
lack of D resent ownership books, fall to
and all ths property In their respective
counties. It Is questionable unaer our
laws, an assessor or sheriff can assess
and collect taxes on property for aev
eral years antedating tbelr terms of of
fice. Laws conferring this power upon
assessors have been sustained by the
courts of - other - states, ; and I - recom
mend the matter to your earnest atten
tton. and predict that with a law In
force authorising . the , assessment ' of
property that haa escaped taxation for
any number of years back.-tba revenues
of the state will oe , very matenauy
increased. ":- i .
Taxation for etate purposes ought to
be divorced as far as' possible from that
for bounty and. municipal purposes. To
that end. in many states, methods have
been successfully resorted to for reney.
in rami aa wall aa Deraonal oroperty
from taxation to meet (he expenses of
the administration of ths affairs of the
state, " At the last regular session of
tbo legislature, progress was mads in
ths right direction by the passage of ths
Inheritance tax law and the corporation
license law. There may be tnequalttiea tn
these that will need adjustment, but the
renrral purposes of both are . most ex
cellent. During the 10 monthethe In
heritance tax law . haa been Jn force,
tl.tl4.0t has been paid Into the state
treasunsthereunder. while under tne at
ter law tlll.Sll.S7 haa been collected.
These amounts ... are likely to increase
each year aa the state grows i In popuia
tlon: In addition to ths amounts thus
realised.-insurance companlea during the
year llOS paid S7.SSS.S1 license fees and
111,010.11 taxes on tha net premiums
oolleeted, and for 1104 S7.110.H license
fees- t The tax for the latter year will
not be due until March 1st next, . Of the
license fees collected 40 per cent IS paid
to the. secretary of state aa fees under
section S714 I Bellinger t ana - cotton a
oode, while ohly SO ' per sent -thereof
Is paid Into the treasury, w-- "
The taxes realised from these three
sources show . what is posslbls to be
done for purpoaea of etata other than
by levying a tax upon tbo assessed valu
ation ot the property Of the state. But
a step further ahould bo taken to reacn
a class of property that practically es
capes taxation. I refer to the taxation
of the franchises f expreas. telephone,
telegraph, Pullman car, and other simi
lar public service companies. ' Different
methods of taxation for .these corpora
tlona have been resorted to In the sev
eral states, but from an examination of
a number .of statutes,' It la Impossible
to aeauce eny - general principle iut
adoption. . Tba secretary of state, who
haa given the subject much thought,
suggests In his biennial report that a tax
upon the gross oarnlngs of those cor
porations might ba the simplest form
of taxation. " I heartily join with him in
the recommendation that - an act ' be
passed at- this session to compel thess
companlea... owning valuable privileges
and operating at a large profit, to pay
a fair proportion of the expenses of gov
ernment! A tax upon the gross earn
ings, .as in ths esse of Insurance com
panlea, would, aa suggested by the sec
retary of state, in all probability be the
simplest and best method of taxation.
T-r - jrtu- sjbooj.,7 ,'.
-- Ths publlo schools are in ' moat ex
cellent condition, and their atandard
ahouldber maintained at all haaards.
To them . the greit majority "of Our
people must ' look for the education of
their children, end statistics show hat
far tha largest number "of ths school
population of the state', attend these
schoole. Taxes for their support are
ungrudgingly paid by our cltisens of ell
classes and creeds, snd every effort
should be mads to maintain them
throughout the whole school year. . In
many of the rural districts, especially
In those which are thinly Battled, schools
cannot be maintained for-more than
three montha in the year, and greater
efforts should be made to lengthen thess
terms. -: ; V "
heavy tax la Imposed on the patrons
of the school by the large number of
books used, and some of thoae ought to
be eliminated. It were . better that' a
few books on a lose number of subjects
be ..mastered . by .the. pupils than-, that
they have confused Ideas upon a variety
of subjects from a great variety of
books. I think It aafe to say that
those wbo graduate from the' highest
grades of the publlo schools st . this
time are not as thorough in first prin
ciples ss vwere those who graduated
from thess " sams schools when there
were fewer and more thorough training
In thoae books wbloh were used. An ex
member of the New York board of edu
cation receKtly, tn discussing the ques
tion of the counse of study In that city,
sald:. ' . t
"A reader of. our present course of
study would be led to think that pupils
of today. In order to be able to do all
that Is thsre laid down -are fan In -advance
of thoae of a decade or two ago,
and that publle-eeheot graduatea of for
mer days could bear no camparlaon with
thoae of the present time.
"But what are ths real facts of the
case?'. Business men who employ our
graduates .tell us that they are sadly
lacking In the elm pleat and moat com
monplace things, that their knowledge
1 superficial and Inaccurate, that they
lack the perseverance and application .
