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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. RECOMMENDATIONS MADE FOR CARRWG ON BUSINESS OF THE STATE CRY FOB RELIEF FROM THE TAXPAYERS SHOULD HAVE MOST ATTENTION BY LEGISLATURE, SAYS GOVE Appropriations Must' Be Held-to sistent With Good Business, He Declares, and Every Useless Board and-C6mission Should Be Abolished, PERMANENT POLICY FOR THE UNEMPLOYED IS URGED Right" to Veto Single Items in Long Needed and Constitutional Amendment for Purpose Should Be Submitted to People, (Continued from Preceding Page.) - but of all penal laws. A man, there fore,- employed by the state to per form police duty should not dvote his time to the enforcement of particular laws, but to all laws. The general police duties of these departments should be performed by a force under the direct control of the governor's ornce. This zorce mignt be I called a state constabulary, stat police, special agents or may be given any name which would please the fancy of the power that creates their Office. v When the dry amendment goes into effect the governor will have many additional burdens in the direotlon of law enforcement thrust upon him. Such an arrangement as above sug rested would nrovida him with not ny the machinery necessary for en forcing the liquor laws of this state, but such a" will Insure a strict en forcement of our fih. game and fores tryNlawa and without throwing a dol laradditional expense upon the tax- Facers. The number should be suf iclent to provide a deputy for each county and several deputies for special field work. An appropriation of $35,000 would be required to maintain this force. This sura is 1 16,000 less than was paid for the salary and expenses of the deputy game wardens for the year ending November 1, 1914. An appro- rriatlon of ISO.OOO should be made for he support of the game and game fish department. This would mean a sav ing of at least 150,000 per annum in thfls department alone. The usual lib erjal appropriation should be made tor thte support of the commercial fisher ies department. ! Department ef Forestry. X Th reduction 'of fire ions during the past rew years nas more man iuhuhou tle creation of th department of for estry. The state forester has perfected ai splendid organization whereby all in terested agencies are brought to co operate in forest protection and the cost is thus reduced to a minimum, if With a view of securing a more , equitable distribution of tax burdens, si fairly accurate cruise of standing limber has been5 made by the author ities in a number of our counties. In other counties the cruise has been made nnlv after a fashion and cannot be accepted as correct or exact. As tills information is much needed from time to time by both state ana county officials, it would appear most advis able to obtain, through the office of the. slate forester, a reliable cruise of 11 standing timber in the state. By Bhcktnar the information already se mi red by the counties, and that which may be received from other reliable tourcea, this work could be completed within a reasonable time and at a low tost. Data covering the government's holding could no doubt be ontatnea ram tne leaerai autnoniies ii aesireo. Oregon .rational auara. Through the passage of our military yOode. and the co-operation of the war department, the efficiency of the Ore gon National Guard nas Been greauy , Increased during the past few years. I have found the officers and men ready and willing at all. times to re spond to. duty. They! deserve great - rod it for the Sacrifices of time and money they are obliged to make in the Interest or the organization. . i Aa there is more or less obiection fo members of the Guard being called , pon to perform police -duty, it has been suggested that a state constab ulary be provided for. This suggestion can be met without additional expense '- If the recommendation as to reorgan isation of the fish and game commlg- tion is carried out.. In the interests of economy the of flee of the adjutant general should be Rioved to the capltoi and provision made at the Clackamas, rifle range for the storage of state and government supplies and equipment. i Havel Militia, S In the naval militia discord has riven wav to harmony. Increased ef fiencv has broueht recognition from the navy department land a splendid organisation is betng maintained, i An effort is-being made to have the navy department substitute the bat tleshlD Oregon" for the cruiser "Bos- , ton," now under lease 10 mis state as a training ship. Industrial Accident ' The last legislature . people approved by Commission. passed, and the large vote, a workmen s compensation act. AutO' matio workmen's compensation is a recognised principle la the Industrial life of the nation, and it is gratifying . that Oregon has placed itself in the -forefront through the enactment of -legislation of this character. The act. while making ample provision for the . wocking man and his family, relieves , the employer of onerous burdens and legal uncertainties. Experience will ' demonstrate the correctness of this theory .upon which such legislation Is . based. i - While the life of the act has been . short, it has been of sufficient length to develop its strength and uncover its . weaknesses. Every apparent defect will be seized upon as ammunition by the casualty . insurance Companies in their campaign of destruction. It. therefore, becomes the duty of those - who. would aid legitimate business and -extend protection to those who toil to Join hands hot only in withstanding . such assaults, but In supplying amend ments needed to insure! the stability of the act. - ! There are a few. among those who are still unwilling" to allow equal rights and opportunities to women, that question the advisability of nam ' ing a woman as a member of the com mission. The purpose of the act is to Insure relief to the wives and children of killed or injured