Valley record., May 15, 1890, Image 7

Governor Pennoyefs Speech
TOT ERA OF OKEGOT, BEAD! READ!!
A
Comprehensive Review ef State
Matter«.-A Reeerd Which Should
be the Pride of Every Votei!
BBPUBLICAN CANDIDATS'* BIC­
OAD VNNTILATBD
A« Abla and Lexical Addroaa to th«
Voters of Oregon.
Fellow eitiirni of Linn County:— 1 must
here return my thanks at the very outset
•1 what I shall say to thecitizons of Leb­
anon for the honor thev have done me in
»lie past by extending invitations, at two
er three different times, for me to address
them. I have not been able to comply
with each request antil now. As soon as
I was nominated I remembered my obli-
gation to you and promised even before
Hie state committee had made appoint­
ments to come up here during this can­
vase and speak upon the issues of the
day. I am pleased to witness this large
assemblage and I shall endeavor to grat­
ify the purpose of your assembling to­
gether by presenting to you a frank
statement of the issues of the campaign.
STATS MANAGEMENT.
It is proper that the first thing I should
say to you should be in regard to the
management of state affairs. Four years
ago I was selected as your servant to
have charge of a specified branch of
your business, and it is but proper tijat
when 1 apeak before you in regard to
questions of public importance, a plain
statement should be made concerning
my stewardship. And I am greatly
pleased to tell you here, my fellow citi­
sene of Linn county, that 1 can render a
good account. The state is prosperous ;
the small debt that existed at tiie com­
mencement of my term has been extin­
guished and the ordiuary expenses of
the state have been kept within just
limits. A comparison of the first two
years of the present official term, with
the last two years of the preceding term,
shows that the total expenditures were
less by over $200,000, and that the ordi­
nary expenditures were lees by $500, not­
withstanding the growth of the state,
and necessarily a corresponding growth
of expenses, and notwithstanding the
further fact that such ordinary expendi­
tures had been increased by over $25,000
for the two years by the creation of our
ornamental, if not useful boards of rail­
road and fish commissioners. In the
management of the school funds, we
have dispensed with agents in the coun­
ties, where sometimes money was per­
mitted to lie idle, and all the money is
paid into the state treasury whence it is
at once loaned out. The growth of the
school fund has been most gratifying.
Th it fund in 1885 including all items
amoudted to 1868,735.16; in 1889 to $1,-
756,700. The amounts actually loaned
not including certificates of sale, were,
m 1885 $733,288 52 ; in December 1889
$ 1,568 071.14. In 1885 $0 75 per scholar
was distributed to each county ; in 1889
$1.40 was so distributed, and $1.60 will
probably be the amount this year. In
•he management ot »tate affairs, strictly
business methods have t>een adopted.
There have been no fat jobs under this
administration. Work has been fairly
let to the lowest responsible bidder and
he has been compelled to fulfill his con­
tract to the letter. The penitentiary and
asylum were never under better man­
agement, and the trust confided to the
asylum ami the reform school boards to
purchase lands for those institutions has
been faithfully and judiciously executed.
LEGISLATIVE EXTRAVAGANCE.
The extravagant expenditures of the
last legislature has been seriously felt by
tne taxpayers of the state. Its total
appropriations exceed those of the pre­
vious legislation by more than $239,000.