He -Urges a
iuu ivi 4uuuiaw auu- , aWAsiw
which habits of thoroughness and con
centration would foster. Why is thla. '
"Qur system, aiming td do too many
thinga. must necessarily fall in tbelr
accomplishments . None but . the most
capable pupil can do all the work laid
down. : Tba large majority, thua aceua
tomed to falling far short Of ths stand
ard, become Indifferent or discouraged
For, Instead of repeating a term's work
and-doing- It welU thsy re promoted tc
make room for others. - In time all at
tempts to do ths required work pro pertly
become utterly hopeless yet the-chlld
must go on. v.-..
, "Trying to do many things, , attempt
ing the Impossible, so that nothing can
be really thoroughly or well done, will
be aura to . have 111 effects In a moral
sense, too. In mapy eases thewrong
thus done to Individuals can never be
renaired. Are we not . creating a race
of mental dyspeptics, superficial In char
acterT Why are children- not permitiea
to remain- at the elementary -work until
thev have thoroughly mastered It be
fore being advanced to higher grades T
Let us have more elementary classes. If
neea oe.- .... .
"The most sangulns, the moot enthuo-
lastlo advocAtea of the radical changes
made in the- currloulum within recent
years admit that the preeent course of
study is too crowded. Why not cut out
tha non-essentials and give the child an
opportunity to acquire a more thorough
knowledge of the essentials A stsp Is
being- taken In thla direction, out uoin
ing ahort of a complete, change will
-"-Education should give pupils i the
working tools, the ability for future self
help. If our schools ao no grve- m
they fall In their purpose. If the child
finds himself advanced to the Upper
grades without being able even to add,
subtract, multiply and divide with rap
idity "and 'acouracyr-an4-to.iad fiuenUy
and eompreheaolvely, when and where
will he make up the deficiency?: But
thla - la quite a - common . occurrence.
Students of high grades blunder in the
almpleet figuring, epell poorly and fall
to take In .the meaning Of what, they
that, iut m.t aa arule unable
to -obtain lnformatlonIrom JtbprJnted-
psgs by their own enorts,
Thera la exeat force In What 1a bare
t - and atens should be Uken now
. i-1 l" ...nk m mAhaIUh In tha bud
ber of text books in the public schools
that when a pupll.nnian.es tne niui
esUblishecT grades it can on mi
sumed he has thoroughly mastered V
ery. subject taught-therel a. v -
-wTha. reports of these, two InstituWotis
of learning are before you, and I iTo
your careful attention to them andr the
reoommendatlona therein made. Both
are doing moot excellent work, and
think' it aafe to. ear that, while other
statea are much more liberal In making
...nnriatinio In - tha -cauee-of - higher
nsvua vas ew-w -
education..!, these : two - institutions keep
pevoe-wlth all.-otnsra. i ne imuuic.
aiZTX. tkua' wharavar thev SO nd In
whatever they engage, make exosllent,
nmnii inl reflect -credit -upon their
in.-rnniAra as veil mM noon the state.
The state can well, afford .to be gener
oua in all that makes for better eltlsen--hi.
K.,t that liberality ahould not he
Taviah . aa to encourage habits 'of
mimi tra.vaa-anca, '
I suggest a careful examination of the
demands of thess Institutions for. the
ensuing two yeers,-and -an-approprla-tlon
sufficient .to- make their work. xoost
effective. , . . ." . -- i-i.'
, . -formal Sohools. t?
. rn neat itiMiut to the "egialsturo
I recommended the abollshmeal; of at
least two or tns normal sonooia v
state. Instead ot heeding thla recom
mendation a bill waa passed but. vetoed
by me cresting an additional -one. If
those already estsbllshea are to remain
as fixed and permanent Institutions, It
is the duty of the state to- Improve the
service whlchthese sohools now render
to the --.people- by confining' approprla?
tlona for their support to their, legiti
mate work of training teachers. There
Is increasing-demand for thoroughly
trained teachers. The wprk ot normal
schools could bs made far more effective
for tbla purpose by eliminating all pre
paratory work.. and eonoentratlng the
labora of their faculties upon a purely
professional course of study. There is
1 no economy in teams ins u
state -lormal school tammy tor ween
ing puplla in grades that are already
provided for In the common echoola,
An Important' educational reform,
could be accomplished by ths-adoption
of a uniform course of study for all the
normal schools of the state, so that per
sons fitting ' themselves for teaching
could receive- the asms credit and roc-,
ognltlon for work done in any one of
them and have better standing at borne
or abroad. By placing all the normal
schools under a single board of regents
with a uniform bourse of study for all.