workinrmen. and no one can be better qualified to carry out the true spirit and purpose of the law than a woman commissioner. State Architect. In the construction of tate build lngs It has been the ens torn, in years past, to employ architects and pay them the usual charge of 6 for their services. The state board of control believed, however, that it would be In the interest of economy to employ an architect at a fixed salary and have him devote his entire time to the state's interests. During the period the present state architect has been employed he has had charge of ninety t) Duiiaung projects entamng an ex penauure oi x,o,2S.ii. . The operating expense of the archl tect's office during the said period has been S42.457.9d, or just a little over 3 of the building expenditure. Under the ..old fee system the cost would have been $84,495.78. It will thus be seen that a saving of $22,037.79 has been made through this- board's policy of 'employing; and placing its architect upon a fiat salary. r .1 , mbuo mum. For nearly half a century the people have waged a continuous fight to de termine wnetner wis country nouia (IVERBURDENED CAREFUL NOR tbe Lowest Level Con Omnibus Bills Is a Reform have a government controlled by the railroads or 'railroads controlled by the government. The smoke of the battle is now clesring away and victory seems to perch; upon the banner of the people. In this State not onlv.tne ra.ilrna.dii. but practically every public utility has been placed under the control of our railroad commission. All disputed legal questions have been adiudicatad and as a rule the results have been favorable to the people. The railroads are becoming reconciled to the change and are showing a disposition to meet the new conditions. It is incumbent upon the people therefore to meet them way ana accora rair treatment, m During the last decade there have been passed in the United States about uuv eiaie ana national iaws having, to l04wJth the regulation of railroads and cjicnutns to aimost every a e tall there of. Wa, raa-n 1-fr. -a, ...... facilities, safety appliances, hours of labor, system of accounting and' the amount of their taxes. We leave them 1 but one unrestricted duty the duty of finding the money to pay the bills. J ine people's fight against the rail roads grew out of unjust treatment, discriminations and the piratical oper ations of those early In control. Tboso days are past, however, and so long aa the railroads show a disposition to per. form their true function that of ren dering the public adequate service at reasonable, rates and without discrim ination their problems and their needs should always receive courteous consideration at the bands of the peo ple. Such laws as may be needed from time to time to insure adequate con trol should be favored, but all "pin sticking" legislation, serving no useful purpose and tending only to create ad ditional burdens and expense, to be met in the end by the public, should be frowned upon. Our railroad commission has been performing a splendid service and has given close study to all matters having a bearing upon this great question. It would be well, therefore, if the said commission codld be given an oppor tunity to be heard and make recom mendation upon all measures of this nature presented for your considera tion. fciince its creation the railroad com mission of Oregon has been given many new duties, and Its name is aaraiy indicative ot the scope of its work. I would therefore recommend that its name be changed to that of "Public Utilities Commission." Boom xw. Although possessing a larrer amount of standing timber than any uiner state, we nave raiian in nrnv ! the legislation needed for the develop ment of our logging streams. Oregon nuuiu luuow tne example or other timbered states in the enactment of legislation of this character. The maintenance and operation of log booms is of a public nature, and their rates and service should be made sub ject to state regulation. Blue Sky XW. The "Blue Skv" law naaamd t th last session of the legislature has been in effect lon& enough to show its many non auiniraoie icatures ana aeveiop its numerous defects. It has driven from the state during Ita short lif wortmess securities to the amount or ou,uuu,vuv. The corporation commissioner baa this to say as to strengthening the law: If every comiunv. and wn A ma la in securities, file with tha cnrtiomtinn department a full and fair estimate of an tne material tacts regarding the proposition upon which the securities are, or are to be, based, and are re quired to use this statement as the basis upon which thehs representations restea. men iraua wm vanish, because it flourishes only in concealment and dies in the sunlirht of nnhHritv "Link to this prospectus feature the fraud section of the federal law, and proviae tnai any representation made Deyona tne recoraea representations of the prospectus is a miareDreaentation and punishable as such, and that the omission of a material fact, or its mis- eiaiement, comes, witnin tne same classification, and vou have the heart of a blue sky law. model in its sim plicity and undoubted In its effective ness. Provide also that any contract for, or sale of, securities, induced by such unlawful representation shall be voidable at the option of the purchaser, and that the sums paid may be re covered of the seller, and you have an added remedy for those who have suf fered because of the violation. , "With these two fundamental ideas aa. a groundwork, add a very few amendments to the general statutes as tney now exist, ana tne Oregon corpor ation law will be a model for other states to copy, as far as the protection-of investors is concerned. These amendments should go to capitalisa tion control, the control of the sale of what is popularly called "promotion stocK," ana, in tne organization of min ing corporations, to the acquisition of title to property claimed as a primary Step in the