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About The Ione independent. (Ione, Or.) 1916-19?? | View Entire Issue (March 6, 1931)
The IONE INDEPENDENT IONE. OREGON r.kUy, Mmr. 6, 1931 LEGISLATURE SHOULD END GRIND THIS WEEK Tird Lawmakers Will Probably Start Horn Snon- ttiA Moir Unusual One. Builnan Man P.ot.-st Inttnfc'blss Tax Session la Unuiual Power Re stored to Covarnor New Trafflo Hulea Publlo Servlej Commission Out State Polloe Organlied. Salem, Ore,, The Oregon lawmak er convened Monday morning for the eighth, and probably the I nut wok of the SGih legislative assembly with incwt of the Important measure passed both bounce and In the bonda of the governor. Tho taxation pro tram bna been outlined In full detail and will furnish the major argumente for tho real of the eIon. The tax relief program adopted by legislative leaders and approved by Coventor Melor seemed likely to "tick" despite a series of lat minute assaults on the program to reduco the property tax by moens of a I.ger levy on Intangibles, The state, It baa now been d-cid.d by the house of representatives, will not return the 1929 Intangibles (h fundi, and la committed to a program which meana the eventual elimination of the farm from atuto taxation. An attack we made by Portland buitlnen men who railed at the office of Governor Moler to endeavor to win li!a aupport to the plan to redue the excise tax, and If possible to cut the Intangibles levy and effect the return of the 1929 money, The business men protected to the governor that the excise tox a In creased under the new law would tend to keep Industries from coming to the at.-.te. (!uvermr Mf 'or, however, had seen a protent of nnothtr sort a f v tlay prvlou and give tho business men only the satisfaction of knowing that bo approved of tax reduction. Business Man Protest. The governor, however, wa em (hallo la declaring that the tax pro gram aa mapped out by the lcgtala lure aeemed the only thing thot could prevent the atate from being thrown Into "a chaotic atate, and a tax re billion by real property owner." The governor waa referring to the mauy m as meeting bHng held throughout the atate In whUH the heavy burden of the amall property owner has been protested. Iteeriiily a committee of 60 f irmer, repre cut log associations with a membrrahlp of thousands, called on the governor and assured blm that the only answer tc the present problem were either a drastic property tax reduction or th abandonment of the farm by Inublllt to pay the taxes. Governor Meier, at the meeting of the 1'ortland buslnen men eald: "We have here a state where 60 per rent of tho area la owned by the fed eral government. Out of the 40 per lent we are attempting to malntuln a government. The farmer of thl a :U are at a point where If we do not count to their rescue we will face a tax burden twice aa heavy a any thing that could come out of these propoaij laws." Section Moit Unusual. Tho last of HiIh week will hear tho legislative gavel fall for the hint time rnd when the clock are atoppnl fot " M" vrars the eslon v. Ill 'awatta, mikymMmmmMi.- Th fplklnrf ship St Paul ington, Seattle, where all will Itand oat hi memory probably a ib tnott unuiual legislative assembly tula nut ao far ever hai men. The present economic nttuatlon In the ulnlo, particularly with reference to taxation, Iim created problem of , n,ut maxnltui1 and mutual study of I,AU. t . A. u, . ,"vmK crcaiea a conn- nun un me pari oi me legislators in the ability, sincerity and good In tntioii of the governor to reduce thp cost of government, In view of the premt emergency, both house have about reached the frame of mind that they are willing to write Mr. Meier a blank check for any legislation that be may doom proper to better conditions. In no othor session has the Incoming gov ernor been handed so much of hl demand. Governor Moler as!id for power leg Illation, the scope and future effect or which no m.'tn row t.u y guess, Ho got It. Csvsrnor r.fflvn P:v sr. Ho asked for Un ei.aetini-nt 0f state police mer u- ( which w uld give blm control of a i.t Mk r i J consollu'rt ed police unit. He kol I hut, He asked for the creation of a de partment of agriculture, merging a ilock of exltlng drpartu. nts and com sessions under ono contratlaej head Tli;it was given him. He asked for the repeal of the 1 mill market road levy, and that was band ed to him. He asked for