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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 1915)
THE OREGON DAILY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 11. 1915. GOVERNOR WEST GIVES PARTING MESSAGE TO OREGON LEGISLATURE HOME SHOTS OF IAST 4 YEARS REVIEWED BY RETIRING CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN HIS MESSAGE TO THE OREGON LEGISLAT URE pressed with the great strides -which have tweH made in Institutional management. prison exorms. n9t nhanna hm taken place In nd about the prison during the past four years. The Institution has been given a bath, supply of clean clothes and plenty of fresh air. All building and structures have been placed in good condition and painted. improved ventilating facilities have been In. stalled and the old, obsolete ana ex pensive system of heating has given way. to an improved system with a and employed at institutional farm Senators Now Elected" by Direct Vote, Equal Suffrage for ;; Women, Sale of Liquor Prohibited in State, Capital , Punishment Abolished, Safeguards Arpund Ballot. CTATC I AWC CftD CAAM AM I f A I AnMlMIQTP ATlflM ;Care anjl Treatment of State Prisoners Put on More Hu r; ; mane Basis; Better Prices Obtained for! State Owned Lands; Pure Water Plans. 2 " . " . Salem, Or.; Jan. 11. In hla final' , : message aa governor of Oregon, to the twenty-eighth legislative assembly, Os wald West reviews hts four years' ad ministration and makes some valuable recommendations to the legislators for .their consideration regarding the gov , mmeit and business of the state. The message in full Is as follows: To the Honorable, the Members of the Legislature of the State of Oregon: In keeping with the usual custom and with the hop of bringing to your 'attention Information and suggestions 'Whloh will lead to such governmental 'reforms as make for reduced expenses . and increased efficiency. I am pleased to submit for the consideration of your honorable body this, by last message as governor of Oregon. : The Your years lust past have given us much constructive legislation. While other-periods have brought great ' fundamental changes in our govern mental system, none has produced leg islation which has covered such a . broad field and yielded such splendid : results. Constitutional Oaaages. The long-fought battle of the peo- pie for amendments to our federal con stitution which would permit the im position of an income tax and the elec- tton of senators by a direct vote of the 'people has been won. Our legislative bodies 1 were prompt to ratify these ' amendments and Oregon is therefore .listed In the group of progressive states claiming credit for these great rarorras. The fight for equal suffrage and a - ary state nas oeen successrui. aocu . tlensl safeguards have been thrown around the ballot through extending tne non-voting period of the newly ar - rivad alien. and t hn old tuu-hnraua svr tern .of capital punishment has been ' a&ousnM. " i Constructive Xawa Numerous 4aws have been passed Which create a broad policy making for the conservation and development , of our resources. These laws have . .aided Jthe investigation of numerous irrigation and power possibilities and the construction of the Tuinalo lrrlga lion system: have made provision for a state forester and the protection of our timber arralnat fire; have led to a thorough study of ours mineral re ' sources; have made liberal provisions "for the propagation and protection of our fish and game; and have provided for the publication of a booklet giving unvarnished information as to oppor tunities In Oregon. A budget system which carries to the public the needs of the different departments of state has been pro vided ror, also tne auditing or tne ac counts! of state and county officials handling public funds. All penal and eleemosynary Institu tions have been placed under a single -.'.. board -Of control and a splendid system" adopted in reference to the purchase of supplies. The fee system in the , state printing office has been abol ished and the printer has been placed upon a flat salary. The state now . owns the printing plant and is saving 180,000 a year. Our educational insti tutions have been placed upon a mill age tag basis, i which insures liberal support and removes them as a factor In legislative log-rolling. Practically all public service cor ; poratlons have been placed under the jurisdiction of the railroad commis sion and a blue-sky law is driving bogus' corporations from our state; ... splendKd banking laws are In effect ; and steps have been taken towards the regulation or loan sharks; . Needy mothers have heen given aid through the widows' pension act. The workmen's compensation act and mln , lmum: wage law huve been passed in the laterest of the working classes; shorter hours of labor have been ob tained: the prison contract system has been abolished and prison labor taken out of competition with free labor. . The transfer of the Oregon City locks! from private to public control . wiaa taken place and th recovery of the Jefferson street levfee (Portland, (Ore gen) is an accomplished fact. Good roads legislation has enabled th state to co-operate with the coun ties In road buildincr and to work its 1 -onvota upon the publlio highways. The ocean, beach has ueen reserved to the nubile for a highway Laws aimed at the regulation of tha liquor traffic have been passed and frofress made in the direction of 11m tlng the sale of habit-forming drugs. An effective abatement law is in force; also i a law preventing white slavery and one limiting: the sale of revolvers. A long heeded Industrial school for rins nas been esiabitsnea and an cnar : Itsbl institutions receiving state aid placnd under state supervision. The creation of a parole board . and an .amendment to the indeterminate sentence-- law have made !; possible great vrogreaa In the direction of prison re- ;. xorm. i!l These and many other splendid ' measures are the products of th past t i;. iour years. - -Coat of Oovenunent, Our state government for the years Jiis-14 nas cost in rouna numners 17 sOO.OOO. Of -this amount. $5,287,000 i was met by direct taxation, and the ; balance by fees and unused aom-opri- ations. .The average annual amount raised -by direct taxation during the aald period was 82.643.