promotion of the company. "In the state of Ore eon todav. aside from the arbitrary restrictions of the corporation commissioner,' three men can capitalize a hope of the future for a million dollars, convey their hope to the company in exchange for Its stock, ana taae it run paia ana non-assess man who does not even possess credit at the grocer's can subscribe for a half million or stock ana serve as a princi pal agent in launching a comoany into active operation. That this is not good ousmess needs no argument. -l ne authorised capital stock of a company snouid re estimated on a basis or money needed for promotion ana aeveiooment. ana not on a foun dation of nebulous hope or rosy dreams ox Tuture vaiue. Wnen the bill carryinr the reeom mendation of the corporation commis sioner reaches your hands. I trust that it will receive that careful considera tion the importance of the subject de- manas. -Pnblio TJtiUty Stocks. The defrauding of thousands of small Investors- in tha - east throorh the sale of Inflated securities Issued by the New York. New Haven A Hart ford railroad company, has brought borne to us the necessity of throwing reasonaDie restrictions arouna the is suance of securities by public service corporations. The power ot these cor porations to Issue stocks and stock certificates, bonds, notes and other ev idences of indebtedness, and to create liens on their property situated within this state should be declared a special privilege and maae sucgect to regula' tlon bv the atata. . Such issues of securities should be permitted only for the acquisition of property or for th construction, com pletion, extension or improvement or maintenance of Its service, the dis charge or refunding of lawful obliga tions or for tha reimbursement of cer tain approved, expenditures from the treasury, and I am .- advised that measure alone- these lines will be sub- I I muted ton your consideration. , J i SUtUf XSWS. . . I The superintendent of banks has pointed oiik to vou wherein our bank- Ing laws heed strengthening. While g laws neea strengmeninK. n,ie i only a .few fundamental changes are i sary? necessary, the entire Banking act I should -be Rewritten in order that con- flicts between certain sections may Tje 1 removed and the meaning of others I placed beyond dispute. The superln-J tendent of banks has riven this Ques tion close studv and his recommenda tions will be embodied in a bill which will be introduced at this session. Should you see fit to follow his sug gestions, I feel safe in saying that Ore gon will be given. as effective bank ing laws as will be found in any state i Lou . Sharks, Our loan f shark law is not what it should be. and needs revising. Reform along this line Is greatly needed, as no one should .be permitted to capitalize the misfortune of others. Sural Credits. ., f.f n vt 1 w ml mmlSn to Acting under the authorlt: of the legislature of 1813. rnestig-at. thePrall systems of Europe, A splendid report, covering the I h fmtnii s.riiiv f jamst 1 nnn;M.;.nn i " .;:r mmit . consideration. A special committer made up of men deeply Interested in the subject has been appointed to draft a bill carrying the recommendations f the commission, and the same will in due time be submitted to you.- The the farmer.of Euront and Us adop- liZ. tfTni ILZXIZ.yFI JiLZS: ... - . . - i tion in this eountry will relieve our farmers of many burdens which come through excessive rates of Interest. Vaauu&a-Faetfle 7 air Commission. I am not in position to advise you concerning the activities of the Ore gon commission, as no report covering its progress tr expenditures has been made to this; office. Oreroa State rair. The members of the board having the conduct of this splendid institu tion, while not always the best of weather prophets, deserve a great deal of credit for the tireless and unselfish effort put forth to make the fair a success. TheiOregon State Fair is a fiermanent fixture and deserves to be iberallv suDDortcd. but many of the Improvements now being asked should be delayed until sucn time as tne tax payers are better able to bear the burden Stat Sanitary livestock Board. As the duties of this department are I performed by the state veterinarian, who appears to be rendering splendid service, the board should, in the inter, est of simplicity, efficiency and econ. omy, be abolished and the duties given over to tne said orriciai. i Stallion BaffUrtratloa Board. I and the duties given over to tha state veterinarian. 1 I State Board of Horticulture. is generally conceded that uri.r.j..l. mi,io horticultural laws are defective and need attention. I am advised that a so- Ciations and private individuals deeply I interested in the protection of our fruit industry will present to you a care-1 runy preparea Horticultural Dill, ana I I trust their recommendations will re- I ceive your thoughtful consideration. I Stats Horticultural society, I The State Horticultural society is a kind of vermiform appendix to the state board of horticulture, and Ca its use has never been discovered, should be removed. Pure Seeds Commission. This department earn into exist ence at the last session of the legie- lature. Before it starts to germinate I and draw nourishment from the pub-1 lie treasury, it should be merged into I some other department, I Sealer of Weights and Measures. I This is another department which should be taken in hand while yet in its infancy and led to a home with the railroad commission or the dairy and . ,i ,i..i .