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THE OREGON STATESMAN, SALEM, OREGON T
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TUESDAY, MORNlNGJAKUARY.il 1037,.,
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and direct it into the proper channels. . In brief, they
determine in Jarge measure the mental, and ? moral
character of our citizenship. From the public schools of
our k country have come our leaders, our ; great men.
thork who have left footprints on the sands of time.
Our) public schools have been our salvation in the past.
Thy are the star of hope for the future.
f OREGON AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
rpE Oregon Agricultural College stands at the head
J- Of land grant colleges in the United States. For
twcfbty years no educational institution has had more
able! management. The entire state has been benefited
vastly improved through its activities.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
OUR state university at Eugene is one of the great
educational institutions of America, made so largely
by the leadership of its late president. Under new
management its power and influence should continue.
. NORMAL SCHOOLS
OUR normal school at Monmouth has 1,000 students.
This i3 a very fine institution for the training of
grade teachers. In order to provide needed buildings
and equipment, more money must be given for this
institution than is collected by the millage tax. I recom
mend the full appropriation that was approved by the
budget commission.
The new normal school at Ashland has exceeded
the anticipation of its friends, and new buildings and
equipment are necessary.
The new normal school located at La Grande should
have an appropriation of at least $175,000 for the con
struction of the necessary buildings. These normal
schools are necessary to train properly the teachers who
work so faithfully in the grades with the thousands of P:
future citizens of our country.
STATPT'T.TOPAPv'
THE importance andTalueof the state ubrajy, is
equaled only by the common grade schools. It is .
reaching, helping, assisting and inspiring thousands
of people in home and communities isolated and distant
from the educational centers of the state. I recommend
the full appropriation approved by the budget commis
sion for this deserving and valuable state activity.
WOMEN IN PUBLIC LIFE
SINCE women have been given the privilege of jvot
ing, and have taken their places in various vocations
in the business world, I have; watched with deepi in
terest the ability displayed by those who have been
placed in charge of important functions of govern
ment. I wish to testify that my observations are that '
they have made good, and! know of no position in" the
affairs of state government that a woman cannot; fill
creditably; provided she has the proper training land
peculiar qualifications for the work. There are several
outstanding Examples that may-be seen by calmly and
impartially appraising the work performed by women
of Oregon, i. e., secretary of the state fair board, (dis
trict judge, superintendent of the girls' training
school, regents of the university and agricultural Icol
lege, and state librarian. No quixotic spirit of gal
lantry is needed to commend them for their loyal ser
vice to the state. Simple justice dictates that we; ac
cord to them our sincere appreciation and thanks for
their loyal, unfaltering devotion to duty ; for their ever
present sense of responsibility, and for the able, effi
cient manner in which they have acquitted themselves
in managing the various departments of state.
For. four years my every official act has been con-
trolled by my earnest desire, to '"do that "which was best
fgj; all; the people. Fear of opponent, friendship, or '
hopje of reward have in no way swayed me or affected
my , decisions. Bitter and unjust criticism has been
the cause of much wjorry and many headaches, but has
in no way affected my official course. I faced threat of
recall because I would not bow to a powerful group that
demanded certain action from me. I knew at the time
that their full power and strength would be used to
prevent my reelection.: I felt their effectiveness in the
campaign just closed. In my inner consciousness I
knew I was right, and I held for the verdict of the.
future.
I believe that in the years to come my administra
tion will be given credit
For arousing interest in hydro-electric develop
ment; .
For an earnest effort to bring about a state refor
estation program ;
For beginning the movement to collect the money
necessary for state activities from sources other than
a tax on visible property ; i. ., -
For arousing the -people to the necessity for more
equitable assessment laws;
For creating public sentiment for law enforcement,
including prohibition;
For changing the policy in regard to guaranteeing
interest on irrigation bonds and the use of state credit;
For initiating a program that will eventually make
the penitentiary self-supporting;
For changing the highway program from a bonding
policy to a "pay-as-you-go" plan ;
For changing road construction from "black-top"
to oiled macadams, and
For an active, earnest interest in all matters per
taining to education.
I am laying dowmy3rk governor of this state
withlli will toward: npn4lth friendship jftr'ftll?'' I
again reaffirm my. ffith. in American institutions. I
am grateful for the opportunity to live in this won
drous age of human activity, in a country .of which, we
are all a, part; and parcel, reaching, from .ocean to
shining ocean, using one language of ; practically one,
religion, with free public schools and libraries every
where, without tariff walls at state boundaries, and
with modern means for the transportation of freight
and intelligence that are the marvel of all the centuries.
1 extend to my successor the kindliest of greetings.