&00. Taxes, other than state, collected, or to'be collected, by the several counties ' this year upon th 1913 assessment amount ! to $18,935,000. classified as tohows. II county ..... :z2,noo e.oiis.ooo Sim4,x( turea for 1912.14 will reach $5 per capita, being an increase of 90. It 1 reasonable to assume that as great an increase in the cost of county and city government has taken place as In tne state government, ana n so, our state and local government is costing us vuvo more per capita inan in ihm-a. In other words, If the per capita cost of, our government was no more today than in 1893-4 a savins of $12,000,000 would result annually. Penal and Eleemosynary Institutions. our institutions, auring tne past four years at least, have been abso lutely removed from politics. The ? i resent official beads have been se ected solely upon merit and have been lert tree to select their subordinates. These men hold the safety and welfare of thousands of helpless people in the hollow of their hands, and it would be a calamity should their positions be come the football of politics. There are in the ranks of all parties those who believe In the old doctrine, "to tha victors belong the spoils," and who In sist tnat our institutions snouia pro vide berths for the faithful. The great view of the situation, and any attempt to - tnrow these institutions DacK into the slough of politics, to become car rion upon which the political birds of prey may feed, would find bitter oppo sition. I Our institutions are rapidly being placed In a splendid condition through the earnest co-operation of officials and employes and aa a result of their efforts Oregon has been placed in a class by itself.. A visit to the institu tions will give one an idea of the high standard which obtains. i The total expenditures for all pur poses in connection with our penal and eleemosynary institutions for the bi ennium ending September 30, 1914, are shown by tha statement which fol lows: Oregon State Hoapita ...S 660,123-84 Eastern Oreson Bute Horoltal... SW.6tj3.e7 State Institution far reeble-Mladod 148.50T.ea Oregon State Penitentiary 179,118.61 Oregon Btate Training school 78,008.08 u re icon stats Lnaui trial Bcfiooi ror Glrlr 80.643.10 Oregon State Tuberculosis Hospital 6.1,801.04 Oregon State School for the Blind . 34,820.07 Oregon State School for the Deaf 79.248.97 Oreson State Soldiers' Home B4.708.43 Total $1,689.733 53 These figures mean that for every inmate an average annual expenditure of over $890 is necessary. s -The total population of these institu being an - increase of about iOQi or nearly 16, during the biennium.i The greatest increase of. population ap pears to have been in our hospitals for tne insane ana our institution ior tne feeble-minded. The combined popula tion of these two Institutions shows an Increase of 17. This growth ot pop ulation is alarming and drives home to us the necessity of giving earnest thought and study to the causes which produce this great army of dependents. l ne reourus covering vno u.uieu States appear to show that eaca in mate of a state penal or eleemosynary institution represents an expenditure of $1000 in lands, buildings and equip ment. Oregon has been far more liberal in this direction than most states, 'sand $1000 is a very low figure upon wMcb to bass an estimate. Figuring npon this basis, however, and from ret.jrd available, it will be found thattwe have over $3,000,000 invested in lasds. buildings and equipment devoted to'in stitutlonal purposes. ' Our annual expenditure for mainte- utuicB runs swui oo,uuu, uia xor or dinary improvements $220,000; taken loaeiner it means tnat wnen a cnartfe Is committed to bur state institutions the taxpayers must contribute $1000 to provide shelter and, annually there after, $75 for Improvements and re pairs and $216 for maintenance. if These growing expenditures present questions of deep concern to the tax payers of the stats and to society 4n care of these unfortunates are beiag met dy tne onioiais or our institutions, but those having to do with the re. moval of the causes which 'produce these dependents are largely for your solution. '-- In studyinar this auestlon It will he found that alcohol and habit-formin drugs twin ovils are largely reeponV siuie ror tne population oi our peniten tiary and asylums. By voting the stati. Road . Mlxwllaneeei Cities and town State - (annaal averaee 1.1W1..VIO 4.8H4.(N0 $1.933.900 P.643..rj00 19.8 80.3 14.2 6.6 18. 87.8 12 Totals $ui.578,riio too. It will be seen, therefore, that If Doc tor Kconomy would wpe out the epi d ere 1 9 of extravagance and lessen our tax; burdens he must not confine his visits and bis doses to the state, but must-look well to the counties and titles -and roaa ana scnooi districts. convicts . In direct competition with free men. The reason for this opposi tion is that the prison contractor can produce cheaper than the manufact urer who employs free labor at living wages and is In position to undersell In the markets of the world. His price, therefore, becomes the pries at which all must sell, and the employer of free labor is driven to reduce wages to meet this unfair competition. If a careful classification of the prisoners is made and those who can oe trusted placed in Tionor camps- central heating plant. Forty-eight new steel cells have oeen duiu witn xnm ex penditure of an appropriation Intended for but one-half that number. An automatic telephone system now connects all departments, including the guard houses, and through the instal lation of a new electrical system all wires have been placed in conduits. A long needed cold storage ana ice piani has been added and is giving splendid results. The guards' old quarters, over tha administration building, have been turned into a women's ward. The guards nave peen proviaea wiw new quarters through the remodeling of the old brick stable near the prison en. trance. Old barns have been rebuilt and long needed shelter sheds provided ror tne iarm macmnery, .Moaei cnica.cn and hog; houses have been constructed and every effort made to develop these Industries. In the orison vard disorder has given wav . tn order: erassv niots. cement walks and good roadways have taken the place' oi rubbish and aeons, noaai leading to other state institutions have been improved, and a large acreage of prison lands cleared, drained and placed lrr cultivation. The low ground along Mill creek near the prison en trance is being filled in and certain natural advantages turned to good ae. mtint An linslerhtlv tract or land Will thus be transformed into one of beauty. uodern. sncx 7a&t. With a viaw to utilizing the surplus labor of toe prison, former