It appears that in modern legislative
bodies, measures are passed, not to much
■pon their merits, as upon the facility of
those advocating them to enter a combine
•r log-rolling scheme. Thue, at the last
session the Portland water bill was the
measure concerning which a combina­
tion was made by which twelve wagon
roads received appiopriai ions aggregat­
ing the sum of $113 001), and by which
additional lavora were received botti by
the Agricultural College and State Uni­
versity. I have been censured for not
vetoing the grants tor wagon roads. I
did not sign any of those bills because I
did not believe it to tie just to levy a
general tax for a local benefit, but as 1
do not believe the governor, while hav­
ing the power, has tiie moial right to in­
feriere with the action of the legislature
except where in his opinion such action
is clearly unconstitutional, andas 1 could
not see any clear constitutions inhibi­
tion against such an expenditure. I suf­
fered them to become laws withhut ex­
ecutive approval, but the most flagrant
act of extravagance perpetrated by the
last legislature was in the increase in the
number of railroad commissioners and
•tie provision for their [isyment when it
had been established by a division of the
supreme court that they were utterly in-
effective of any good purpose whatever
■nder the law as it now sta ds. $9500
of the people's money, raised by taxing
the already over-taxed people of this
state, is paid out annually to four stal­
wart men, whose only effective labor un­
der the law is to ride to the capital at the
end of each quarter and draw from the
treasury their lat salaries for doing noth­
ing. The party guilty of perpetrating
such a cool and deliberate fraud upon
the taxpayers of the state as was perpe­
tratevi at the last legislature in perpetu­
ating in power the railroad commission,
which can do nothing, as well as the fish
commission, which defies the law, and
which are effective of really no other
purpose than a depletion of the treasury
to the extent of their salaries, ought to
be rebuked, and if 1 do not greatly mis­
take the temper of the free people of the
state of Oregon it will be rebuked.
COLUMBIA RIVER IMPROVEMENTS.
There is no question before the people
of Oregon of more importance than that
of the speedy opening of the Columbia
river to free navigation. It is the im­
perative duty of the Federal government
to speedily overcome the obstacles to its
free commerce. The people of the Pa­
cific Northwest have been taxed for
nearly a half a century for the rapport
of the Federal government, and as the
removal of the obrtructions in our great
interstate river is clearly within the
scope of its duty and its powers, it has
been clearly dervlict in its duty to us by
its continued neglect in this regard.
The speedy opening of the Columbia to
free commerce is a question of such par­
amount importance that I felt impelled
four years ago to recommend that the
state should move in the matter. I had
then do hope that the United States en­
gineers would recommend any other im­
provement than that by canal and locks.
But a board of engineers was sent out
here two years ago to examine the ob­
structions of the Columbia between The
Dalles and Celilo and repert to congress
the most feasible means of overcoming
them
That board reported in Decem­
ber, 1888, recommending the building of
a portage railioad at a cost of $431,501) as
"the cheapest and quickest solution of
the existing difficulties.” Strange and
unaccountable as it may seem, Senator
Mitchell, in the lace of this very report,
introduced and had passed in the Benate
a bill appropriating $500,000 for a boat
railway, which scheme the board had
refused to adopt The tenor and purport
of the recommendation of the board in
favor of a potruue railway was nnknown
to the pec-pie of Oregon, bat it certainly
must have (»een known to our delegation
in congress. Without having any inti­
mation of such recommendation on the
pert of the )a>ard, but doubtful of the
practicability <>t the lioat railway scheme,
1 addressed a letur to the chief of en­
gineers urging him to recomment to con­
gress a portage iusteadiof a boat railway,
and I addressed letters to our delegation
in congress urging them to co-operate
with me. Senator Dolpli in his reply to
to me made the statement that the
board had recommended the build­
ing of a portage road. This was the
first intimation I had received that
such a report had been made. I then
wondered why our delegation did not
at once seize the opportunity offered
by the board for securing a speedy open­
ing of the river by procuring the small
appropriation required, and I have been
wondering ever since. Did our dele­
gation in congress really desire the
Columbia river opened for commerce?