It is my sincere hope that his administration may
be as successful as I believe the future historian will
proclaim mine to have been. Let me close my mes
sage, to you, and the final moment of my term, as
governor of Oregon, with these thoughts : V ; V ,
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. I bold that mairf alone ' $ncce&ds, ; t t
' Whose" life is" crowned "by hoMe' Heeds,
Who cares not for the worYcrVppiatis& ' " ' "
Who feels not- dwarfed by na show, " '
But deep within himself dofh know j
That conscious man is greater far. "r . - . .- !
- Than ocean, land or distant star; - ,
Who does notcount his wealth by gold, ' " '
His worth by office he may. hold, " '
But-feels himself, as man alone, " :
As'good as king upon a throne;' - -'"' ;
Who, battling 'gainst each seeming wrong",
Can meet disaster with a song,
Feel sure of victory in defeat, , " - , ; -
. And rise refreshed the foe to meet, '. '
Who only lives the world to bless, " - : , ..
: . Can never fail he is. Success!- t i
v-
Governor Patterson Favors
"Strengthening,
Stabilizing and Imp
Am
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE)
Gentlemen of the State Senate and House of
Representatives:
YOU have been favored with the able presentation of
the message of Governor Pierce, in which he has
riven you the benefit of information he has assembled
A 4d convictions he has derived from his wealth of
hAriAnna oo ovnmit lira r f rvi-i afofa TTio irdrrrr
Vidations deserve our careful consideration, because
tnfy reflect a wide acquaintance with all the affairs of
state and a thoughtful study of the problems of
government.
As his successor, I can not make a contribution from
experience so broad and comprehensive, but in accor
dance with the command of the Constitution of the
State of Oregon it is my duty and ray pleasure to
present for your consideration a brief statement recom
mending measures and policies which, I believe, will
make for the best interests of the state and the
increased prosperity of Tier people. '"
.1 appreciate .very sincerely the honor which has
i?ccn conferred upon me by my election as Governor of
egon. I Yeel, however, that my election does not, in
any way, represent a personal tribute, but that it has
resulted from the demand of a majority of the voters of
the state for a sound, economical, efficient administra
tion of the work of the state an administration -founded
on business principles and performed in a
businesslike way.
You, gentlemen of the Thirty-fourth Legislative
Assembly, were elected to the offices you hold as a
result of the, same desire for economy and efficiency
which. directed the votes of the electors on November 2.
Your presence here demonstrates the fact, that the
1 eople of, your districts trust you to carry out such a
program. Your election and mine entail ,p definite
mandate from the people a mandate for carefully
considered, thoughtful legislation, aiming at economy
effected by the only possible means : namely, a reduc
tion, through efficient management, of the cost of
government. I hope we may work together effectively
and conscientiously throughout this session to dis
charge the responsibility which the people of 'the state
have placed upon us.
Oregon has, through its stae constitution and
through the action of successive legislative assemblies,
provided a body of laws which safeguards the rights of
its citizens and which provides an adequate and effi
cient organization for the conduct of the business of
the state. Legislation which finds a place in our stat
utes should embody fundamental principles and per
manent values. Laws which apply only to temporary
emergencies or local contingencies or which attempt
f to regulate in too great detail the activities of the state
may tend to become restrictive rather than protective
in nature. They may entail 'for their proper enforce
ment an organization so elaborate as to become. in
itself a burden. To my mind, therefore, the legislative
assembly now convening should concern itself pri
marily with strengthening, stabilizing, clarifying and
improving the body of laws now in existence in Oregon,
adding to them only such additional statutes as prove
themselves to be of urgent present need and assured
perm; cnt worth.
; TAXATION V
NO matter is of greater public concern than the laws
re-rnlating the levy and collection of taxes. . Our
present law is based an the theory, that all property,
whether real or personal, should be assessed at its
yial value. Personal property which, by law, assess
''ing officers are required to assess, has, -however, car
ried only a small portion of the tax burden of the state. "
As a result of public opinion of such long standing as
to establish a tradition, some icrsQnal . property has
escaped assessment and much has been given a low
valuation. j ' ?
If the assessment and taxation laws as they now
stand in our ctatutes, were fully and, fairly enforced,
as the ihould bo enforced, and if the KMsMng.officera
of the state were supported by public opinion tin plac-
ing a just and proper valuation on personal property,
much . would be accomplished toward equalizing the
burden which now falls too'heavily on real property.
The Thirty-third Legislative Assembly provided for
a committee to study the questions of assessment and
taxation, with a view to finding new sources of reve
nue and a fairer distribution of the tax burden. The
report of this committee has not been in my hands for
a sufficient length of time to permit me to assimilate
properly the information it contains. I hesitate, there
fore, to offer any recommendations until the members
of your body, as well as myself, shall have had the full
benefit which will be derived from a careful study; of
the report of the committee. I may take occasion to
advise with you again, later in the session, on the
question of tax legislation.