Industries nave been enlarged ana new ones es tablished. The old brickyard has given way to a modern plant, the land and eaulDment for which were purchased with prison earnings. a orain uie Dlant has been latelv Installed and is proving a profitable venture. The shoe snop ana tne taiior snop nave ueen lareed and Drovided with needed equip ment The blacksmith, machine, tin, earpenter and paint shops absorb a share of the surplus labor and produce good returns for the state. The prison and other institutional farms and the county roads offer further means for taking care of tne prison laoor. It was found that a. chanae of plans would save the expenditure of a large fiart or an appropriation maae Dy-tne ast legislature for improvements and the sum of $26,850 is therefore being returned to the general fund. The re volving fund created at the last ses sion oi the legislature nas grown rap idly and now contains nearly $13,000 In cash and stock. Th reclamation of waste Drison lands, improvements of its dairy herd and success in hog raising have sur prisingly reduced the maintenance cost. Our aDDroDriation for mainten ance has not only been ample, but has taken care of many Institutional needs which otherwise would have neces sitated sDecial appropriations. nritins of nur orison rjoliciea have made much of the fact that we found 1,200,000 brick on hand when taking over the institution in January, 1911. They claim we have taken credit for products of a former administration. Vor thA information of these critics." I wish to say that notwithstanding the fact that we have manufactured and sold several million of brick and de livered about 300,000 to other state in Htnttrnn fr of oharsA. we have on the yard and ready to turn over to tne succeeding administration practically the same number as came into our hands upon taking office. Oregon has taken the lead in prison reform and with most satisfactory, re sults. Manv good people, nowever. through lack of information as to our true aim and purpose, have thrown ob- I stacles in the way which have made j progress most difficult. Notwithstand- ! ing statements often made to the con trary, 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 be more concerned in the ref ormation of the man than in his pun lshmcnu Paroling or prisoners. There la an imDression abroad that th nnliev of nurnllne nrisoners which has teen inaugurated and maintained during the past few years has been too liDerai ana nas practically aone awai with punishment for crime. It will no doubt surprise those who havs been most critical to learn that from June 30. 1911, the time when the new paroia law was put into actual practice, to June 30. 1914, the average time served by prisoners carrying indeterminate sentences was 18.6 months, and that tha average time served during the previous four years by the same ojass, most of whom were serving a definite sentence, was 17.6 months. In other words, offenders of the same class are serving a longer time under the pres ent law than under the old. When we take Into consideration the fearful conditions which have in the past prevailed in many of the penal in stitutions throughout the land and which prevail in many of them today, and think what prison reform means to hundreds of thousands of 'unfortunate individuals, we ask ourselves why wo have been so long in coming to our senses in this direction. The trouble is we have from time Immemorial been giving more thought to property rights than to personal rights: more thought to the protection of the thing than to work or in the construction and main tenance of public roads, and others em ployed in the upkeep and maintenance of the prison and in the manufacture of articles for the use of state insti tutions, it will be round that prison labor can be fully absorbed in a direc tion which will reduce to a minimum competition with free labor. Those who have given the question careful study agree that the state use system offers - one of the best solu tions to the problem. Our laws provide: "All wards of the state who are capable of a reasonable amount of work without physical or mental in jury to themselves shall be 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 or corporation' for the employment of convicts ... or to place prison mauo goods on sals in open market in com petition with products of free labor." With the view or providing employ ment for the men left idle through the abolishment of the stove foundry con tract, various industries, as ueretoiore tientioned, have been installed for the purpose of supplying certain institu tional needs. lr tne system is ex tended the state will be In position not only to absorb its prison labor, but to offer a variety of employment to the prisoners a.iiu ojr tusBigmus 10 cu task for which he is best suited, pre vent that great economic waste which prevails In those prisons where no par ticular tnougnt is given to sucn quea tions. . The prison is surrounded by several hundred acres of productive agricul tural land where outdoor employment is i given to a large number of men. Hdgs, poultry and a fine dairy herd, together with an abundance of farm and garden products, enable us to pro vide good, wholesome food for. the in mates of the institution and at the lowest possible cost- I Work oa County Roads. The voters of this state recently de clared In favor of working prisoners upon the county roads, and at the sev eral state Institutions. The law provides: . VTJnon tha written reauest of the county court of any county in the state of i Oregon, or any superintendent of any state institution, the governor may detail from the state penitentiary such convicts as in his Judgment may seem proper for use on the public high ways, or on or about any state institu tion. Said convicts shall be delivered to i any county court or the superin tendent of anv state institution ou such terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by the parole ooara ana ap Droved hv tha srovernor." We have from time to time worked a large numoer ot our prwuiiera the county roads, and our experience convinces us that beyond a doubt road work offers a profitable and desirable means of employment for a large por tion of one orison nODulation. ' Until recently we have had but few Idle men at the prison, but the recent closing down of outdoor work on ac count of winter has placed 150 men upon the idle list. These men will be returned to work as soon as the weathar ntrmlta - In past years the duty of