and basins appropriations upon the
number of qualified students satisfac
torily completing a full yeara work In
the prescribed course, the state would
obviate the manifest Injustice and ln
equalltleo 1: the present system,
', -' '': -- 4rego ololers Home. "
Ths affairs of the home were never
In better condition then at present Too
much credit csnnot be given the oom
natuiant and his excellent corps of as
sistants for the excellence .of their work,
and the old . aoldlers and sailors are
themselves to be congratulated upon
tha fact that, though many of them are
sufferers from the. infirmities of old
age. -wounds snd disease, all show a dis
position to cheerfully abide by the rules
mnA vaaniiatinna adoDted tot the prssetv
vatloa of discipline ana tne eoaquui i
the home. . . .. .
Since my incumbency tne oarracas
the preceding administration haa been
completed and equipped, end a new and
sufficient water supply has been In
etalled. ' The last " appropriation - made
for the maintenance of the borne was
based upon an average of from SO to 10
Inmates..' The completion, ot tne new
barracks opened the way to admit all
whoas spplloattone were on file and who
had not . been able to gain, admission
because of lack of room. Although It
was feared that r deficit would be
created In the maintenance fund by tak-
Inr tn all thoae whose eppltea-lona were
on file, I Instructed the eommandant to
admit them In any event. This was
done, snd ths membership at the close
of the fiscal year was 111. yet so 'care
fully have the funds been handled that
there la no deficit in this fund, -
Some of the Old soldiers at the home
have wtvee living, yet because of In
firmities- occasioned - by exposure- and
wounds received , In' defense of their
country - they are eompelled to seek
an asylum ' st tha home and separate
themselvea from the eempaalons of their
younger, and better days. . Some pro-
...
vision ought to be made for the con
struction of small but comfortable cot
tages . on the grounds ot ths home so
that thess old veterans shay have the
companionship of their wives In their
declining years. This would not cost
the state a very large sum. and surely
ths services which have been rendered
by thoss who would be blessed snd bene
fited, thereby merit the , expenditure
whlchla.-J-sr.auggested. . . -...
I call your attention tothe report of
the commandant for information in de
tail, as to ths conduct of the home, , '
. Cnt-ao and Torestry watwaa,
With the small appropriation allowed
him for game protection the present
warden has done moot excellent" work.
If no failed to patrol the entire state
it Is because of the Inadequacy ot the
fund at his disposal for the employment
of deputies but an examination ot his
report will show a greater, number of
prosecutions and convictions than were
ever had in the same length of time. .
. In order , fully to, protect ths gsme,
more money must' be provided, and the
warden suggests a means, of -raising a
revenue without exacting it from the
taxpayers. - The , recommendations em
bodied In hla report are worthy of your
very careful consideration. -1- '
'''''-Se4W of J-tea-mh-.-.!
' This board haa done ' excellent work
since lta creation for the protection of
the publlo health. ; What was to have
been expected has happened wherever It
has called attention, to unsanitary con
ditions In the different portions ot the
state. Demands made by it for the
betterment of unsanitary conditions are
usually -met by protests, but these de
mands Invariably result In good. '
. The offices of dairy and food commis
sioner and state veterinarian ought to
be placed directly under . the control
of the stale board-of . health. - .In no
other way-can these oepartmenta, which
ought to act In . entire harmony, be
brought together. As it la. I fear there
Is a disposition on the part of each to
act -Independently of the others. .. -..
I call your attention to tbo reports of
these departmenta for a detailed --ao-count
of the work done by each. ,
Probably no factor has been more
potent' than the. annual fairs conducted
under the auspices of ths stats, board
of agriculture for improving the product
of field and farm and the herds and
flocks of the state. . Not only the pro
ducts of the soil,, but. the livestock
as welt from Oregon entered into suc
cessful competition with all comers at
the recent exposition in BU Louts, This
was a source of great gratification to
our people, in view of the fact that
thla stats waa barely known to . many
of the exhibitors there. Keen compe
tition at the Oregon state, fair the past
few years has been largely lnatrumental
in bringing, about these results, and tne
legislature cannot . do too imuoh In the
way of . giving . encouragement - to this
lmportan.tinstltutlon. Appesl will be
made to you to relieve the stale board
of the difficulties which beset it The
president has addressed a communica
tion to each of you.-calling, attention
to the needs of ths board, and I can
your special attention to his address,
Ss well as to ths report of ths board,
It must, be. remembered -that-- the ln
debtednesa now existing; against the
board is one, of long standing, and that
although the, laat twV fairs have- been
conducted at a .profit, these profits have
not been available to apply on the in
debtednese because of the necessity ot
keeping un Improvements, putting In a
yratr system and making other better
I nfenta. Ths mortgage indebtedness men
tioned in the report of the board is one
due the. irreducible school fund, and
really, amounts to a 'transfer from one
department - or government to another.