- bim tin ..i .....if,. rUOl OOmTlUtaiOn. The commission is no longer a public I necessity. . Its duties can well be per- formed by other public agencies hav-l it is folly to attempt to lead our ing control of the shipplnfr. I selves into thinkina that our Carey State Highway Department. The report of the highway engineer I covers in detail the activities and ex-1 penditures of the highway department, and I am sure you will find it both in- I teresting ana instructive. My short experience, as a member of the state highway commission, has con- vlnced me ; First That good roads are our I greatest need and no material develop- I ment can come without them. I Second Manv favor better roads, tnereiore, xor tne legislature to call a but few are willing to pay for them. halt. The desert land board should be Third That he who .undertakes the restrained from making- further ex ten construction of roads gets damned for sion on old reclamation contracts or the oost, but no credit ror his effort, Wood Block Paving. I Growth and prosperity dDend i-rr. lv nnon our suCcoho in ,7. resbwee ? and ax7lottin hlfml ST,r?I ffi ThffaM tli ws hkJ" wJ?X II? Sn , I HV Wi our borders such a large share of the world's timber should prompt us to mind for wood products. plTvemant- fir mnv TrurT Jfitt-- otlPiS ror many European, cities are made uvui nuuucw ui our lurwia, wa l can sea no reason vhv tha eamo m,t.rui, could not h. uspS to B-nn rt.V,.. wi at homt Uw.tht0 Vt 5?TS52S5! aging the use of wood blocks, it should become the policy of the state to fa vor their use when highways receiving efcVLV siu ui uoiu BUTllKSa Bureau of Mines and Geology. While this bureau has been render. ing a valuable service. I could think I'ter be undertaken by the federal gov it could be done awav faith and the I ernment. investigations conducted under the direction of the Department of Mines at the O. A. C State Engineer's Office. This department makes most inter esting reports, but irrigation projects built on paper have never been known to grow an air a. State Water Board. The law requires that the water com- missioners shall devote their whole time to tne a u ties or tneir office. Desert Xand Board Carey Act Projects Wit h a view of bringing about the reclamation of western arid lands, con- Bre in is yaaseu wnat is Known as the Carey act. By this act one million acres of such land were allotted to the state of Oregon upon condition that it provide for its reclamation and dis - pcsai in small tracts to actual settlers. The Carey act was accepted by our legislatuae in 1901. Our law provides that the state, through the desert land board, may enter into contracts with private parties or corporations for the rHcla.ma.fion of theaa lands rh, roiri concerns to secure their profits and be reimbursed for their 'outlay through a lien upon the 'lands. Tha first withdrawal in thai was made in April, 1902. Since thatlfron certain affected interests, which time, or during; a period of 14 years. I fact, coupled with a lack of time for temporary and permanent withdrawal Proper consideration, resulte in its de- aggregating ibu.uuo acres have been mitrt f wn l tti,r, am still viihJnn. for the purpose of reclamation 358,000 acres, but a little over 10 of this acreage nas oeen reclaimed in, such -a manner aa tn rntca nrrtinorv m irrlniil. tural crops, and but two small projects; gating the situation with the view of covering 1520 acres, have been fully ascertaining whether it would be pos and satisfactorily completed by the BtDl for the state to engage in -any A11 worlr linnn ihana fa rav a iects is at a standstill the promoters I recommend that a committee be ap being unable to finance them.- The I Pointed with authority to investigate situation is similar to tnat wnicn coo - fmntl mnat nf thattu. ntanri. anil is clearly set forth in a letter received ?jn Secretary j,r the Interior : unacr:oaw oi eoru&xy jt, lie a. , B 'UVW A.OAt i V -r TftJll 1 CtVKllleiQU that while some of the large private irrigation enterprises nave Deen sue- r-aQc, ,rrto..it,iiw .11 - pecially those requiring water storage! or otner extensive worKs. nave been rauures financially, owing to this fact, mr e,r luge auiouuu VI Dunas na stocks held by eastern and foreign in - vestors upon which the interest is de - faulted. Thus "there is, at this time, little hope of securing additional capi. tai ror similar investments. 'It appears therefore that no further large development can now-bo expected Unless It is Ca) by the use of publlo funds, slat or national, uoon which no profit or Interest is required, or t we use 01 lunai procurca of atton, i the case of irrigation -uistricis ana wnere also tne question ?' Prolu n interest in the "ci.i v; .v. "..T mf5Vrl ii T." """ " C'"'i'ca, r, wuiu..u.l, througrh the increased land values and tb productivity of the soiL" u-ooa su.on.ay wmmo, Oh Carey act concern, known as the old Columbia Southern Irrigation com pany, witn a Z7,oo-acre project or tne west side of the Descftutes, near Laid law, Or., after collecting thousands of dollars from prospective settlers, went completely, upon tne rocas. it was found tha while water rights cover- ing i9,is acres naa Been soia, oniy about 1000 acres ware beinar served. Much of the money collected through tne sale or water rights was expended upon the works, but was largely "utlJ-"tl rZ J 'n- tn ,i n iarL S S&V VK getnods nmerln an construction rnethods. Tn state, having permitted its name in state, navmg permit ta its name to be used in connection with the pro- motion of the project, carried a moral, not a legal, obligation to see that " completed and the land, fully WkgF reoo rt e avlrin. rtiilnw lQa legislature oy tne governor, anj "P0" nowm nuuie that it would prove a profitable venture, the sum of $450,000 was appropriated for the construction; of the works. With the exception of the diversion of a small mountain stream delayed on account f early snow the Tumalo on uucuniiL o I ji.riv innw rna 'inmaiA EroJeot " the cost hai ben kept within the appropriation inaae lor that purpose. The system opens for sale water for 17,464 acres, and the price has been fixed at 19 per acre. The sale of these water rights, therefore, will result in a neat profit to the taxpayers, as will be shown by the following statement ASSETS. 17.464 acras at S40 ....f 898,560.00 wter .... 