delivering insane and prisoners to our state msu tutions fell to the sheriffs of the sev ral .counties. A few years ago the transportation of insane w&s taken from their hands and given over to the IhosDifal officials and the change has resulted in reducing tne expense more than 50. Convicts, however, are still transported under the old system, and their delivery at the penitentiary is costing the taxpayers three times as much as for the delivery of patients at thA ntatA hosnitais. Several efforts have been made to secure reform legis lation along these lines, but the ever present sheriffs' lobby has preventd it. The interests of the taxpayers demand that this old expensive system be changed and the transportation of con victs given over to the penitentiary of ficials. State Xand Ofice. The state land board has coptrol of all lands granted to the state for the support of its educational institutions. and-the investment oi tne xunas aris ; Summary of The Governor's Message: Clfanget in the state' constitution in the last four years. 4 Many good laws passed in the same period. : Increase in cost of government. Increase of insane and feeble-minded. Reforms "at the state penitentiary. Securities of educational fund should be in the custody of the itate land board. Reforms recommended in the treasury department. State now owns its own printing plant. State printer put on salary. s- .Sufficient appropriation for extension of work of state library recommended. v. Abolishment of fish and game commission Urged. Fish warden and game warden to be appointed by the governor. Cruise of all standing timber in state recommended. , State constabulary is suggested. Harmony in naval militia. Workmen's compensation act needs some amending. Work of the state architect. ; Change name of railroad commission to "public utilities commis sion.' , ' , Need 'of a boom law. Blue sky law proves effective. To prevent inflation of public service corporations' securities. Changes in bank laws. Revision of loan shark law. No report from Panama-Pacific fair commission. Oregon state fair board commended. Abolishment of state sanitary livestock board, stallion registra tion board, state horticultural society and pilot commission is recom mended, Merger of pure seeds commission, sealer of weights and measures, bureau of mines and geology, with other relative departments is recommended. Report of highway department. Abolishment of desert land board is urged. State engineer scored. Committee to investigate insurance business is recommended. Emergency board should be abolished. Money wasted on state census. Changes in taxation law necessary Oregon land taken by railroad. Watch out for the land pirates. Timber resources of the state. Aid for settlers in digging community wells, 'i," Need of pure water supply for Willamette valley cities, : ' Recommendations for law enforcement. 1 State employment bureau recommended. Need of retrenchment in state expenses. ruling in a tate of Washington case t,t. va Whitnev. 120 Pac. 116). In which the court held that the school grant was a grant in praesemi .ami took effect on the date of the adoption of he state's constitution and the af firming of the enabling act It was also held that congress could not change the provisions of the grant If this ruling Is followed it will not only prevent the making of further selec tions upon surveyed forest reserve base, but will cast a cloud upon titles covering thousands of acres of indem nity 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 . 41.000 acres ot scat tered school sections in the federal forests of this-state for a compact body of timber. Should the exchange be effected upon the proposed acre for acre basis, it will prove a very profita ble transaction or Oregon. - Xeaslna- of Mineral Iakes. It being discovered that the, beds and waters of Bummer and Albert lakes, in Lake county, contained valuable depos its of mineral salts, and there being numerous applications . to lease these properties, the state land board adver tised for bids thereon. Mr. Jason C. Moors was the successful bidder. The lease, which was made subject to your approval, will run for a period of 0 years. The state is to receive roy alties as follows for all commercial KAlttt! 50 cents per ton for potassium salts. 10 cents per ton for sodium chloride, 25 cents per ton for other salts. Should the royalties fall below $25, 000 in any one year, then the said sum shall be paid in lieu thereof, and as a rental for the premises for the said year. . A report made by the state bureau of mines and geology covering these de posits is on file with the clerk of the state land board. The beds of our navigable streams belong to the fctate and many of them carry deposits of sand and gravel, having considerable commercial value. There are many concerns engaged in the sale of such materials obtaining their supply from the beds of the said streams witnout yieiamg tujaiu . the state. While it Is true that the re- thls charge shall prove true rests - en tirely with the governor, secretary of state and state treasurer- the board having the control and management of this department - . There is bound to be pressure brought to bear from time to time by those who have something to sell to induce the legislature or the board to make liberal, if not needless, expendi tures for equipment This is something which must be guarded against as the Plant is now larara enouarh.to maet tha oroiaary legitimate aemanas or tne state. Should an emergency arise at any time, the board is in position to meet the situation by contracting some of the work to commercial printers. The plant as it stands todav repre sents in round numbers an invastmant of $30,000, and while there la no occa sion for increasing the same, provision should be made at this time for taking care of the depreciation which is bound to occur, ana to this end I would rec ommend that the board h a.uthnriaad to set aside each year out of the earn ings of the plant a limited amount Bay 10 per cent of its value, or $3000 for the establishment and maintenance of a depreciation fund, out of which shall be made all necessary renewals and repairs. This arrangement will insure the keeping of the sise of the plant within reasonable bounds and prevent the possibility of the legisla ture being annoyed with requests for appropriations for needless equipment. me old custom ox appropriating large sums for public 'printing and per. mitt Ing departments to dip in to their V.a.ir'H . , . k.1J V ........ ended, as such a practice makes for waste and extravagance. Each depart ment should pay for its printing from its own appropriation, and if this change is adopted it will: result in more thought being given to economy and a great reduction being made in our annual outlay for printing. a statement recently issued ny tne state printing board, and which fol lows, will fully advise you as to the expenditures which have been made for printing (exclusive of the .purchase of tne piant; aunng me last two biennial periods,' and some idea of the saving which is being made under the new system. "State Capitol, Salem, .Oregon, No vember 20, 1914. "To the-Public. Owing to the con fusion which exists tn the latnd of the public in reference to the cost of state printing, the following statement has been prepared with a view of showing Just what has been expended duriug the past two biennial periods: braries. As a consequence Oregon- has the beat school library in the United; States, and the lowest price on school library books. Kach city In the state: Is sent books to supplement its local library. Men in nubllo life have ac.; oess to the reference and dooument S m Hm.Iam. . .U . . II.. I "a oy system wnion provides xpr. the- economical and satisfactory dis tribution Of its own oublieatiana This successful institution, the ben-f ents oi wmcn are xeu in every part or ? Oregon, represents stats effort at its best by making It possible, through legislative enactment for Its cltlsens to co-operate in the maintenance of a central book supply with a well-organ. Ised service for the nubile welfare- Many state institutions reach only the. afflicted and the unfortunate with - their well defined and limited needs,, but this educational department helps and appeals to the able-bodied and am bitious, and gives them equality of op portunity. The library is a great asset for the state in helping to overcome the disadvantages of Isolation and po v- art v. in increa.aine tha fflrlncv nf its workers, and in adding to its recre- ational facilities. . i As the work of the library is con- Btructlve and widely extended, and its usefulness Is limited only by its' means, it should be put on a per ma-' nent basis, with - a sufficient appro priation to allow the trustees to form a settled policy of extension and, to, acquire the store of valuable books needed to meet the demands made upon it as the library center depended upon by the entire state. The present ' appropriations, amounting to $17,700 annually, couia not oe decreased wun out directly - affecting the interests oft thousands of our people. X therefore respectfully urge that you give the recommendations of the trustees -your thoughtful consideration and cordial support. jrish. and Crams Department -A fish and game commission, hav- ; ing control of all matters pertaining ' to our fish and game, was created by the legislature of 1911-r The board Is supposed to be non-political and 4he members to fairly represent toe dif ferent sections of the state. Good men have been appointed from time to tinier upon this board, none of whom, how-: ever, has been able to curtail the ex travagances which, like barnacles to a ship, cling to the department ' The division of commercial fisheries is under the immediate control ot a master fish warden and there appears to be no complaint as to extravagance in? from the sale thereof. The grant I tortals aids naviea from the federal government amounted tjon at BOme points, yet It is no more to nearly 4.000,000 acres, as follows: than rlght that the common school Acre, fund of the state should share in the Colleee lands 88,800 n-nf'ita fmm Kiirh Rales. Leer- University lands "'a'Sli Islatlon, therefore, making it unlawful School lands 3,SjSv for anyone to take such materials for Special grant o00.$" inmmrrial numoses. without first 25 K obtaining a permit from the state land 20l!300 board, would result in a considerable ..revenue. . Educational rnnas. Capital bulldlsff erant Tide lands . . : Swamp lands i 3.081.900 t:- k. iom thocs ianri I i.,wo iimq 9r lost to the state an' were sold without reeard to their true i nually through the unbusinesslike vcino ii riiiine- nrice heine: mannar in which escheats are handled. Per Acre. inasmuch as the school fund is the ben- Swamp lands io eficiary or all sucn estates, me maner Tide, lands -. 2.00 cbnnlH he controlled bv the State land College lands ..... 1-25 board. All litigation should be under i-?ithe direction of the dry the, people have taken a long stepJ the protection or the person in otner towards removing one of the causea Itl words, we have been placing the dol ls incumbent upon you. thereforA. to lar above the man, and we . have yet to evil havs heretofore been launched upon the legislative sea. but hav been anven upon tne rocKs or sent into port in a battered and worthless condition. Under our laws a hundred gates . are open to those who would engage in the imcit trawc oi tnese drugs, no man should be permitted to capitalise the weaknesses of an unfortunate brother, and he who engages in or protects this traffic will have much to answer for when he stands before the great last tribunal. Should this legislature per form ho other duty than that of re stricting the sale of habit-forming drugs, it will be entitled to the thanks of all good people. Only 1$ of those admitted to our hospitals for the insane during the Fast biennium were native Oregonlans; 0 were found to be natives of other ftstes and 7 of foreign countries. Oregon has long been the dumping ground for the Insane of all states and nations. The present board of control and institutional heads have adopted a vigorous policy of deportation and re patriation, with a result that 142 per sons havs been returned to their home states or foreign countries during the past biennium. Had these charges been retained in our institutions and lived the period of their expectancy they would have cost the state nearly $150, 000 for maintenance alone. This pol icy of deportation deeply concerns the taxpayers of the statA and ia . r.n which should be given every legislative encouragement No other stats in the union has done mors to provide for the treatment and was was. TMr. iai 14 iwai J'v04 1914 ! STATKltXNT. Snowing frow-ti ef population, aissssaS valaatlea and state tax. naisea ar street i vane Popntattem. 