the passage of th muih dlscuHsed tunnel bill and thai, changed In Its original terma but still tapable of administration, was laid In hi Isp, He si-kid for the enactment of a detiiJte program of tax reform and relief, nnd that refluent Is sure to be granted. The passage of these bills rtstores to the thief exutlve practically all cf the power taken away from the gov ernor' office when tho leglMuture rose In revolt against the regime ol Walter M. fierce. The enactment go farther and border cloiuly on the es tablishment of the concentration which Is the principal feature of the esblnet aystem of government, and further consolidations ate contemplat ed. A brief resume of the major high way legialatkm follow: For on thing there lis bum no change In license fe or gas taxes. They will remain where they havo beon for the p;d two yars. The surer ro.-d i!!trU t law h::s bee n blocked by the provision tlut afiir Jut o 1, of this year, no further uptr j llt;?iy districts may be created un dcr It. j ( hauff.-ur and operators of for hire ! 'ar must pas examination b-fore I heirg granted licenses to lirivo. Their Menses rlso will carry a ruin upon tthlih will be mnrked any conviction or violations of the road or traffic Ur.j. Road Laws ChangcJ. All Hi etit.es limy be called In ov( ry thr o ears by the secretiuy of state, ind new onea lssttil. There v. HI be no examination required for the driv e;a of private cars, though traffic con vici.omi aud reckless driving can be taken Into consideration In tho reis suance of a lleenne. The speed limit for passenger cais has Icon raised to 45 miles, bus.srs have tho same limitation, while trucks have a maximum speed of .15 miles ' fixed tor them. To exeerd tha mired ' limit v 11 bo no crime, but f.;::.tr drlv i.g than it specifics will be taken Into consideration In enso of accident Old Windjammer a Miiscum :''Vi:'::v.s - . - - - Itm, m will soon become a m,enTSi be able to vi.it her without cost a evidence of recklessness, Drunken driving carrlu Increasing severity of Jull sentence, together with fine or both. The old arm signals, up for a right hand turn, hot.itontol for the left and down for a st . have boon rolustatod. Freight true' i may not be operated with less than 300 foot between them on the hlgbwny, Blow driven must liold to the right or be subject to fine for failure to do so ...1 II. 1 Tho public service commission of Oregon wa abolished and Charles M. Tboma, Medford attorney, enthroned M head of utility regulation In the state at the stroke of a pen by Gov ernor Julius L. Melor. Publlo Strvlci Commioslon Out, With tho signing: of tho public Mil Itle commissioner net, around the pur pose and terms of which a maelstrom of political activity hod swilled for the past 12 months, th chief execu tive put Into cfiu t lu practical Inter pretatlon of a cardinal plank of the Joseph platform. Tho measure car ried the emergency clause, and the new system of utility regulation went Into force Immediately on recalvlrg the governor'a signature. Mr. Thomas was e'.c j r.tcial friend if the ;'o CiMirge V, Joseph, aud was one of a group i' fot- stste , senator at the 1 J10 aocslou of too le:; Mature which fought tho lo-ettHed "paving trust." Formation of a r.tate fcV.C9 system, eentr.illlng t. i .. c hv enforcement agenck-e U.redl ambr t : governor. a authorized by tho ' llslctoru when the bouse of r -prei; :ntatlv passed the slate polleu Ml. by the commanding voto o, J1 to o. The bill. nsving already pai.aou the senate, ntnt ! to Governor Meier and received prompt approval, In: mu. !i f. It wns ono of the governo;'s princlj i.! neoia niendntlons. State Police Orgxniitd. Consequently, Ounon will omraSe under a new police system after daja, probably beginning Ju.ie 1. The date police department will be known a. me uregon state polic." an cr gnnixutlon formed and directed along semi-military lines, with cayitinj. lieutenants, sergeants, corporal and privates, mounted on liorce and motor and supplemented by a detective force and an Identification bureau. This set up will make the Oregon state po lice resemble the New York slate troiptrs and rcn:uy!v..i!a t:..!t iou slabulary. The use of "slink" bombs, which have caused considerable aunoyai:ce to Portland theater owners, I made a criminal ofren?e under a hill ap proved by the senate recently. The bill originally was Introduced by 8: n alor liurke, but later