If so, they ought to have seized the op­
portunity offered. But Senator Mitchell
had committed the senate to the boat
railway scheme, and engineers were sent
to Europe to examine boat railways
there. They returned, and probably in
view of the fact that the senate was al­
ready committed to the boat railwav
scheme, they reported that, “it is suited
to a considerable commerce;” but they
still insist in their last report, as in the
first, that a portage railroad is, "a cheap
and speedy solution, adequate, in the
opinion ot the board ; to meet existing
requirements.” But in the very face of
this report our delegation in congress
persist in pushing the boat railway
scheme, the full completion of which,
the board estimates, will cost $3,576,356-
35 (within $200,000 of what a canal and
locks would cost), which would require
$275,000 anuuaily to operate it, and
which will consume a period of about
thirty-five years in its construction,
provided congress makes oppropriations
for it as it has for the locks at the Cas­
cades. Under these circumstances is it
not the imperative duty of our delegation
in congress to secure an appropriation
for a portage road, as it undoubtedly
could? Senator Dolph in his reply to
my letter stated that “congress had
never entered upon the work of con­
struction of such railroads, and I <!• not
believe it possible to secure an appro­
priation for a [Kirtage railroad.” Neither
do I if our solid delegation oppose it. A
Washington dispatch to the Oregonian
of March 17 says that “members of the
river and harbor committee have in­
timated that they would sup- ott the
portage railway scheme on account of
the small appropriation necessary,” and
that “it may be possible to compromise
on a portage railway if the people of
Oregon would prefer that now rather
than take the chances of delay, which
the improvement of The Dalles by other
methods may cause.” Let then the
people of Oregon declare for it by giving
their support to the candidates standing
upon a platform w hich declares in favor
oi a portage road, providing the whole
amount for a boat railway cannot be
secured at once, and our success would
be instructions to our delegation in con­
gress, to carry out the recommendations
of the board of engineers, by securing
during this session an appropriation for
a portage bridge, which, as the board
declares, could be built in one year, and
which would be a solution "adequate to
meet existing requirements.” Let this
be done and within a few years the
Columbia river would bear a fleet of
steamers, its commerce would expand
beyond all conception, and Eastern Ore­
gon and Washington would awaken to
new life and energy. No more im­
portant issue was ever presented to the
people of Eastern Oregon than is now
presented to them by the two parties,
upon that important question of the
speedy opening of the Columbia river to
Iree commerce. Let the people declare
for it.
THE WILLAMETTE LOCKS AMD CANAL.
The legislative assembly of the state
of Ooregon, in 1870 passed "an act to ap­
propriate funds for the construction of a
steamboat canal at the Willamette falls,"
by which act $200,(JOO was appropriated
out of the 5 per cent, of the net proceeds
of the sale of public lands within the
state, and out of the sale of the 500,000
kcres of land donated to Oregon for in­
ternal improvements, for the benefit of
the company building the locks. The
act making thia benefaction stipulated
that at the expiration of twenty years
from the time said locks and canal are
completed the s.ate of Oregon shall have
the right and privilege to take and ap­
propriate to its own use forever the said
canal and locks upon the payment to
said corporation the actual value thereof,
al the time of taking and appropriating
the same, which value shall be ascer­
tained in such manner as the legislative
assembly may prescribe.” The twenty
years will expire at the close of the year
1892. The state can then, as it mav
choose, eilheir leave the locks in the
possession of the private corporation
now owning them, on coudition that the
$2U0,000 advanced to it shall be returned
to the school fuud, w here, by the con­
stitution it properly belongs, and on the
the further condition that the toll shall
lie reduced fully one-half, or it may take
the same to its own use at the actual
value thereof. What is the actual value
now of the canal and locks? It is such
a sum as at 10 per cent, interest will
bring an amount equal to the net profits
arising from the toll collected. What
are those net profit«? The law declared for private use without due compenaa- when it ia bestowed as the free exprès- vetoed during the session three years
that the «am of $200.000 w«a appropri­ lion.”
•ion of the popular will, but when
when , 1 ago
—* be
--------
-----------
“ J ” They
*
again
repeated.
are reaa-
ated “upon the express condition that
the time comes, if it ever does
loes come, on«
founded
unon those
those provisions
provisii
THE LABOR QUESTION.
-------
—;— upon
of the
•aid corporation shall pay to the state of
when
it
is
auctioneered
off
to
the
constitution which requires the asaesa-
Both parties profesa devotion to the
Oregon 10 per centam of the net profits
highest bidder for cash, paid at the ment of all private propertv and the
arising from the toll collected for paasing cause of the laboring classes in their re­ primaries in procuring the nomination, equality of all taxation Under the sol­
cent
platforms.
But
record
evidence
is
freight and passengers through the «aid
and more cash paid at elections in se­ emn oath of office taken by the ehief ex­
canal and locks, which sum of 10 per mightier than profession«, and both par­ ing the suffrage« of the people, its ecutive of Oregon there was but one
ties
should
be
judged
by
it.