Careful consideration may prove that some amend
ments and additions to our present tax laws would
operate beneficially; but I repeat my former assertion
that the assessing officers of the state should, in ho
way, be released from their present duty fully and
fairly to enforce the laws which now exist and which
may be enacted, to the end that all personal property
shall contribute to the public revenue on a basis pro
portionate to the demands Jrnposed on real property.
BUDGET OFFICER
. j
IN our national government, ,he President is the
budget-making officer Eikewise, in many states of
the Union the Governor is the budget-making official.
Under the laws of Oregon," the Governor now has the
power to veto any appropriation made by the legisla
ture, or any single item in any appropriation bill. I
believe, therefore, that it is a logical delegation of
responsibility to constitute the Governor the budgetj
making official for this state. This would place under
his supervision the work of drafting the budgets fop
the various state departments and institutions, which
is now carried on under the direction of the Board of
Controj. In this way the Governor would assume the
sole responsibility for state expenditures a responsi-l
bilijty which could be diverted only byl,the over-ridingi
of ,his,veto by a two-thirds vote of the two houses of
the legislature.
In the housing of the wards of the state and in the i
custody )f the delinquents and criminals, careful atten-1
tion should be given to the visualization of these, re- 1
quirements for a definite future period. These antici
pated heeds should be ascertained and construction so
timed and the cost thereof equitably distributed over
the period that the burden may not fall heavily upon
the taxpayers during any one year-or biennium.
Budgets for all tax-levying bodies should be made
with reference to a well-considered program covering
a period of years, and not as though alt of the improve
ments required in the state should be provided for in
a single year. Appropriations made at each biennial
session of the legislature should be made only as a part
of such general program. As an example of appropria
tions made without their relation to a carefully devel
oped state program, your body, at each session, is con
fronted with, a demand for armories from various sec
tions of the state. A definite program for the erection
of armories in the' state would be a step toward
economy and efficiency; . At the present time, each
locality whicK desires a new armory conducts its own
campaign, and each application is considered on its
individual merits, regardless of . the needs existing in
other communities. My suggestion is that a survey
shall be "made by the military authorities of the state,'
who shall consider the merits of the claims of cities
petitioning for the erection of new armories in their
proper5 relation to the requiremepts of the whole state.
The different locations should be ranked in the order
of the urgency of the state's needs. A future building
program could then be shaped to care first for the most
.immediate and present needs, and to give consideration
to the other cities in fair order, to the extent of the
"funds available for the construction of armories. .
CENTRAL PURCHASING AGENCY
T HE State Board of Control now purchases all sup
plies for the state hospitals, the penitentiary, 'and
a number of Mother state institutions. The Institutions
of higher learning, however, and a majority of the state
officers, boards and commissions, purchase separately
all supplies, furnishings and equipment. I am 'advised
that a cursory examination of the prices paid for stand
ard articles now used by the various state activities
in many instances reveals a wide discrepancy.
Experience has proved that those institutions and
activities of the state now required to purchase their
supplies through the Board of Control do so to the
financial advantage of the state. I, therefore, urge the
enactment of a law which shall authorize the cen
tralization of all such purchases within the existing
Board of Control, already effectively functioning, or in
a body to supplant that agency with broadened powers
and duties. I believe such a policy will result in a
material financial benefit to the state, through the
application of the same wisdom in the conduct of state
affairs as any private corporation accords to the con
duct of its business. Centralization, in .this instance,
will npt embarrass or materially restrict any of the
state functions now existing under the law, and will
prove logical and desirable in the interests of efficiency
and economy. m
SELF-SUSTAINING ACTIVITIES
REALIZING that a multitude of funds not only
added to the complexity of the state's finances but
permitted available moneys to lie idle, while, for the
functioning of some of its activities the state was, in
effect, compelled to pay interest on borrowed moneys,
the 1915 session of the legislature enacted a law divert
ing into the general fund all moneys collected for state
purposes by state and county officer, with the excep
tion of such moneys as are paid into the state treasury
for fiduciary purposes or required by law to be placed to
the credit of certain trust funds.
While the operation of this law at various times has
relieved the state of paying interest on general fund
warrants, further benefit, I am convinced, may accrue
to the state by directing that a proportion of the moneys
rso paid into the state treasury shall become-apart of
the general fund, of the state and available for the pay
ment of the general expenses of the state. In the admin
istration of the laws imposing licenses or other, fees,
and in the operation of the activities for whose bene
fit such moneys may be used, the state is put to a con
siderable expense for service, for, which it receives no
remuneration. The cost of this service is absorbed or
included in the expenses of those functions and activ
ities of the state which are "supported by legislative
appropriations from the general fund revenues. It
would seem reasonable and logical, therefore, that the
state should be reimbursed for additional outlays in
connection with the functioning of such of the activi
ties of the state as are maintained from such receipts.