8T3.W0 600.000 7ab',ooo y.... .............. It will be noted that while our pop ulation has increased 1 00 in the last 20 ' ara, our dlrtict . state taxes have increased SlO'l. and that while the av erage tax rate for the. 1913-14 biennial period is only 2.8 mills, as against 6.7 mills in 1893-4. our assessed valuation has Increased ilTft. , la 1893-e our state expenditure wars about $$$ per capita. Kxpendl- take the next step, and through appro-!! get away from tne practice, it r.i.- i-i-in '- a not manv generations ago that it " V .t .V AJ. HUl 1,1 C . . . - . , . .. , . . . vent, the sale of habit-forming drugs. custom acrossi w Measures aimed to check this awful 1'it Ane "erest punishment to those hWV 1XJ U4S,a W V vquaco ju v" saa w offenses men were degraded, their ears '3rere cut uii, ineir uuaiuia wcio out and they were nranaea upon tne rore- sad or in the hand. Same of this old spirit has been nanaea aown to mis Bay and we see it breaking out occa sionally through an insistence upon the lash ana tne aungeon ana me. prison labor contract W Owing to centuries of effort upon Bis part of many, who have controlled the wealth of the land, to throw pro tection around property and their un pardonable neglect to accord the same consideration to individuals, there baa jrrown up through custom and usage an overbalanced regard for property Fights and an unaerDaiancea regara for the rights of the person. A little mora thought to the protection of our untertunate brother and less concern for the aimignty oonar womo go r tn strATirthAii our eovernment and spread happiness throughout the land. t AS a rule men OS not uecurae triiii laii fram choice. They are largely victims f circumstance. Health, pros perity ana s nappmess unusuy , J.OHUW the route of an upright life; o nor mal human being will, therefore, de liberately turn from this pleasant pathway to the byway of crime, which he knows will lead only to his down fall. Day by day the factories of pov erty, vice and greed are grinding out a steady stream of criminals and defec tives. Herolo work is being done by unselfish workers who seek these floaters upon the sea of life and bring them ashore, but those in touch with the situation know that for every one rescued i dozen are carried to sea. As far as ths care of the prisoner is con cerned, tho fight in this state has been wort, but the big. never-ending battle is for ths removal of ths causes which make criminals and defectives i- t trss for Frison XAbor. Oris of the most annoying questions in connection with prison reform be fore the people today , is the utilisation of our prison labor. Believing or ganised labor to be opposed to the working of convicts the politically am bitious have been afraid, as a rule, to take hold of the matter. - These gen Clemen would undoubtedly be surprised to learn that organised labor has done more toward the solution of this prob lem than any other agency, although it is bitterly opposed, and properly so, to I the contract system and the placing of . $160,968,646.0 JS5,W,110, la,on,0Ol.w 17a.658.SS8.68 or.oit.7. 64,282.374.0a Taxation. 1.12t.845.6t 722.72.29 j . 7W1.000.00 l,22R,ono,00 ' 1.122,214. 4 .106,0mi.00 SUte tax rate of ley suns 4.S 6.7 4.e 7.05-4 1.24 4.3 2.5 comfort of Its insane and feeble minded than Oregon. Commodious buildings, well eaulDoed and ur. rounded by beautiful grounds, offer a sals retreat for these unfortunataa. Broad acres of productive land and orchards yielding bountifully provide a wholesome food supply. One has to but visit these Institutions to bo im- Sehool lands University lands Indemnity lands The records of the state landr office appear to show that upon January 1, 1903. 3,000,000 acres, or three-quarters of the entire grant had been sold at nn averace Dries of $1.40 per acre. Little was ever realized irom tne sale of our . swamp lands, as the greater part oH, the proceeds from le gitimate sales were used in the pay ment of interest upon swamp -tend 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 usedn the 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 ftext to impossible to se cure Datent oil account of the red tape entanglements which surround the" general land office. Signer Prices Obtained. Since January, 1903, the state land board has made an effort to realize something near the true value of our lands. Notwithstanding the best has long since been sold, the minimum price has steadily advanced and hand some figures -have marked the sale of many tracts." The average price re ceived during the past 10 years has been about $5 per. acre. As a result of an early day practice of selling lands and Issuing deeds be fore patent had been obtained, the state bad outstanding many defective titles. Through checking the records all such titles have been uncovered and every efort is being made to reach the claimants and repay the purchase price. When a few remaining trans actions 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 WasBington fcchool in demnity lists covering about 14,000 acres of land selected in lieu of a like amount of surveyed and unsurveyed school lands within-the boundaries of federal forests. The government ques tions th validity of tho base offered tor these selections, but the' state tar slats it is valid and that patents should Issue In due course. The com pact entered Into with the federal gov ernment at tho time of tha state's ad mission to the union provides: "Sections IS and 36 in every township- of public lands in the state, and where either of said sections, or any part thereof, has been sold or other wise disposed of, other lands equival ent thereto and as contiguous as may be, shall be granted to said -state for the use of the schools." An act of congress approved Febru ary 28. 1891, provides: 'Lands of equal . acreage are . . hereby appropriated and granted and may be selected by said state . . . where sections IS and 3 e are . . . In cluded within any . . reservation." Ths department, according to infor mation received, is Inclined to-folow a attorney general. 3 .! I i t. , i ri v,-, LtVirhT-'t-u- tn nail nnnn ...