It
was
a
re
­
centum of net profits shall be paid into
honor is lost and its dignity is perished. course to pursue and I hat was to obey
the common school fund of the state." publican administration that fastened It was a scandal of the Roman empire, its behests by the veto of any bill ex­
I
the
convict
contract
labor
system
on
the
Now, by ascertaining the sum so paid
when « horse was declared to be a con­ empting any private property from taxa­
by said company to the state, we can I state. Two years ago, as you may re­ sul by the imperious will of the imperial tion. The issue upon this question be-
correctly arrive at the present value of member, trouble was anticipated at Cor­ master, and would it not be equally as ! I tween the great political parties is a
the locks as determined by that com­ vallis because a railroad contractor, after great a scandal if a man should be chosen plain issue. The convention which nom­
pany itself. Now, what sum baa so 4 having received a payment from the as governor of the free commonwealth inated Mr. Thompson for governor made
been paid by the company into the ¡ company, had fled the state, leaving the of Oregon alone bv the potency of bis the following delphic declaration . “We
state treasury ? Not one cent has ever laborers unpaid. My attention was then boodle?
are in favor of a fair and equal distribu­
been paid. The locks are worth, there­ called to the fact that while we had lien
tion oi taxation and we believe that all
A TARIFF FOR REVENUE.
fore, nothing to the company, and would laws for laborers on boats and buildings
property not exempt by law, should con­
and
other
structures,
there
was
no
law
not the state, therefore, be justified in
Perhaps it is not amiss, although the tribute its due proportion in payment of
protecting
laborers
on
railroads.
To
se
­
taking them off from its hands, without
leading issues before the people of this the legitimate expenses of the govern­
any compensation, and so open the cure, therefore, such protection by the coming election are state issues, to say ment.” Does that favor or oppose ex­
invention
of
law,
my
last
message
to
the
Willamette river to free commerce?
one word or so in regard to the one emption from taxation of municipal wa­
The company nave thus placed them­ legislature recommended “an addition to great question ot national importance. ter bonds ? The fact is, it is a palter in a
our
lien
law,
giving
to
laborers
employed
selves by their dealing with the state
There is now no free trade party in the double sense. It was intended to be
in a dilemma. If there have been no net by corporations of any and every char­ United States. A free trader is one read in one way in one locality and an­
acter,
a
first
lien
for
their
wages
upon
profits, the locks and canal are valuless,
who would do away with all tariff re­ other way in another locality. When it
and the state would be justified in taking whatever property of such corporations strictions entirely. Because one party is known that at the extra session of the
they
may
have
labored.
”
A
bill
was
in
­
them without compensation. If there
favored free wool and the other free legislature in 1885 $700,000 of those
has been net profits, the company has troduced embodying this recommenda­ hides and sugar doee not make either water bonds were authorized to be
tion,
but
it
did
not
become
a
law
until
been defrauding the state. The canal
an absolute free trade party. The peo­ issued, and when it is further known
anil locks company will be compelled to after it was emasculated in the senate of ple of the United States are divided on tnat the loyalty and constitutionality of
all
its
force
and
virtue.