6,017.89 Dae occopuot ef old vested ngnt $706,177.89. LIABILITIES Ami. spaced by state $450,000.00 Interest due tba state. Kl.104.aa. ' Old contract holders. ... 86.781.T1 Broken Top diversion , 9,616.00 673.382.87 Profit for the state , ..$131,795.63 The work on the Tumalo nroiect ha.si been under the Immediate direction of O. Laurgaard, project engineer. Hi technical knowledge, combined with his splendid executive ability, business sense and enerrv. has. elven tha sta.ta the best possible system In the short- est possible time and at the lowest possible oost. It was but 16 months ago that the funds for the Tumalo project became available. Organisa- uons naa to do penectea, surveys made, rights of way purchased or con- demned. dams and many miles of canai8 constructed, yet tha project stands completed today, ready to carry Vul vi . T V'J l ",,u f " i l" v. a" e " Jti WbH wi 'or worth Jteadng. uowicu wvi covering me work Pon .the . Tumalo project has Den rorwaraed to you and is worthy tsiTm cuHPiuciaugn, e- Pecially in view of the fact that this legislature will undoubtedly be called i: o"65"uuua uavins; a w'qT other iS&iXFtfirtn which like a Whtmarl come i? reS, Jili fetSS?ai tu'tLSi quiet of your otherwise complacent public officials. There are those who will oppose any movement to launch the state into ir rigation enterprises, holding: that it favors particular individuaia and enm- munitles. They overlook the fact. nowever, that the state Is not only reimbursed for every dollar expended. but receives interest upon its advances nf Profit besides; that by turning "f!" "tfajf ,lnri,5r?alicJlv. .Ilei02 fftiSVlif.0..1 fn.a i16,' "Ve",t- aevr may do to -develop her resources adds w uiv vivopvitj auu otppuin ui ncr Inlt1na and Wi thfnM 1n lrnii with thA l.pltlmftt. n nt Inns n f ..u. ernment. act projects will be completed by nri- vate capital. The only solution is state or federal aid. and the sooner we bring ourselves to realize this ract and face the problem squarely, the sooner wiu we nave tne agony over. Tne set- tiers upon a number of these unoom- pleted projects have been crying out in the wilderness, and the only answer nas oeen tne echo or their own cries softened by assurances from state and company officials. The time has come, entering into new ones ana snouid be airectea to reiinquisn to tne federal 5"vra.ra5nl " wiwmrawn om entry ana not covered Dy gus- factory contraots. The foregoing rec- ommendations. if followed, would re- "eve the state of a large number of projects now upon its hands. Tne predicament in wnich we find ourselv thls time is due largely to an unbridaled desire upon the part nf h. KtatA i.r t hiM inwMa the nrestim of hl rir,art. I increase tne presuge or nis aepart- I meBt Ane more projects, gooa or bad, he can.get upon the list the more bJsT- ness his department will appear to be aoing. too state tnererore appropri ates year alter year large sums to carry alone; and compile voluminous reports covering tne progress, or rath er lack of progress, of these "hot air" irrigation schemes, which would bet The desert land board, which ha control of Carey act projects, consists of the governor, secretary of state. state treasurer, attorney general and state engineer. This department should be abolished and the duties assigned to the state land board. The demands upon the clerk of the latter board grow less as land sales fall off and these new duties could be taken over J without any great Inconvenience. fcihould the state land board find need of legal or engineering advice, that of the attorney general and the state en- I glneer will still be available. Insurance Department. A report from the insurance co mm la I sioner came recently as a welcnma via. J itor, for it carried the news not only of increased revenues, but what was 1 most remarkable, decreased expenses. Realizing that our insurance laws were greatly in need of revision, this office appointed in 1912 a special com- mittee to Investigate our requirements 1 this direction and draft an entire insurance code to be submitted to the legislature. This committee was made up of representative citizens of I hiSn standing and well qualified for I the duty assigned them. The measure VMn suDmuiea DruUKaO ooDomuon I "at. if. ww u euuimuea, euner I IE wnoie or in dui. si mis eeasiun. TJ vst ums which leave the state I each year for insurance premiums, and 1 luo vruu; " uuwuew, I seem to juauiy our caretuiir invesil- I inr to its citizens. I would therefore l1"" -r u iuuw w cyui v tC next legislature.. ' LTh? duty 5 expertfeer the books of the state county MhOlnm I yvAxw ia.usi i i 1 - -v . ; ; -.. - - . I oped the fact that while county affairs 1 ?' , j -.""-' I business methods and poor accounting eystem J?BU.UJ1? w8 ,a.1d xt?va: I ? vil . i J. T """B"' I puwitur, iiubci, w mwn " ""' " - 1 Bmergeaey Board. 1 1 The emergency board is composed of I the ' state board, the president of the senate, speaker of the house and the chairman of the two ways and means oommittees. . The legislature has at I temnted to a-ive this board Mmf in ' authorize expenditures and tha Issu RETIRING GOVERNOR OF Oswald ance of certificates of indebtedness to cover. Such authority being equivalent to the power to appropriate money, be longs solely to the legislature and cannot be delegated. The emergency board as a. rule simply follows the rec ommendations of the state board and serves no useful purpose other than to furnish a convenient place to shift re sponsibility when it Is desired to ex ceed legislative appropriations. Buch board should be abolished. If It la desirable to throw restrictions around the incurring of deficiencies by the different departments, . the power ahould be placed in the hands of tbe state board of control, which is now largely responsible for the conduct of the business end of the state's affairs. Our institutions of higher education are dependent on a millage tax for most of their appropriations and a similar policy should be adopted as to