$1.25 and 2.00 jdistrict attorneys fGr assistance. According to orriciai repors, tne amount of cash and securities on hand September 30, 1914. in the educational funds, was $6;709,589.81. The manner in which these funds are invested is shown by the following statement: Had the proceedings been expedited it would have been possible for the su preme court to have .heard the matter and rendered a decision prior to the convening of this legislature. I m a r.f.ttf 9 ' ma Ann rtt tb. , - Itage of the school children of this state ts involved in this contest The circuit court has held that the state land board is the lawful custodian of the securities. They are therefore being arbitrarily held without author ity of law by the state treasurer and without being protected by a bond. The state treasurer is bonded only for the faithful performance of the duties o? his office, and since the investment of the school fund and the custody of the securities is a constitutional duty im posed upon the state land board, the state treasurer's bond would not ln HurA Drotection. The clerk of the state land board Is the lawful- custodian of all records and securities and is the only one from whom ths board appears to have authority of law to demand a bond, and which may be fixed in such s sura as the board sees fit- While these securities may be in safe hands today, they may be In unsafe hands to morrow. The recent experience of a neighboring state teaches us that even state treasurers go wrong. It is your duty therefore to take such action in the premises as will insure the school fund protection. . Treasury Department. Bookkeeping methods adopted in the earlv fee-svstem days of the state treasurer's office provided for a hum- cash on hand In anv "fund" became ex hausted warrants drawn thereon were "indorsed" and, through underground methods, taken up with cash available In other funds and tbe interest earn ings turned to personal profit . While the said system of graft has been done away with, nearly 60 separ ate "funds" still exist Although there were several hundred thousand dollars in cash in . the bands of the state treasurer at all times during the past year, the state paid over $24,000 in interest upon "endorsed" warrants drawn against these mere bookkeep ing "funds.' While there can be no objection to the maintenance of sep arate funds merely as a matter of bookkeeping, most of them should be eliminated as far as segregation of cash is concerned. Such action would practically put an end to the endorse ment of warrants and the payment of interest. r Ths act appropriating moneys for the support of the state treasurer's 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 sums for the payment of clerk hire- Expenditures from the said fund to the extent of $30,000 have been mads from time to time for such purposes. It seems impossible to end thia nractice. as $9600 has been taken from the common school fund for the sirpport of the said department during thA term of the Dresent incumbent. Tho full amount of the said expenditures should be returned to tne scnooi iuna. aa under the terms of the federal grant all 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 STATEMENT. - ' . c COST OF PB1NT1N9, ; 1OTM012. Printing, ruling, binding, paper, etc. (Printing Fund) .. Printing sad binding aupretna conrt reports... . Printing paid for ujr dcpartmesU (approximate) .$102.Sna6T ...12.Wl0.O0 A- A A 4 , Total J...:,.. $140,000.00 : 1913-1014. " . .. Printing, ruling, blading, paper, eta. (Printing Fund) , ,$94,2fM).2. Printing and binding cuprame oourt reports T,4'-'VW Printing to be paid for by departments (approximate) 81,276-7$ COMMON SCHOOL FUND loans secured by first mortgage on rear property School district bonds Certificates of sale....... Cash .-. PRINCIPAL. Total x AGEICULTTJBAI, COLLEGE FUND PRINCIPAL. Loans secured by first mortgage on real property Certificate of sale Cash . .$3,8K5.G4.no af,750.O0 . . 2.So,3SS.09 26.848.37 . .$9,403,SH.43 ..$ 189,17.47 loO.OO 10,077.52 Total - UNIVERSITY FUND PRINCIPAL. Loans secured by first' mortgage on real property .....'.. Cash - . Total '. t The constitution gives the state land board full control over the investment of the funds arising from, the sale of state lands. Our courts have beld-that this power of control cannot betaken from the state land board and placed in other hands. A -custom of turning these securities over to the. state treas urer has grown -out of the past with a result that their condition is- never known to the other members of the board. This practice leads to neglect of duty upon their part and practically leaves the matter of calling and ex tending payments to the state treas urer. While state land boards, past and present have made reports cover ing these securities, none of them have ever been based upon first-hand infor mation, but solely upon data furnished by the state treasurer's office. , For the purpose of securing a fur ther ruling of the courts upon this most important question, an order was entered by the board, under the date of November 13.-1913, directing ths transfer of all such notes and secur ities from ths offleo of the state treas urer to the off ics of the state land board. Upon the stats treasurer's re fusal to turn over the securities man damus proceedings were Instituted that ths questions Involved might bs adjudicated at an early date and needed legislation secured at the hands of your honorable body. - . ... p While the matter was beard by the circuit court and an early decision fav orable to the state land board en dered, it Was the gossip of the 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 tho stats treasurer, aided by the retiring at torney general, baa Interposed delays until ths contest is all but forgotten; . . .. , .$ 202,113.09 ..$ 103,141.52 . . 493.84 ..$ 103.B3S.36 a department by indirect methods is one or tne abuses wnicn ieaa to ex travagance in our state government Departments should be made to depend upon tne legislature xor support, tats Printing Department. It Is with pleasure that X report the progress which has been made in the direction of a more businesslike and economical administration of the af fairs nf the state printing department The old fee system having recently been abolished, the state printer is at last on a flat salary ana tne state is the owner of a well equipped printing nlant. Those i who have honestly opposed the state ownershln movement have based their opposition largely upon ths theory that the change wouia lead to extravagance 'and graft Whether W Hi- Y Total i... i "Although the demands ! upon the i state printing department are increas ing from year to year. It will be seen that the expenditures for printing dur ing the 1913-1914 biennial period will be $17,000 less than for 1911-1912. The reduction of expenditures for the present biennial period; Is due to the present system of handling the state printing. i ne record b snow a saving of over' $20,000 to havc been made during the past year aa a result ot tne change. in otner woros, naa the old system remained in effect, the expenditure for this biennial period would have been at leant 40. ooo.ua m excess of tbe amount set forth in the above table. 