It
was
so
stride one or the other of the horns of
the tariff question; some favoring a that issuance has been affirmed by the
that dilemma. And the voters of the changed as to deprive it of affording the tariff for revenue while others favor a courts you can then read that plank of
security
to
laborers
on
railroads
that
is
state should see to it that the si ate and
tariff for protection and the advocates this platform above quoted as declaring
not that company should dictate the afforded to laborers on buildings, and of both systems, to a greater or lees ex­ in substance that such water bonds are
the
law,
as
it
now
stands,
is
merely
an
terms of the settlement of that im­
tent, are found in both of the political exempt by law, and therefore are not
portant question. Mr. D. P. Thompson empty mockery. Again, at the legisla­ parties. The difference between these subjeci to taxation. In contradiction to
is a stockholder in the electric company tive session of 1887, a bill was passed 1 two systems can best be shown by illus­ the equivocal expressions, of that plat­
—a credit mobilier arrangement—which granting to a railroad corporation the tration. Suppose that a pnrticular kind form, the platform upon which I stand
owns a controlling interest in the locks right to build a bridge across the Willam­ of cloth can be manufactured in Great is plain and unequivocal. But it must
company. Mr. Thompson, of that com­ ette river at the lower end of the city of Britain for $1 50 a yard, while the cost be satd, in justice to Mr. Thompson,
pany is nominated for governor—an able Portland. The bill was vetoed on ac­ of its manufacture in the United States that his position is more definite than
captain—and Mr. Easthan, of Clackamas count, mainly, of the objection urged by is $1 75. The cost is greater here than that ot the platform upon which he
and Mr. Morey, of Multnomah, of that the United States engineers against its there, for several reasons among which stands. At a ratification meeting held
oompany are nominated for the legis­ location at the point desired. The veto is the higher price paid for labor. Nor at Portland, on the 24th of last month
lature—most efficient lieutenants. The message closed as follows: “All the re­ is the high price of labor here the re he said. "The Bull Run water bill as in­
peculiar combination of such remark­ striction that I would wish beyond what suit of protection, because in Italy—one troduced in the last legislature, has some
able ability at this particular time, is is already stipulated in the bill would be of the highest protected countries of objectionable features, which I attempted
well calculated to arrest the attention of one preventing the collection of fares Europe—as Mr. Thompson, my opponent to have removed. I said then if I was
the people of Oregon by its significance, from foot passengers. While granting stated in one of his letters from there successful in my efforts I would vote for
and they should see to it that no inter­ favors to railroad corporations, it would two years ago the wages are of the very the bill anyhow. I did vote for it and I
ested parties should be placed in official not be amiss if the legislative assembly lowest rate. High wages here are voted for it six times. I was present at
positions where they can act as umpires should grant for once one small favor to mainly the result of a comparatively every meeting and voted, and all knew
in the settlement of this question, so im­ the poor man. The wear of foot passen­ spare population and an undeveloped how I voted.” The issue, therefore,
portant to the people of the W illamette gers on the bridge is not really percept­ country. But this is a degression. We between the two parties and the two can­
ible and their free passage would work
valley.
no other* injury to the owners of the will further suppose that the tariff on didates is a plain issue before the coun­
mu . T hompson ’ s official record .
the cloth is 25 cents. An importer try. It is the paramount issue of this
It is proper, when a candidate aspires bridge than the loss of the toll. For writes to the British manufacturer: campaign and transcends in importance
about
thirty
years
past
all
legislation
in
to fill so high an office as that of gov­
“Your cloth cost $1 50 a yard ; the duty all other issues. The equality of taxa­
ernor, to subject his actions while hold­ this country, state and federal, has been is 25 cents the cloth sells here at $2 a tion is the very corner stone of all just
entirely
in
the
interest
of
the
rich,
and
ing either official positions or respon­
yard. If you will be content at 10 cents governments, and when once that is re­
sible places of trust, to thorough in­ if now, the legislative assembly of Ore­ profit, I will pay the freight and duty, moved the fair fabric will sooner or later
spection, in order to ascertain his fitness gon, in one single instance, should make and handle your goods.” The propo­ fall. Upon that issue I invoke the sup­
to the office to which he aspires. The one small provision in the interest of the sition is accepted, and British cloth is port of every freeman of the state of Or­
cold record alone should be disclosed poer man, it would shine out in the cloth is imported, from which the gov­ egon. If the people of this state were
and nothing else should tie sanctioned midst of the legislation of the country ernment receives a revenue. This is a willing that a certain species of property,
In referring to Mr. Thomiison’s record, like a lurid torch in the midst of cavern­ revenue. At the next session of Con­ which would mainly be held in the coffers
I shall waive all allusions to his survey­ ous gloom. Every charter for every gress the American manufacturer im­ of the rich, should be exempt by law,
ing or mail contracts or to his private bridge aerase the Willamette ought to plores protection from cheap foreign thus throwing an increased burden upon
business, but shall simply refer to his have contained euch a provision. And labor, and congress raises the duty to themselves, then they should give their
record as it appears in the supreme court yet Mr. Thompson, the opposing candi­ 75 cents a yard. The American manu­ support to Mr. Thompson, who voted
reports of Oregon and the recorded or­ date for governor, came up to the capi­ facturer at once raises the price of the six times to secure such a result; but if
dinances of the city of Portland. In 15 tal to help lobby the bill through over cloth to $2 25, while the British goods they do not, then they ought not to sup­
Oregon reports, page 34, the supreme the veto, and it was so passed, and now are shut out of the market, as 75 cents port him. The issue has passed from the
courts of Oregon held that Mr. Thomp­ every laborer, as he crosses the bridge duty added to the cost, $1 50, leaves legislative, executive and judicial halls
son could not lawfully, while acting as to and from his daily labor, is compelled nothing for profit, freight or pay to im­ to the forum of the people. Their de­
receiver of the Holladay estate, to to pay tribute to a rich corporation.