the balance in order that they may be placed absolutely upon a permanent basis and relieved of the necessity of coming to the legislature for support. At one time I was of the opinion that the several boards of regents of these institutions should be consoli dated. Close touch with their affairs. however, has convinced me beyond a doubt that the existing policy of hav ing separate Doaras is souna ana makes for the best results. , State Census. Section B of article IV of the con- stitution provides: "Tne legislative assembly snail, in the year 1865, and every 10 years af ter, cause an enumeration to be made of all the white population "ef tbe state." - Section 3736 of Lord's Oregon Laws provides: "It shall be tbe duty of the assessors Of the several counties of the state. at tne time or assessing tneir respect ive counties for the year 1865. and every 10 years thereafter, to take an enumeration of the Inhabitants and Industrial products of the same. Sections 3743-4 Of Lord's Oregon Laws provide that when said state census s tanen an enroument snail be made of all able-bodied persons liable to military duty. inasmucn as tne ieaerai census is taken every 10 years, the taking of a state census is a useless expenditure of money and both the constitutional provision and the laws providing there for, should be repealed. Should the enrollment ox tnose uaoie to military duty become necessary at any time, it can be done through authority given the governor by section 3745 of the code. Department of Taxation. This department has control over the assessment i of tbe properties of tbe common carriers of tbe state and by its errort sucn properties nave been brought to bear their just share of tax- atlon. Through its close cooperation with the assessors of the several coun ties it has done much to strengthen our laws ana improve conditions in reference to assessment ana taxation. Little or no progress cap be made in the direction of tax reform unless amendments eliminating the old eaualits" and "uniformity" provisions of our constitution are adopted. Strange as it may seem, these words defeat the very purpose tney were ex n acred to serve. The manv tax amend ments submitted to the voters during the last few years nave maae it impos sible to a raw puDiic attention to our real needs in this direction. Such changes aa will permit a reasonable classification of subjects and taxation by "uniform rules" are necessary. This rerorm nas reacnea many states ana has the indorsement of experts en tax ation throughout the land. The changes suggested are as rouows: PRESENT SECTION. - No tax or duty shall be Imposed without th consent ef the oeosle or their reora- entatives la the legiaUUTe assembly) sad au taxation sbau ca equal ana aniiocav PBOPOSED AJtENDMEAT. lie tix or datr slum be Imposed without the consent of the people er tbelr fenre- sentstiree in tM legislative aaaambly. Taxes BhaU bee levied and collected under - toe cea- eral law and for public purposes only; the power ox taxation soau never ne aarreaaerea. suspenaea or conirartea cwiy. Section i, Article ia, or vrregoa: PRESENT SECTION. ; Tbe Iesisatlve assembly shall provide by law ror uniform ana equai rsvs oi assess ment and taxation; nd shall prescribe sach rea-ulations as shall ser-jre a Inst valuation for taxation of all property, both real and personal, excepting such only for tnnnlclnal. educational, literary, scientific, religious or charitable purposes, as may be specially ex- emptea-oy law. PROPOSED AMENDMENT. The . legislative assembly shall, and " the people throorh the lnitlaUra- may. provide by law uniform rales ef assessment and tax. atloo. Taxes shall be levied on seen sub iecta and la Bach manner as shall be pre scribed fey general law. Seasonable classi fications of the subjects ef taxattosi -may be prwTided ana specuic taxes may ee imposea. Taxes may be imposed on tneom"S'Trora what ever, source or sources derived; sack taxes may be either proportional or graduated ad progressire, ana reasonable exeinpttoaa -may be provided. -j 1 . ' -".. - As a check to extravagance in state. county- ana municipal - government some constitutional limitation upon taxation should be adopted. A plan suggested, and which seems to carry merit, is that taxes levied by any polit ical subdivision shall not exceed those of the preceding year by more than, say 6 per cent, and that ao increaso THE STATE OF OREGON Oopyrifbt by ZtasMtt Wkalte,. West. beyond the said limit must be ratified by a referendum vote within the politi cal subdivision concerned, -Untaxed Timber. By an act of congress slipped through a few years ago. a railroad company was given the privilege of surrendering a large acreage of worth less lands within the boundaries of the Olympic National park, in the state of Washington, and the right to select In lieu thereof from the public domain a like acreage of -surveyed or unsurveyed lands. This right has been largely ex ercised and within the borders of our State. ' Thousands of acres of magnificent timber land, unsurveyed and therefore not open to settlement or purchase by frirate Individuals, have been taken by he railroad through the filing of said forest reserve scrip. Being unsurveyed and unpatented, these lands are not listed for taxation. An endeavor should be made to locate all such selections and" if it is found that they cannot be defeated, surveys should be eemapdea in order that patents may issue and tne lanas listed for taxation. Conservation of Our Xesouroes. I wish to call your particular at tentioc to the splendid report recently issued oy tne uregon conservation com mission. The report brlnars home to our citisens a world of valuable infor mation and orfers food ror thought to those who would Interest themselves in the questions which make for the protection ana development ox our vast resources. Oregon is aeepiy interested in tne conservation question. The large land holdings of the federal