was amended and revised by the revision of la.vs com nil t tee. "This bill Is directed at the racta-l v"n" fortt& Senator ISooth and ' ,lle ln,pre8t of the public The aenate passed a bill Introduced by Senator Hall under which the gov ernor has authority to close the forests timing certain season of the )er. Senator Hall ssid the measure wss Important for the reason that It would give protection to timber. These are some of tho high lights of tho session's results. It will not be until after the final adjournment ha come and the mas may be more clear ly and patiently analyxed that It full scope may be worked out. Your Chunce at Hand The chnuce you are always seeking Invariably lie close to hand. You don't have to look far afield for It. 111,111 mnkn better Job out "f J"D ' ' In tent cf nlwuya lookl: :? fr n better J-.b. Is the one who geta aloug best In this world, Grit y' i,. i , fc m , , .ihih, The old sh?o indeV ful 1 OREGON LEGISLATORS IN SEVENTH WEEK Lawmakers Start Grind "Sam Pay"; Majority of Major Bills Still Unpatied. Power Program Bill Have Clear Sail ingTax Program Outlined Brief Resume of Accomplishment -Free Ttxtbookt Uniform Road Law Proposed Wag Reduction. Salem, Ore. The end of the 40th day of the 1931 legluiatlve assembly, last Friday, the last day for the leg islators' salary of $3 a day, round both the house of representatives and the senate unprepared to adjourn and the house unwilling to fix a date for adjournment. It was moved by Itepro aentatlve Gordon, Multnomah, that ad journment sine die be set for Thurs day. February 28, which would make six days overtime without pay, but the motion was voted down. In the senate the reading clerk read a Joint resolution Introduced by Sen ators Jay If. Upton and U L. Mann, asking the governor to call Immediate ly a special aesslon of the legislature, but It was killed by indefinite post ponement by a vote of 11 to 11. The seventh week of the law making session opened Monday morning with a majority of the major legislation sllll to be enacted. In fact few of the Important bills have passed both houses and gone to the governor for final consideration, but reit either In ! committee, or at the half-way point between the bouse of their origin i and the other branch of the assembly. The legislature started Its overtime session with 70 proposals awaiting ac tion In both housca. The senate, among Its 41 bills on filrd reading, will have for consideration the Tuala tin tunnel bill following Its report after having been rewritten several times, and after an attempt had been made to relieve the state of respon , ,'blllty In thla proposed i hfKhwav nroiect 15.000,000 i The new "tunnel bill" aa It now la . framed provide for the creation of a tunnel commission of three membertv appointed by the governor, who can finance and construct tunnels any whore within the atate. It is Intended, of course, to apply specifically to the projected tunnel uadur Council Crest in Portland. Power Bills Complete. It look a though the "power pro gram" bills of the administration are practically out of the way, with clear sailing ahead of them, for their en actment by both houses of the legis lature, and their approval by the gov ernor, is a foregone conclusion as part of the administration power program, r.der the spur of the "mandate of the people." The aenate changed the name of the Itoosevelt highway to the Oregon Coast highway and defeated the Port land policemen's and firemen's pen sion bill after four hours of debate on the three measures. The Coast highway bill and the Portland pension bill had previously passed the lower bouse. The senate consistently adhered to the policies of Governor Meter by passing by the decisive vote of 21 to 9 the senate bill providing for the creation of a state dopartment of rgrlculture. The measure was also advocated, however, by ex Governor Norbland In bis retiring message and v.