porter. This is a protective tariff. The cision will be a final one and 1 believe a
But there is one other very noticeable consumer
which important office he had been
pays an enhanced price, but just one.
instance
besides
this
in
which
Mr.
D.
P.
appointed by the court, take a mortgage
the government gets no revenue. A
CONCLUSION.
Thompson
has
arrayed
himself
against
as he had done from a party in the pro­
revenue tariff affords incidental pro­
ceeding, upon property in his custody the laboring men. Allusion has beeu tection and yields a revenue to the
The issues the present campaign have
as such receiver, and the court declared made, in the record evidence of the su­ government. A protective tariff en­ now been fairly placed befare you. You
to allow it “would sanction a contra­ preme court reports, that be claimed not riches the manufacturer at the expense are to decide at the ballot box whether
vention of public policy and lead to the only his salary of $500 a month as re­ of the consumer, and just in the piopor- those who have administered the affairs
establishment of a pernicious precedent.” ceiver of the Holladav estate, but desired tion that it is protective just in that of this state with a record unquestioned
Again, on page 604 of the same volume to have $250 more per month as presi­ same proportion it fails to yeild any shall be retained in office ; whether the
is a decision in another case in which he dent of the sawmill company. If he revenue to the government. Tho one extravagant expenditures of the legis­
claimed, in addition to his salary of $500 had been successful in that suit he could is conducive of revenue and. favorable lature in the creation of useless sinecures
per month, as such receiver, $250 more have claimed Holladay’s salary as presi­ to the consumer, and inimical to the shall be approved; whether a method of
per month as president of the saw mill dent of some othpr corporations, which purpose of revenue. Every farmer of opening the Columbia river tietween
company, which salary had been paid to would have made his monthly stipend Linn county, every fair-minded man, The Dalles and Celilo which may occupy
Ben Hollady. Thompson, as receiver, to exceed $1100. Now while Mr. Thomp­ upon this statement of tho difference more than a third of a century for its
held Holladay’s stock in the mill and he son was looking out for himself, how was between a revenue and a protective completion,or one adequate to existing
wanted Holladay’s salary piled on top he looking out for the employees of the tariff, cannot fail to choose which requirements which can be completed
of his own salary as receiver. The court mills? The answer is found in the fact system he will favor.
in one year shall be pressed upon our
very justly held that when such services that aliout the first thing that he did
representatives in congress for adoption ;
The
peopie
along
the
lower
Columbia
as (president) were rendered to the after being appointed receiver was to rive" will have an impressive object whether men whoie pecuniary interests
the defendant’s corporation, he rendered scale <1 qwii the wages of all employes lesson as to the value and effect of a are adverse to those of the state, shall
them, not in his own title, but by a of that mill len per cent. Ttiis shows protective tariff. A San Francisco be placed iu power while the settlement
title derived from the estate, and as it the interest he had in the laboring men dispatch to the Oregonian of March 4, of the Willamette canal and locks ques­
were, standing in Holladay’s shoes, and of the city of Portland.
in substance that B. Campbell, tion is pending, in which is involved
But there is one other instance in stated
consequently he could have no claim
general
Northwest freight agent of the $200,000 of money which rightfully be­
for such service or for the salary, in bis which he did the working men of Oiegon Union Pacific Railroad Company, had longs to the school fund of our state;
individual right, or for his individual a far more grievous wrong than this. asserted that three steamers would be whether a party shall be retained in
benefit—the right in which he has sued He advocates a protective tariff in order placed on the route lietween Portland power that has Bhown iteelf opposed to
for. So muck from the record of the to protect American labor. Now we all Or. and Japan, that they would be of the interests of the lab’ ring classes by
court. Now let us look at the records of know that the Chinese who works like a English build and would carry the its action in the legislature, and which in
Portland.