government and its attempt to control our undeveloped water power, through an alleged ripa rian ownership, make it imperative that we concern ourselves at all tiroes In those movements which have to do with the molding of governmental ac tion along tnese lines. Oregon stands as the champion of a policy of conservation which, while making for the early development of our resources, will throw every safe guard around these great mrtnrignis of the people. While we . are ever fighting to cut our way through red tape entanglements at Washington and WHEN day after day you f have felt your strength slowly ebbing anddaybydaj grown more discouraged at your failure to get relief from "tonici" and "bracers" it is tut natural that you look with scepticism upon Sanatogen's claims, and ask yourself "Will it really give me back my strength?" j f Fine words cad ncrer convince you but what of the overwhelming fact that lies back of Sanatogen the miritten commendation of ovet 21,000 physiciant? ' ; - Any of them all of themwould doubtless tell you that Sanatogen ras help you veill help you. For already they have written us how, watching cast after case, they iseeo that " A irVl r If for Elbert Hubbard' new his shrewd- philosophy together with reminder to address THE BAUER open the door to -legitimate endeavor, we have always opposed the encroach ments ox tne semsn interests. ' There are representatves of organ Ud 1 greed and monopoly who oppose every - conservation . movement: - their sole desire being freedom to loot the public domain. . To accomplish thSs en thev desira to seize everv ODbortunltv to -poison -the mind of; the public against-the policies of the federal gov ernment. A favorite method of at tack is through he charge that the government has a large : acreage of agricultural land locked up in its for est reserves, and that settlers are thus deprived of an opportunity to secure homes, and the development: of the state is greatly retarded. This same cry resulted in restoring to entry in 1901 something over 705.00 acres In the 'Olympic National forest, in th state of Washington. Notwith standing the statements that this land was free rrom timber ana sunaoie ror. tgricultural purposes, within 10 years 26,500 acres drifted into the hands of timber barons who had found the lands j covered with valuable timber. Over 171,000 acres were included in five holdings, and one man owned 81,430 acres. Of the entire acreage eliminated from the reserve, but little over 600 acres, or one-tenth of lfv of the elim inated area, appear to be under culti vation. This incident teaches us that we should be wary Of the cry of the wolf. While lending akl to every legit imate movement wnich will make for progress and development, we should not be fooled Into opening the door to the land pirates. Timber Xesouroes. Oregon has within her boundaries 541,800,000.000 feet (board measure) of standing timber, or about one-fifth of the timber supply of the United States. Two-thirds or this timber is held in private ownership the balance by the federal government. About 85,000,00, 000 feet of the said privately owned timber was at one time owned by the state, being part of her land grant, A 'careful study -of past events and tbe records discloses: 1. That had not tbe federal govern ment through the creation of forest re serves withdrawn certain of K lands from entry practically every acre of surveved timber land in this state would by this time have passed .into private ownership. 2. That the lands now in private ownership are rapidly passing from the hands of the original entrymen and small holders into the hands of a few Dowerful timber operatorswhoeje aim is to control the timber supply of the United States. The timber records ror tne pacirio northwest show a little over ZZc; uf the privately owneo timber to be in tne hands of three corporations. They also show that a little over 50 of this timber is owned by a group of 39 howlers. The Southern Faclrio company (through the O. & C. B. R. land grant now in litigation) claims owxiersmy to 71.000.000.000 feet of timber n this state and . the Weyerhaeuser Timber company owns 18,700,000.000 feet. At the rate of cutting which has prevailed d urine reoent vears thesa two holdinrs could supply the 46,600 sawmills in the United States for four and one-half years, and all of the sawmills in Ore gon, -Washington and California for nearly. 30 years. The acreawce of the privately owned timber in this state ts distributed as follows I Southern Pacific, Co - SOOtber holders (averaging 66,68 eaeb).. . 78 Other Leiden arrcracin SS.ooo each).. r tn Other bolder (avarasing 6,87ft Men).. lit uiuw Doiaars ia,-rKiDS rarnf.. r21 Other holders (crsging 1.O08 each).. . .905 Other holders (STeragios eaeb).. 13,186 Other holders (averaging. . 128 each) 18,068 ToUl The" above holders are classified as to residence as follows: Residing vpoa tbe snd t. 88 Residents of the state bnt not epea land.63tiT Non-residents 8AS7 Addresses unknown ..S108 Total 16,968 It will be noted that a single holder controls 22.6 of the timber acreage; 81 holders control 4294; and 108 hold ers control over 68. The foreet re serve holdings of the federal govern ment in this state amount to over 13, 600,000 acres, but perhaps not to ex ceed one-half of this aereage . carries merchantable timber. State ts. rederal Control of Our Water Power. Oregon has within her borders un developed water power to the extent of over 8,000,000 horsepower, or ten times the developed power at Niagara Falls. We are therefore deeply interested 4n the question as to who shall control developmentthe state or tbe nation. The-question is of particular Interest at this time, as there is a bill now before congress authorising the secre tary of the Interior to lease, for power site purposes, and rights of way for pipe and transmission lines, lands in national forests which control many of our great power possibilities. That the