There ahould be no hesitation about
making the appropriation to meet this
and euch ether demands as are abeo
luteiy necessary to place the board In a
position to sueceesfully 'carry but the
purposes oi ns creauon. , . .
. . 'rr . . ' - Obild Zatbor. '
A law waa passed Tit the last session
of the legislature ' regulating the em
ployment of children and appointing;, a
board ol Inspectors of child labor to
carry out the pro vis lone of the act, to
aerve without compensation. . There was
not even an appropriation made to de
fray the actual expense incurred in the
work necessarily devolving upon them.
Notwithstanding this fact, . they have
been moot-diligent In i the performance
of their duties, and are entitled te the
hearty, commendation of their fellow
cltisens for their seal in this most Im
portant branch of the publlo service. -:
There can be no rugged, ' robust cltl
senshlp unless the health anij. morals
of the youth are earerully saferuaraed.
Experience teaches us ali that the neces
sities of the poor employe ss well ss
the greed' of the rich employer In vsrl-
ous Industrial enterprises, are merciless
In their - demands and without , rO'
strlctlve legislation . rigidly enforced.
boys and girls barely in their teens are
kept at work day and- night in defiance
of the laws of health and of humanity.
I call particular attention to the report
of the Inspectors, snd earnestly recom
mend that the amendments to ths law
as proposed by them "be 'adopted at thla
session. The amendments " Are simple,
but If adopted will give the Inspectors
greater power and broader discretion
than they now have, and will "materially
aid them in carrying out the purpose of
tne law.
A small appropriation 'ought to be
made to defray the expenses Of the
Doevro.
-rw-l-eaHir-mis
- The report of the master fish warden
shows in detall the'transaotlona of tha
department of fisheries for the past two
years, and shows the condition of the
Industry at the present time.
. The recommendations made by him
anould receive your very careful eon
slderatlon. - - - -- - - , ,
There Is such a diversity of., opinion
among those engaged In flahlna. packing
and canning aa to what leglaratlbn, it
any,, la moat needed for the promotion
and protection of tba Industry In this
etate, that-It ia Isapoaalble for-ene- not
thoroughly acquainted with the subject
In all lta detalla to make any specific
recommends tlona. The con fl lot be
tween the upper and lower river fisher
men and packers seems Irrepressible
and Irreconcilable, and bealdee there Is a
lack of uniformity between the laws of
Washington and Oregon, and these con
ditions add 4 the--trncuity of arriving
at a proper conclusion -aa te whet la
beat to be done tn relation-tov a moat
Important Industry. I '
Under t these elreumstaneee, r suggest
the appointment of a commission, conv
iuivi ,tu-.
posed of men in no way connected with
the business of fishing to take evidence,
collect data, examine our 'own laws and
those of Washington with instructions
to prepare a law and tbo result of their
Investigations, all to be presented for
the consideration, .Of the next legislature.
It is my candid opinio that unites this
is done,' nothing will ever be accom
plished In the way of salmon propaga
tion and protection. . ': '
- laVboT Ootsmlssioaver. n .
Demand has been made In certain
quarters for a repeal .of the act or eat
ing the bureau of labor statistics and
inspector of. factories and workshops.
Ths demand should be Ignored. Already
11 states, have enacted lewe providing
for ths collection of statistics of labor
by means of: original Investigation and
In addition to those, the federal bureau
of the eenaua, the department of com
merce 'aid that of the agricultural- de
partment are engajjed in the) collection
and publication of labor statistics.
These bureaus, have been', largely re
sponsible for much legislation having
for Its Duroose the protection v of the
health ot the laboring claases generally
and of the Uvea and limbs of those en
gaged In hasardous occupations.