la the year 1881 Mr. beast and lives like a hog has been of Japanese flag.” Thirty years ago! was thatRame body, showed its opposition
Thompson was mayor ot the city of Port­ the greatest injury to the laboring men at Boston, when the Great Republic, to ballot reform by smothering in a com­
land. In 1879 a wharf line had been es­ of the Pacific coast, who have had fami­ the largest merchantman ever built by mittee of the senate a bill providing for
tablished by ordinance aloDg the river lies to rear and who wished to rear them man, was launched. At that time, the Australian ballot system. Whether
front. During his occupancy of the respectably, because they have entered under a revenue tariff, when the average a man shall be selected as chief mag­
mayor’s office an ordinance was passed into competition with our American per cent, of customs duties was 20 per istrate of the state by the free use of
to amend the previous ordinance and it laborer and have thus degraded his cent., The United States was the great boodle, both at the primaries and
became the law of the city by securing calling and reduced his compensation. shipbuilding country of the world, and at the election; whether the per­
approval. It made no change in the The large influx of these Chinese here its merchant marine—the best and nicious system of boss rule shall be
wiiarf line of the city from one end of it to was the result of that infamous Burlin­ most extensive government—carried the perpetuated in Oregon; whether the
the other wharf in front of the block that game treaty, which, while openingtothe ensign of the republic upon every sea people of the nation shall be taxed for
had recently been purchased by Mr. citizens of the United States only six and in every zone. To-day after thirty the purpose of revenue, or for the pur­
Thompson, commonly known as the Starr cities of China, allowed in return the years of a protective tariff, averaging 47 pose of enriching certain industries fos­
block. The amended wharf line de­ Chinese to come over here in swarms percent., our ship building has nearly tered either by tariff tax or subsidies at
flected from the old one two blocks south and overrun our land—a worse pest than become a lost art and our merchant the expense of the whole people; and
of the Starr block out into the river, the frogs and lice that overrun Egypt. marine has been driven from the high lastly, whether the people of this state
until it took in forty feet of the river in In the legislative assembly of the state seas. And now when an enterprising shall favor an exemption from taxation
front of that block and then again re­ of Oregon in 1870 a joint memorial to company wishes to engage in Ocean of a species of p.operty, or whether on
turned to the old line, about two blocks congress asking for the abrogation of commerce, it is compelled to buy ships the other hand they will adhere to the
to the northward. Mr. Thompson, by that most unfair and infamous treaty was of English build, and adding insult tn doctrine of the constitution that all pri­
signing that ordinance, rs mayor of the passed. Mr. D. P. Thompson was in the injury, it is compelled, by the behest of vate propertry shall be assessed, and
city of Portland, took from the city’s senate and voted against the memorial. the protectionistB vho have controlled that all taxation shall be equal. These
highway—the Willametteriver—forty by No comment on that vote is needed by legislation in congress, to throw aside are all important questions, and more
two hundred feet, and appropriated it to the workingmen of Oregon. It speaks the flag of our country and raise at the especially the last one, as its decision at
his own private use without one cent of for itself.
masthead of its steamers the square the ballot-box involves the great princi­
A CAMPAIGN OF BOODLE.
compensation to the city. That strip of
breechclout of an effete Mongolian iI ple of “equal taxation,” which is a doc­
property is now richly worth $100,000.
The people of Oregon have entered monarch. Protectionists claim that a trine greater and more sacred than any
His salary as mayor was only $1500 upon a campaign the like of which has protective tariff builds up domestic in­ which has ever been contended for at the
The river at that point was before this never before been witnessed. The nom­ dustries. This is theory. But lhe hustings, in legislative halls or on the
seizure, already too narrow. This made ination of inv competitor was prooured practical result can best be seen when in battle-field, since the time onr fathers
a bad matter still worse. It is a grave by a most disgracuful debauchery of the a short time on the Columbia river will struggled for that other, as sacred a doc­
inconvenience to commerce. On the primary election in Portland. That sail these steamers of English build and trine, that there should be “no taxation
25th of July, the officers of the Board of nomination was secured, not by the free carry ing the Japanese flag. The pro­ without representation.”