Action of this kind on the part of the legislative
body will not embarrass or curtail the activities of any
such state functions, but, by the diversion of a small
portion of such receipts, will contribute to that neces
sary financial relief now so important, and will, in a
measure, aid in relieving the state ;o an existing
deficit ; . , ,
, A. bill was. submitted to the people at the general
..election of November 2, 1926, providing for the pay
ment of a portion of the fees, licensessand taxes, col
lected by the state into the general fund. It failed of
approval, I am convinced, from lack of a proper con
ception of its purposes, and because of the high per
centage of receipts required.
4 Your careful and serious attention is directed to
this proposal, to. the end that the finances of the state
may, be improve&.without embarrassment or hindrance
to any of the existing functions of government, or
without increasing any fees, licenses and taxes imposed
an dt collected under the existing laws of the state. In
this way no duties will be imposed oh any department
of state without remuneration.
BRANCH OFFICES
1AM not sure that the interests of the state are being
.. best .erved by having maintained in Portland
branch or separate taic departments, but If it is neces
sary, as shown by proper investigation, to maintain
such state activities tn Portland, they should, In the
not function
interest oiTecMbmy and pjiblic ;conyehienc'iMihed
to one buildliig or to fewer buildings than "are now
occupied. The State Board of Control should have
authority to contract for all space leased to houpe state
departments,.
PENITENTIARY
A PUBLIC or nrivate institution' can:l
efficiently unless its administrative- officers have
a reasonable degree of security .and permanence "of
tenure. We have witnessed the appointment and" re
moval of six wardens at the state; penitentiary within
a period of six years. No private business could pros
per with an annual change of management, no matler
how able the managers. 1 j- -; -.:
Tn the interests of economy and efficiency, -I 'ask
. that yoii place the state penitentiary under the direc
tion of the Board of Control, which now has' the man
agement of other state institutions. I advocate this
policy to the end that' the management of the "state
"penitenliary may be 'removed1 f rom "politics ; that the
tenure of its administrative officers may depend sole)y
On, merit, and that efficiency may be the only corisidera-
ion.
, crowded : that . the
tion in the conduct of this institut
' " : --f
The penitentiary is now sot
prisoners can not be properly j segregated, and, as . a
result, young men who have been, committed for their
first offense against the law are in close and constant
contact with hardened and habitual offenders. Ayhn
the boys' training school near Woodburn is. finished
and the present property near Salem now used by. th
training school is no longer needed for the purpose ,fpr
which it . was acquired, provision j should be made, by
legislative enactment, if necessary, for the use,, ef this
latter plant in connection with the state penitentiary.
This would provide a means whereby. those who are not
hardened criminals may be segregated and given oppor
tunity and encouragement for such reform, and train
ing as will-tend to make them useful and law-abiding
citizens ontheir release. . ! i4 '. : ' h, - '
The iparq!!. board should be abolished and recom
mendations for the parole of prisoners should be made
EDUCATION
'O aspect of the development of Oregon is more
important than that which has to do with educa-
tion. Here we'invest not in our present prosperity but
in our future welfare and stability." The state can not
neglect its educational interests without immediate and
apparent detriment to its well-being.
Oregon has invested generously in public schools.
Wejbave kept step with our neighboring states "in
steadily raising the standards of schwl equipment,
scholastic requirements, and teacher training. We have
in the last twenty-five years added to our elementary
schools two hundred and sixty standard high schools.
If the inculcation of a desire for further Knowledge is
a sound criterion of the success of elementary educa
tion, i and . I believe it isi then 'Oregon's educational
efforts are bearing If ruit, for Oregon " ranks fourth
among the states in the percentage ' of 'eighth-grade
graduates who continue their educations in tne high
schools. . Oregon also stands high among the states in
- the number of high school graduates Who enter college.
. Tiere should be no disposition to decrease this pres
ent hearty 'support of education in Oregon, In so far
as is consistent, with a policy of 'sound economy, educa
tional support should be maintained and increased. The
people of ,the state, themselves, demonstrated their
approyaljof-'a progressive school policy whcii they
added, through popular vote, a third 'normal school to
tthe teacher; training institutions of. the state.;' -
: No retrenchment should b which wiUJntcr
f ere-with ;the
school systeitufEJcomy in education should bd prac-
tie'ed only as it can be effected through abusiness-like
and efficient treatment of the problems of. school
f inanqeJ -'The high" standards of; oun. public schools
-and institutions of higher learning must be maintained.
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