The first report of the preeent com
missioner of labor ia replete with use
ful information. It points out many In
stances where hla timely intercession
has- resulted in tha adoption of safe
guards against injury to employes, and
contalna many suggestions lor the bet
terment of the condition of those' who
earn their bread by the sweat of their
brows, ltriuso-eontalns' valuable sta
tistics covering every claaa of employ
ment X call particular attention to bis
report, and suggest that you give, it
your careful svttention. , . ,. , . i
realtentlary
Many chansea have been made in the
fpenltentlary- Sine the laat session of
the leglalature, au or wnicn nave oeeu
conducive to bettering the condition of
the lnmateewtthout any relaxation in
the discipline. . Prior to the completion
of a common' dining ball, ths prisoners
were fed In their cells, and thoss who
could, afford It .were permitted to have
coal oil stoyei and to cook whatsoever
they could afford to buy la addition to
the orison regimen. With the Installa
tion of a new superintendent this sys
tem hss been entirely abolished, and. all
prisoners eat In a large dining room,
partake pt Ihe same prison fare snd are
cleaner, and the general health and discipline-better
than ever before. Flog
ging has been entirely abolished, and
other punishments less brutal installed
without in the least disturbing,-but on
the-contrary strengthsnlng, the respect
o f the -ortsoners for those in charge.
The prison itself has been much im-v
proved from a eanltary stanapoinv ana
the Quarters of the officers snd guards
as well aa the cells snd corridors have
been placed in better condition than
ever before. . .There still remains some
work necessary to bs done- Tor the pre
vention" of filth diseases, and this la in
course at this - time. , The 'plumbing Is
fold and decayed, and thla Is particularly
true as regards the south wing oi cne
prison. Escaping sewer gas constantly
threatena the health of the institution
and to guard against It modern-plumbing
and ventilation of the cell and cor
ridors must soon be Installed. I -The
vtooroDriatlon made for the pay
tinent of the guarda and employes st the
last-session of the legists turn was oa
the basis of a small Increase In pay
per month for the wall guards, and this
wss rendered absolutely necessary Dy
the higher cost ot living and ths smalt
pay received by them.1 Notwithstanding
this and a large increase In the number
of prisoners over former years, a refer
once to the report of the superintendent
which gives a detailed statement of the
expenditures for the past two years, will
show that the cost of malntenanoe per
capita ot prison population doea not ex
ceed that of former years. .The recom
mendation made by me In my last mes
sage that a law be passed requiring the
execution - within tbo prison c waits - oi
ortsoners - condemned to death .was
adopted, and already there has -been one
execution there and. others are soon -to
follow. This law will. I am sure, be
most beneficial in Its results.
- - atthployaseat of Convicts.
On ths 1st day of February. 111,. the
then executive executed a contract wiw
Loewenberg 4k Going company, a corpora
tion, pursuant to "An act providing for
the employment of the convicts in the
state penitentiary," approved rturuary
SS, lilt, whereby he leased to said cor
poration the labor of 100 convicts from
January 1, 1881. to July SS, 1101, for tbe
sum of SS cents per day for each con
vict and such ' further number at the
same price per man as .said corporation
might . require, for the manufacture
within the prison walls ' "of stoves,
castings and such other Commodities -of
like nsture as it may deem expedient"
The corporation pays 12,000 per an
num as rental for the foundry plant
and this lease expires at the sams time
aa the contract for the- labor ot the
prisoners. - ' -Ths
report : of - the superintendent
shows In detail the earninge'of ths con
victs under ths contract with' said cor
poration, snd I respectfully refer the
leglalature to that report for fuller information.-It
will be noted that both
the contract fof the labovof the-prisoners,
and the lease of the foundry plant
expire July 11. TI05. and some action
should ba taken by you in reference to
the matter. The state owns the plant
with the posslbls exception of soms of
the patterns, about which there may be
a question, and at one time unsuccess
fully attempted to operate the foundry.
If you should determine that these con-
Arocto-houla"-not-o . renowt , at'tbeli-
explratlon. some provision, should be
msde by law for disposing ot the entire
outfit used tn the manufacture ot stoves.
- I suggest the appointment of a com
mittee to Inquire and report aa to the
propriety of renewing the preeent son
tract., and if - renewal is - deemed ad
visable, what cbangea, if any, ahould be
made tn the terms thereof. - Tbe price
paid for the labor of the oonvlcts seems
small, but It is frequently . overlooked
that the great majority of them are at
all times wholly unskilled In tha work,
snd by tbe time their, services -begin to
be of some value, their terms expire and
new men take tbelr places. . My Investi
gations Into the subject lead me to be
lieve that our eon vict labor cornea leea
In competition' with free labor, in 'Ore
gon, at least- under the present systsm,
than In any other form of employment
Work of some kind muse be provided
for ' the prisoners. This la demanded
from the, atan 'point of humanity, . as
well as necessity. - To permit then to re
main idle tn the prison eiMloeure. and to
congregate and - converse with each
other, would mean constant plotting for
escape, and would endanger the Uvea of
: ; " Vm'1 m.i.i i ii if i i ' i iii .I. ni
the guards and the property of tha state.