Trade of the city of Portland and some expression of the party will, but by a tection which a protective tariff has af­
visiting statesmen, including Congress­ shameful purchase of votes and equally forded to our ship building, as well as
T he readers, from the extracts on
men Hermann and Burrows, Governors as shameful a stuffing of the ballot boxes. to agricultural interests has been of that
Goff and Stewart, boarded the steamer Money was freely used, and the Orego­ character which the boa-constrictor af­ “tariff,” which we publish in this
Potter which lay just below the 8tarr nian next day reported that in one pre­ fords to its victim against all beasts of
block, for a trip to the government jetty cinct in South Portland 852 votes were prey by inclosiug it in his coils and issue, will probably be astonished
a* the mouth of the Columbia river. cast where two years ago the total vote of crushing the life out its body. And now at the remarkable change which
The Oregonian of the next day says tint both parties was only 650, while in one after having taxed our shipbuilding in­
have overcome the
"while tiie Potter was turning round in precinct in North Portland /80 votes were dustry out of existence by a tariff op­ seems to
the harbor, the rudder stuck in the mud cast where two years ago the total vote pressive to our people, they come Oregoniaa in so short a time, es­
on the east side, and when the hydraulic of both parties was only 231. The free forward with a proposition to tax it into
pressure was applied to guide it, the expression of the popular will was stifled life again, by granting subsidies equally pecially when we take into view
tiller rope snapped. Over one hour was by the influence of the sack. And now as oppressive to our people. Never before the fact that H. W. Scott, was the
consumed in repairing the break. Our the open announcement has been made but once in the history of all mankind
distinguished guests were delayed and by the person—his own nomination was has such a wise procedure been adopted editor of that paper at the time the
perhaps disgusted with our narrow har­ procured in this manner—that he will and that was by the man whose valient Oregonian was bo outspoken against
bor, but wiiat matter as long as D. P. be elected if be has to spend $100,000. deeds are recorded, as follows in Mother
the robber tariff as well as at pres­
Thompson had enlarged the borders of No greater humiliation ever befell a Gooses melodies:
his block. Citizens of Portland and party than when its candidates are elect-
There was * man in our town
ent.
His position now may be re­
And he was wonderous wise.
East Portland crossing the Stark street , ed not upon their merits but by coin,
He
Jumped
into
a
bramble
bush
garded
as rather inconsistent, yet
ferry or the Morrison street bridge can and no greater disgrace could befall the
And scratched out both his eyes,
easily see Mr. Thompson’s real estate people of this state than his election to
And when he saw his eyes were out,
it is no more so than his present
He jumped with might and mam
bay window protruding into the river by office after having made this statement
Into another bramble bush
subserviency to the Mitchell ring,
looking norBiward.
A public office so insulting to their intelligence and their
And scratched 'em in again.
should be a public trust and ought not intelligence and their manhood. The
and
his humble submission to
THE WATER BOND QUESTION .
to be used for a private snap. There is party upon which be has foisted himself
bossism.
a provision in both the state and Feder­ as a candidate owes it to itself to rebuke
I need not recapitalate to you the cir-
al constitutions, that no private property the manner of bis nomination and the cumstances attending the efforts of the
shall be taken for pub ic use without just free and unpurchasabie people of the last legislature to pass a bill providing
compensation. If the framers of those state owe it to themselves that this im­ for the issuance of municipal bonds to
T. R. C ornelius was a delegate
revised instruments nad ever imagined plied insinuaron as to their corrupti­ be exempted from taxation after they
that D. P. Thompson would ever hold bility should be censured by bis stinging had passed into the hands of private to the republican state convention.
office they would most undoubtedly have and overwhelming defeat at the polls. parties and had become priva’e property. He did not vote for D. P. Thomp­
added that other necessary restriction The office of governor of the great state They are familiar to you all. Nor need
that “no public propertv should betaken of Oregon is indeed a very high honor the reasons why such a bill was once son.