-ns not strictly an administration bill. Taxation presents a complex sitga 1 Hon, but with the tar.atba coniuili.ecs virtually in agreement with the gover j nor on a program for this legislation I 't la believed that the matter will be , disposed of with less than the usual i Mekerlng. Under th agreed plan tb Mate will proceed virtually as follows: Tax Program Outlined. Appeal the intangibles tax case to the United State supreme court, hold up a refund of the 900,000 paid In under the Invalidated intangible tax on 1929 incomes, re-enact an Intangl bles tax at an 8 per cent rate effec tive In 1931 on 1930 Incomes, Increase the rate on the excise tax from 5 to S per cent, submit the new Intangibles 'ax to the voter at a peclnl elec ion together with .the queslon of Jn Teasing the tax base for one year to nake the law effective without run ting afoul of the per cent limitation. These changes are designed to lasten relief of taxes on reul prop rty. The Kiddle one-mill market ond tax repeal, as amended to pro ilde for the state highway comntl? ilon to create a secondary system oi -oads and relieve the counties of the xpenso, is aimed at the same thine ind is likely to pass. Tobacco sales 'ax and other so-called nuisance taxei tre not likely to receive considers Ion. The Increase In rates of th. ntunglbles and excise taxes is cot nln to meet opposition. Brief Resume. The senate killed the game cod. '111. A brief aummary of what ha been done may be of interest in show lig what ground the legislature hn: covered up to tha end of the sixJ. week. The aocalled "hone racing bill" la up for consideration in the house early In the week. It provides for pari mutuel betting at county fairs and the ntale fair, with a percentage of the betting fund to be given to the fair hoard for premium payments. The house killed the measure, which would have provided a four year course for normal school train in, Instead of the present two-year course. The bill wa Indefinitely post poned. The bill of Scott of Umatilla, to re duce the salaries of circuit Judges, was killed by the house. Old-age pension were rejected by the house, which also refused to re consider its negative stand. The senate passed the butter stand arde bill by a vote of 21 to 7. It now Join Ita companion measure, the cream gradins bill In the bouse. Mott' reolutIon wa rejected, pro viding for the submission of a con stitutional amendment which, if en acted would have prohibited direct taxes for state purpose to be levied on real property. Free Textbook. A resolution providing for consoli dation of city and county government between PorMand and Multnomah county was passed by the house and now I In the senate. It would sub mit a constitutional amendment au thorizing such consolidation. The house passed the Anderson bill, providing that workmen unable to collect their wacea from emcloyera could sue through the state labor com - missioner. The so-called "free textbook" bill has passed both bouses and Is in the hands of the governor for bla con sideration. The 70 car train bill aponsored by the railroad brotherhood organizations was killed In the senate after two bitter fights. The tobacco tax bill Is dead, while the proposed measure putting a tax on malt and another doing the same thing on billboards. Is In the ways and means committees. The senate refused to follow Sena tor Woodward In his desire to repeal the provision of the corrupt practices act limiting the expenditures that law fully maty be made by candlates for office. Senator Ed?'s administration bill creating a state police force, or state constabulary, is resting quietly in the lap of the senate committee on re vision of law. General belief la that It will continue to sleep its life away, unless the administration puts force enough behind it to drive It through. Uniform Road Laws. Oregon moved to Join Washington and California in establishing uniform traffic regulation and "rules of the road" on the Pacific slope, the first formal step being taken by the lower house of the legislature In passing bouse bill No. 355. The uniform traf fic bill, handled by Representative Andrews. Multnomah, passed the house with only three dissenting votes and adverse comment by Representa tive Mott of Marion county. Probably the most Interesting fea ture of the uniform traffic bill is that it remove the 35 mile speed limit on the Ofen highway, and, moreover, regulatea the alow or "pokey" driver Under this provision, Mr. Andrew ex plained, every vehicle must keep pace with the average speed of vehicles. The new provision on speed is that the niLtor'i:! must operate his car in a safe and prudent manner, being sub Ject to arrest for violation of the basic rule of safety, whether driving at five miles or 50 miles an hour. Three speeds' are designated as dividing points between minimum and maxi mum penalties. These speeds arc: Open road, 45 miles; residential dis tricts, 25 miles; schools and railroad crossings, 15 miles. The bill provides uniform arm sig nals throughout the state and sets up a higher standard for brake ef ficiency. Propose Wage Reduction. Senator Burke has introduced a bill which, if approved by betli branches of the legislature, would re duce the salaries and wages of a large number of public employes 10 pc, cent. The proposed salary and wage re ductions would affect all atate, coun ty, municipal, port and school dls triets, boards and commissions, with the exception of persons who receive $125 or les a month, and those whose offices are created by the state con stitution. The reductions would become ef fective July 1, 1931, and continue un til July 1, 1933. The grand legislative melee started Monday and the "big push" of the session was well under way by Mon day night. The houses are meeting early and adjourning late. Debate has been re stricted to five minutes, for each mem her, but it has proved a weak expe dient so far since some one is nearly always willing to yield his time to those who desire to talk. Thla privi lege will be more frequently denlod as tho session continues and tha pre vious question will ba moved to cut 'iff prolonged oratory. Lexington News Miss AMABEL STRODTMAN Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Bull de parted on Thursday for Wallowa. Oregon, where they will reside in the future. Mr. Bull has been manager local o'fice of Kerr, Gif ford and Company for the past two yeara and ha3 ken sent to the new location by that company. A social evening was enjoyed by members of the Lexington Parent-Teachers Association in the school auditorium on Wednes day evening last. A handsome birthday occupied the center of the stage and was lighted by Am abel Strodtman in honor of Foud- ers Day. A short business spsinn followedafterwhich refreshments of cake and coffee were served. R. II. Lane went to Portland on a short business trip Monday. Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Strodtman were business visitors in Hepp ner, Monday. A dance was given in Leach Memorial hall on Saturday even ing by the Echo orchestra. The Lexington girls grade school team defeated Heppner on 1 the latter's floor last Thursday . oy a score of 4 - 2. Several friends gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Bur chell on Friday evening to wish their daughter Grace a happy birthday. Those present were Na omi McMillan, Amabel Strodt man, Winford Duvall, Sam Mc Millan, and Vernon Scott Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Slo cum are moving from the Sadie Lewis residence to the Congrega tional parsonage. A farewell party was given for Harvey and Lucile Wiggles worth at their Blackhorse home. Saturday evening by a number of their friends. Harley and Lu cile plan to leave on Sunday for lioardman where they will finish this term of school. The boys basketball team of Lexington High School journey ed to Arlington on Friday to play in the tournament They lost to Umatilla, 24 - Hand were defeat ed by Arlington 20 - 22. The boys who made the trip were Kenneth Warner, center; Emmett Kuns and Lewellyn Evans, auards: Ar chie Munkers and Dale Lane for wards with Jim Valentine, Ves ter Thornburg and Buck Rhule as substitutes. Mr and Mrs. W. F. Barnett ac companied by Mrs. Sarah White were visitors at the home of Mr. Mrs. Gerald White, in Hermiston, on Sunday. Women's Topic Club Ruth Rietmann, Sec. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Smouse were hosts to the Woman's Topic Club Friday evening ?.t their ranch home. Bridge was tli2 diversion of the evening. Present were Mr. and Mrs, Earl Blake, Mr. fnd Mrs. Victor Petesson, Omar Riet mann, Mrs. Inez Freeland, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Swanson. MLu Eva Swanson, Mr. and Mrs. Vic tor Rietmann, and Carl Troedson. High awards were made to Mrs. Victor Peterson and Eail Blake. Low scores were made by Mrs. Victor Rietman and Victor Peter son. Refreshments consisting of salads, cheese straws, ice cream, cake and coffee were served. Weather Report For February Morgan Station o of Clear Davs llfO Vo partly cloudy days 8.00 Mo cloudy days 9.00 Sleet on th 22nd Total precipitation 0.34 ! otal recipitaticn since September 1 3.78 Kor same period last year 5. DC irtclion of prevailing wnniM.t. R. E. Harbison, Co operativt Obsarver,