To keep them oo Mined In tbelr cells
would soon neceealtate the transfer of
many ot-Uum to the asylum and others
to the hospital. X trust therefore, tnat
t h. mm.(.i.mHm a . thla tmnortant
question will be taken up by you early
In the session, to the end that a proper
solution be arrived at .. , -, -
' At tha. last session f the leglalature
11.110. tn addition to 1741.11 unexpended
under a prior law, was Appropriated for
tbo improvement ot certain roads leadf
Ing from the penitentiary to the several
state Institutions.- After-consultation
with the superintendent it was doomed
to improve and rebuild tbe road leading
to the reform school, a distance of four
or five miles, The work waa done prin
cipally by oonvlcts, though a few teams
were hired from rarmere tn tne neiga
borbood of the road. -The amount ' ap
propriated waa Inaufflclent to finish thla
piece of road - by top-dressing, with
crushed reck and roillnr tba same In or
der to make the same first-class In every
pettoularr-Bi- if ta conceded to be one
of the cheapest and best constructed
pteoes of jsoad In the state, and the at
tention of the legislature Is particularly
called to it It la to be hoped that aa
many of the members of the leglalature
aa ean poalbly do so will ride out and
Inspect this work. - - , . " T".; , . ,
- hnnloya-eat .of Ooavtete, :
' What to do with- the convicts of the
state haa been a serious question- not
only here but elsewhere, and It ia one
which la easier for the theorist to sol ve
than foe tbo practical man of affairs wbo
comae In actual contact with existing
conditions. . Various, expedlenta have
been resorted to in the hope that the
product of their labor may compete as
little as possible with that ot free men.
Before becoming intimately acquainted
with the kind and character ot men
confined In the penitentiary In thia etate
I Inclined to the opinion that all or near
ly all . of the convlota might be utilised
upon the publlo highways, and under
certain conditions, limitations and ft t
strlotloas this might be feasible.-- In
some of tbe statea It has been tried,
particularly In the south, but only with
partial Success. r There, those serving
seatenoeo' for crime are ot an entirely
different type . ot criminal - from those
incarcerated tn - the ' western prisons.
They are not of the desperate or danger
ous class,'' but in many Instances men
who fare as well lt.notbtterwrthn
the prison -walls than they do on the
outside,-and are not anxious to leave
even when - their terms - have expired.
Tbe consequence is that even with a
small number of guarda and - Insecure
places to hou.se the prisoners at night
at long distances from the prisons, there
are few attempts at escape . With us. 1t
Is safe to say, that a. small percentage
-of those in the penitentiary -could be
entrusted outside tbe walls without a
strong tores of well-armed guards and
steel portable cells la which to confine
them when not at work. - A much larger
percentage of them are sullen, desperate
and dangerous men, who would, (lot hes
itate to take life. If the - chances were
anywhere even f or eueoessf ully eluding
the s-uarda.
I suggested, to the-last session of the-
legislature - that .the proper steps be
taken tor securing comprehensive .data
on thla subject as a basis for tha enact
ment of a law adapted to the conditions
In this state, but no action was taken
la ths premises. 'The subject is one
fraught .with many difficulties and dan-,
gars, and radical legislation ahould never
be ventured upon .without thorough In
V estimation and consideration. -' I have
thought It would be wise to aproprlata a.
sum of money aa wi
ago for the improvement of soma of the
roads In the neighborhood of the state
capitoL, utilising as far as possible con
vict labor la oonjunoilou with such facil
Itles aa the county authorities would
furnish.- In this way an object lesson
oaa be supplied for, future guidance. In
addition to this, a law might be passed
providing for utilising some of tbe con
vlota upon the publlo roada on the requ(
altlon of any county desiring, them, the
oost would not bo great and the results
would fully compensate for the .outlay.
To send a large number of convicts fat
from the penitentiary- would- necessitate
the construction of portable steel cells
where they . could be safely - Confined
when not at work, and an appropriation
would have to be made for that purpose.
To minimise the danger ot escape, double
time might be given to each prisoner for
faithful servloe while so engaged. . - .
A -measure framed along these lines
when given a fair trial would test the
availability of prison labor on the pub
lic highways, and If found feasible and
profitable It couIdTbe extended, to meet
conditions, as . occasion may require. .