'The state-printing board will have on hand in the general fund at the Irst of the year something over $31, 00. This money is being paid to the printing department by the-different lepartments ot state ana tne amount s included in the above 191 $-191 4 cost tabla. Owing to an oversight in draft ing the law no authority was given the board to use these funds, asid It was j therefore driven to ask the emergency i board for authority. While It appears. therefore, on the face or tne record that there will be a deficiency to meet on January J. it must be remembered that there will be ample funds on nana to cover this deficiency, and that Its existence Is due only to the lack of au thority on the part of the board to wipe it out. ' TiTATK r'KlNTIINU liUAKU: 'OSWALD WEST, Governor, 'BEN W. OLCOTT. -Secretary of State. THOS. B. KAY. State Treasurer." The Stats library. A fortunate consolidation was ef fected by the last legislature when the library -commission was coniDineci wun the sta.te library under the manage ment of a bocrd of trustees who had previously served the state! for years as library commissioners, exniniun rare public spirit tn their devoted care of the library interests and ther gen erous financial contributions to it The state lending and traveling library was combined with its reference document and school collections making a uni fied system of over 85.000 volumes. These books reach the remotest re gions or the state tnrougn over "vv distributing points in which collections are kept, and by means of a mall order service from Salem, which takes thous ands of books each year to people on farms and in villages who nave ac- In tin other library. The report of the library shows that nearly 65,000 books were shipped out rtwrin the hist biennial nerlod. with an estimated use of 300.000. Many or then v- books are of the most practical nature and carry the help of the ex- nert in tha man who is striving to in crease hla efficiency as a worker, and whn i. hv thix means, tnven an op portunity" for self-education. Hundreds of farmers are reading the books on agriculture, and workers, students and n.nnla tn lunlatfrt rilufAK A rfl Ulinr ini library, so extensively aa to exhaust its resources at times during tne i The library renders direct service to 9iaftn apimnl district bv the selection and purchase of the pqoks ror tneir 11 .$133,000.00 in his department which is supported by direct appropriation and certain li cense fees collected from those en laitg in uuui juwi itsuius.. The game and game fish department Is under the immediate control of the state game warden. When ths com mission was created there was on hand . 1 . .J .... .4 tffl AAA The law provided that the said "urn and all revenues thereafter derived through the sale of fishing and hunt ing licenses should be given over to the uses of his department Since the passage of the law the receipts have come a burden to the commission, and it has taken great ingenuity, coupled nrttVi iimiitrdnnMhlA extravaeanca. to prevent an accumulation of funds. The trame denn.rtment alone has spent nearly $460,000 during the three and a half years ths commission has been in existence. The receipts of the game and game flnh driarlmint for the vear ending October 31, 1914. amounted to $119,000. The balance on nana irom tne precea Ing year was $43,500, making a total of $I2,60O. The expenditures for the said year ending October 81. 1914, were I184.6QU. iHUg tl Will DB seen vnai while the expenditures exceeded the recint bv IZ5.0U0. tne commission via V,Hi1 4n ra rrv over il balance of $28,000 to remain a burden unless your hnnorarilA hortv comes to tne reus mna turns it into tne aoncrai iuuu. . ThA rri(inr,l of the commission has nn,ll,il nf htarri eiutn men- men Who 111, V H U1SDB BULLVn. V L V -- - fDin ami whn hava had an earnest de- .1 ... . 1. V. M.rttM.nl u , imf; at MirM 111 iii.nn L.m u.il. , v. ...... -- Tli iTi.mh.ra ilriw no aalarv and are !.... . a -n if ,ut Ti.runna I atmi-i l . whan p11a4 iitwiii to attend- tha tnnnthlv meetinara of the commission. whr thev must pass upon a large iiuinocr vi Tuuiiicti, ' - tn r-- nf thA lionartmant W hen these nniiiiuriB aDDear extravagant they . . . 1. - . L. n m r r-n riv n nil ri . miiu Liicii ... 1 1.1 . . I n nn 1 In 4t AAtiraA ,1,1.- I 1 .1.4 K aKnllMltAM Th. rmiapnni- should h riven newer to nrnnlnt a .Int. flnh Wnrdfll .'Who WOUld k. ha aitmlnlalnllva head Of the d- nartmpnt nt commercial fisheries and - aitat ramA wardan. who would be th administrative head of ths gam Btift btm m, flah department. 1 Th.,. two danartmants should bs aiimrinrtfr! throiiorh direct appropriation kv thA lao-latla turn--all fees collected wkn. As.h Hanu rtmanl head should bs aimniiad with A. few denutv wardens to -f ... in th .nfn.c.m.nr of the law an1 thA Mirfnrmanra nf other duties AnnnawtAit with tllA Work Of th d nnrtmnnt tho usual nollce duty should hd nerformed under the immtaiau airtrcwwri vi 1 nh.,rui.Klih lha enforcement " iiv 1 - "-.. - - f thA law. There is no Kood reason .. th. latnavan' mflntv should be 11..H tn tmninv an officer whose sol jiim ! tn waiph violation of the umA law Tha creneral miblic is inter -.t- nnt nnlv in tha enforcement of thA flah and cram a laws .of the state (Continued on Following Page.) A PLEASANT JOURNEY EAST Irom Los Angeles to Chicago, or St. Louis can be made via the GOLDEN STATE LIMITED via Ei Paso and the Rock !$Ian4 lines In ; connection with the Southern Pacific through California, Arizona, New Mexico, V Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. -Through Pullman connection from San Francisco on the "Owl." A MODERN TRAIN ON A MODERN WAY Observation Club-rooro car, with Ladies' Parlor and Library. Writing Desks and Stationery. Stock and News Reports, Barber Shop andjfalet service. Victrola. . Dining Car. . 1 TICKETS VIA EL P-ASO ROUTE (S. PC P. A S. W C. R. L P.) enable you to stop over at the Panama Pacific International Exposition at San Francisco, also visit ths manv famous , Outing - Resorts in : California. ; , - - ' Copy of Folder, "GoUen Stats LImUV on application at City. Ticket Office, 80 Sixth street, comer Oak, Union Depot, or East Morrison street. SOUTHERN PACIFIC Joba M. Scott, General Passenger Agent, Portland, Oregon .: 1