waters of a stream, as to their appropriation and application to wo I Over 21,000 PhyTsicians would answer "Yes" Sanatogen rebuilds impoverished nerve cells, enriches the blood, regenerates -digestion and uplifts and re-en force the entire system. And when with that yotf couple tha grateful KWIHWIiJ w UIV HUH ; of people who have re ceived a new Joy in living from Sanato gea's beneficial aid. -the conciusioa is ioev-ttable--Sanatogen uaill give you back your ; strengthJ : ;.. ,iv Sanatogenissoldbygood druggists everywhere ia inree sues, rrom sues 47rod FUm Irtftrmaticmat CongrtM of Medicine, London, ISO (0) 00A "Healths in the Making." Written capital advice on Sanatogen, health and contentment. It ts free. Tear this 08 aa a CHEMICAL CO., 30 U living P,ce New York a ben-flial awe. ureiubect to etale juristUction no eat rra seriously deny.. In faurt, state Jurlsdictte 4 recegaiaed by the federal government and com- plianee evlth state laws govern rag the appreprlsxion of water Is imposed , a a ceaditien precedent to the lease of kgove - TmentJlad e be -Hted im ron- section with the development of , water power. The position ef the advocates ef frovernsecnt control is wen anated by President Taft n a SaesasLge to con gress ra relation ta the vovrservetlon of our natural - resources.!. The president said : -; - - . .- . . "With respecC to the public land:, whicfa ties aXvrur Che etreasna eferng opportunity tti convert - water power into traasm3seilVe avleotrtcUy. another Important phase ef t pabao land queetion ia presented. There are valu able water power elites thrcragri all the public land -states. - The opinion is held that the transfer of sovereignty from the federal government to the territo- ' rial rsvertaments me titer became states included tbe watr power ia the rivers, except so far as that owned bv ripa rian proprietors. i do not , think it, ntoenuy to ee into a 4tseseien of this sMxavewhsit sated eekgin of Jaw. It seems to me sufficient te say tnat the man who owns and controls the land along the stream freta wieh the power is to te oenrerted aod trams mitxeu, nni una wnicn is ineuapenea ble to the conversion and use of that " power. I eaaskot oneetve how' we power-in otrearns flowing through the' public lands caa be raad available at an except by using the land itself as . the -site for (fee enstnetaon of ; the plant by which the pewer is Generated and converted and securing a right of way thereover for transmission lines. :. Under theee conditions, if the govern- -meat owns the -adjaeeat land- ladeed, if ike jrovernment is the riparian own er it may control the use ot the water newer ttv hwooetmer rondittene e the disposition ef the iand necessary in the - creation ana utilisation ox tua water power- Congress, through the desert land - act ef March 1, 1877, declared that tne waters or sui lakes, rivers ana other sources of water supply upon the - i ptiiylle lands, and not navigable, aba 11 remain and oe 2eia free for the appru- . priatioB and bse wf the pablic for irri gation, mining and raanutacturing pur- -poses, subject to existing rights?" It is admitted by those who insist upon government control that such control or saperticios can oe exereieta -only threus;h Umitationa Imposed upor. the dieposmi of power sites upon t fee public lands, for tbe waters of streams ss to their appropriation and applica- . tion to a beneficial use are subject t . state Jurisdiction. The advocates ef state eon trot eon tend that this is an arbitrary exereiee of power upon the part of the federal government: that up to the point- of controlling navigation the state Is sev- , erelgn In all matters pertaining to the control of the waters within its bor , dere; that the federal government In its ownership of public lands within - the state stands a e "proprietor" aad -not'ae a "sovereign," and that in leacv. ing its lands for power house and dam sites, rights of way for pipe and trans mission tines the government ta enti tled to the same consideration .a A compensation, and no more, a is any . other land owners. " -i. l; : - . The bill (Ferris) now before , con- , gress Is a prod action of Secretary of tbe Interior lan. Tn drafting this measure he has evidently tried. In the . ACHES. ,0(10,000 1.S20.000 wsaopo . 8T2.000 60,eWH T4.Or0 l.S2,OM - ro.m.ooe : Z, 300,000 1.n .....!', .... -S 6.6 .3V. . ....iaa too X2A interest of progress and development, to reconcile the differences, between the east and west upon this great sub lect, lie bes tried to satisfy the eaDt by recognising tbe government's right to control, aa heretofore stated, and the west by aiding development, -and sharing the revenues.: While our water-power Is fully protected by our effective state laws,- we have an In terest in the Ferris . Mil because) Its aim is to remove many of those federal obstacles which have ao long stood- 1 a the way of power development. Community Walls. ,- - One of tbe greatest drawbacks to the settlement of the vacant lands in many of the arid and non-lni gated section of the state Is the lack of water fdc domestic purposes. Owing to the depth the settler must go in order to get water, and the great cost attached thereto, the sinking of a well is usually out of the question. - Water, therefore, must be hauled of ten manv miles. Farm life cannot be made at tractive under these conditions, and .t is tbe duty ef the state to meet the situation and offer some relief. - - Provision should be made for the drilling, of wells at such points as wilt best serve communities. By thus plac lag an adequate domestic water supply (Continued on Page Seventeen.) . CLHmryWm Th) f assess BdKa arrilesi. , .. .. "Ilccllews ft is tratk to tuts Out I hsT tMHa atanwslitrUlotSra.t-. aa4 Out 1 hat Inad it mX eftcadou, ttaak I catdd hava a eaaarae ar vttsUir, as 1 bas ItM miOvoat aoaUr apaa tha aMa tw raas ss4 lil'l ap. IC In his attractive manner and filled with 'I ...... jissw;'jaeaf ; ( !' ' 1 "! 'V