-.'ft.;- rtiaal Jtaaiaviv
- There are now .'confined-in thefhsane
asylum about IS' Insane convicts, '.who
have been transferred from the peniten
tiary from Urns to tlms within the past
SO years. Twq at least ot these, were
serving life sentences for - murder in
tbe second degree, - whilst nearly '.'all of
them are hardened criminals. - There are
serious objections from a sentimental as
welt ss practical standpoint to removlng
the criminal inaana to an institution de
signed for the civil insane, unless some
arrangement can be made for their en
tire Isolation from ths latter and at tha
-same time ao safeguard, them sa to pre
vent escape. . . Humanity dicta tea that
they receive at the hands of ths authori
ties such treatment aa la most. likely to
restore mental equilibrium, and it la Im
possible to accord this within the walls
of' the prison, without employing physi
cians . and .attiendanta skilled in mental
disorders. The small number of con
victs thus afflicted will not Juetlfy thla
additional burden upon the taxpayers.
Tbe time may coma aa the population of
the state increases when a. convict asy
lum -within the prison enclosure may be
come a 'necessity, but for the present,
sufficient money should be appropriated
to fit up, with regulation cello to guard
agalnat escape and to secure isolation, a
portion of one of the Wings and enclo
sures of the asylum.
This suggestion- is concurred in by the
superintendents of the asylum and peni
tentiary. r. -; .,"-
i ii Woutliful rsKisav"s. ' , '
Iiadc-esr-lhlnss-ia '"refTacT
upon la connection with prison life is
ths large number-of youtha ranging in
years from 10 to IS. .. Ao will be seen by
reference to the, report of .the superin
tendent ' 100 out -of SSS prisoners, or
spout SS per cent are aader SS years of
age. and about 11 per eon, are under 10
yeare of age.. It ia safe to say that in
stost of. these cases the prisoners are
serving first .terms, About 10 per rent
of ail ths Inmates are wholly illiterate,
whilst a much larger percentage ean do
little psora than read and write, and. thla
percentage will hold good for ths youth
ful aa well aa the elder convicts, 1 re
alise that the flret purpose of puniab
ment for crime is tbe pro taction of ao-
olety, but .there is ao reason, why strenu
ous effort - should sot ba mads to re
claim at - "east the younger ortmlnal
classes and If possible restore them to
useful cltlsenshlp. - There are two fac
tors which can be made most potent to
this sod, and these are meetral and moral
training. The chaplain of the prison
ousht to be paid a salary eommen-urnte
with the service by a. re
quired to deve- r'l t j l - ti t wet-
fare of the prisoners and to maintain a
cahopl n tha prison e ha pel or some ona-. .
wnisut iwir wiinm tne waits ror trie
benefit ef the youths and the illiterate. T
class at such hours as these prisoner
can be spared to him without Impairment,
or tha discipline of the Institution, '.
The policy has been to permit -minis- .
tars of different oe nominations te- -hold -services
In ths prison chapel, and noth
ing ahould be done to Interfere with thla'
plan. .. If, therefore, a prlsoa . chaplaiit -
is employed, he should ba under the di
rect eupervlelon of the-superintendent
and subject to the same control aa other
officers and employes of the prison, i. .
It the suggestions here made ere fa
vorably acted upon much good will. I ant 1 :
sure, be .observable la tbe disappearance .
of second-term men among tbe younger
ennuoaia. ....-..,.....'
. Othec State Xxotttatloaa. ' I . - - '
The reports of the superlntendenta of .
the asylum, reform school and the
schools for the blind and deaf mutes are
complete In detail and faithfully account ,
for tha moneye appropriated for their -.
malntenanoe, and truly - point out the' -
needs of theaa several Institutions. .-rr-n-.
- In company with the other members o
thS-aeveral hoards of trustees I have f ri ;
quently vlaited them all. and take pleaaw)
Lp.ro in saying to you that they ore allj
under excellent .management Ear In -member
of your body should take'ocea.'""'""
slon to visit them during the session and -be
prepared to pass upon ' the recomw
mendatlons ot ths superintendents' front'
personal inspection. ... - v - ; ..
; . - Oregon sraUomal gmard, 1.. .. i , '
The National Guard of thla state has;
reached the highest state of proficiency.) " '
The act ' of congress approved January!
11. 1101, for promoting the efficiency of -the
militia haa done much to bring about
tbla result but the high character and! .
standing of the of fleers. and men cooi-i. .
posing the guard have played the moatT
Important part therein. Representing!
aa they do every trade and calling of our
commercial and Industrial life, they may) '
safely be relied upon - to. perform any;
duty assigned to them by stats or na
tion... A well-dlsolpllned militia is the
reserve force for national defense,-and c
under- the present system of holding an
nual encampments In conjunction with
the regular troops and under command
of well-drilled army office ra there la noj
reason why the guard -of the several
states should not equal, if they do not!
excel, the regulars-in-the srt of war.
The Oregon troops- gave moot excellent
accounts of themselves- In the Bpanlah
Amerlcen war, and the record which they -mads
is and should ba s source ot pride
to our people. ..- - , .-.
. The adjutant-general, who takes greet
pride la and devotes his whole time to
the Interests of the guard, haa submit
ted his report showing in detail the re
ceipts and expenditures -ot. this branch.
of the publlo service, end I call your par
ticular attention thereto as well aa to .
the recommendations which he makes
for Its Improvements. ; -,,, r; yJ
- JCadlan Wa Yates. J . ,
'The appropriation made -at the lastf '
session-of the-legislature for tbe py-j
ment of the amounta due the volunteers
who served In the Indian wars of lllt-to!
was Insufficient- for--that- purpose.; -.
Claims were paid as tjif y were presented'
until the appropriation waa exnauexea.
Many have been presented since, end to
pay them all will require an aaaiiionait
appropriation of about- S40.000, . i
These brave old pioneers have waited!
long to have. Juetloe done them by the.
state for faithful and efficient service
rendered in t lines that tried men's; .
souls." They are rapidly passing away.i '
and if anything is to bo done for them
It ought to be done. now. elss It wlH be ,
too Uto. Their clalma ought to be paid. '
and the amount approp,t4 - for this. .
purpose should-be certified to our sen-;
stors and reprssentstlves with the re-T-quest
that' they urge congress to reim-
burs the state thbrefor. :
. :" '-. aTtats yrb-ttaf..
At the last session of the, legislature,
tSO.000 was appropriated for pubiie:
printing; paper and binding. Thla haal
been exhausted; :r At the doss of tbe fls-l
cal year there waa a deficit of 17.000.71;,
and this will be Increased to about HO.-;
000 before the end ot the biennial term.)
and covers paper and binding as well as,
printing. There are two ways by which
this enormous expense msy be reduced j
first a lower table of tees Should bei
fixed by law now, "to take effect at the)
termination , of the preeent incumbent'ai
term (thla will,, of course, not afford j
present but future relief); second, much'
of the printing now required to be done
could be lopped off without In any way
impairing ths public service. - This lat-i
ter course Will afford Immediate Ss wellj
as future relief against this exorbitant
charge.1' . ". k . "
It mult nut be . forgotten-that Ihoi
schedule of fees charged by ths stater
printer waa fixed more than 10 yeare.
ago. and ,lt la wen-known fact that
since that time, though there has been:
no reduction la the wages paid to print
ers, there has been a decline in the cost
of work necessary to be done because of
improved machinery and changed condi-.
tiona '- - '' "'':T'i.," ;
I earnestly call your attention to this)
matter, and suggest thst some legtala-.
tlon be had at this session to reduce tbo1
expense of this department of state.
, . :. asajt Offloea. - '
Health oflcea sre- maintained at As-
torts. Oardlner, Marshf laid and Taqotnat
bay. at an annual expense of 11.700. This1
might with" propriety be saved to the ,
state by doing away with these sta-j
tlona.' The United States maintain. h -,
quarantine station at Astoria tn charge;
of a capable physician, and I have sa-i
surances that if ths stations at -thai
other points named are abolished they,
will likewise be placed under federal cea-f
trol. j1 renew my recommendations of., ,,
two years, ago for tbe abolishment oft
ths state quarantine service -at the
points named, because I feel that their I
establishment and maintenance along;
tha coaatveomea more properly within, .j
the jurisdiction and control of the fed
era! authorities. . j. v, ;
; .- - mbUa Xmrntm.',' -
Upon assuming my duties of the exee
utlve off loo I st ,once turned my atten-i,
tlon to the rectification, so Jut aa poe-f' -Bible,
-of the abuses which have grown
out of the methods in vogue for dlepoo-i .
Ing of the puhlln lands, fl" f aafe
ts -saying that at iltorti lav thla dlreoa.
tian nave nn mHurmv - .
' The offices of state land agent and
clerk of the state land board have been
practically consolidated within tba last,
two yeare, and the state land agent has.
done nothing during thla admtntstraUon,
that la not to be found of record In -the
of floe of tbo clerk of the state Isnd
board. Arrangements are now In prog
ress to have the former move Into the!
office of the Utter and rearrange tba
remnants of records thst were , found
there two years ago so that it will be;
peealble from aa ins pact ten of the rec-(
orda to ascertain at a .glance tha rr"t.
status of every acre ef pubiie lead l
the stale,
- The stats land ag'nt and elerh ef the
.state '.land board have devoted . muh.
of their time to straightening out the
tangle Into which the record ef be. .
offices have become Involved ' t
ef the lark of unity ef actie b"'
the two. This taek ws cr' "f f
under the sdminlstratia
Morrow, snd has i r
pera latently folios
' -
... r ...