PAGE EIGHT
Eastern Oregon Wheat League
Report and Recommendations of the
Finance, Taxation, and State
Legislation Committee
Heppner, Oregon, December 4-5 1936 .
Old Age Pensions
The Committee feels that the pres
ent method of handling old-age as
sistance by the county and state re
lief committees is working satisfac
torily and provides adequate and
equitable assistance to those persons
70 years of age or over who need
some help. The present system in
volves case study and a separate
consideration of each individual's
situation and avoids the emotional
unsoundness inherent in many of
the recently proposed old-age meas
ures. , ,
The announced WPA policy of es
tablishing a 65-year old age limit for
workers enrolled on WPA projects
seems to the Committee to be un
fair and unnecessary. There are
many unemployed, able-bodied men
over 65 who are anxious, willing and
, able to work. Old-age pensions can
not, under the present law, begin
before the age of 70. There would,
therefore, be a five-year gap which
would probably work a hardship on
a considerable number of people.
Those over 65 who are physically
unable to participate in WPA work
are already provided for in existing
relief set-ups. .
We, therefore, strongly recom
mend that the 65-year age limit for
WPA work, be removed and that a
copy of this recommendation be sent
to our representatives and senators
at Washington. .
Tax Collections and Delinquencies
During the last year the legisla
ture has not been in session and
there has been no opportunity for
action to be taken upon the recom
mendation made by this Committee
as the 1935 convention regarding tax
collections and delinquencies. Our
Committee, therefore, feels that thi3
recommendation should be repeated:
"The tax delinquency problem is
more and more acute. The present
plan of forgiving interest and pen
alties, providing current taxes are
paid, may help some. Oregon's tax
collecting history is a poor one.
Practically every legislature since
1907 has changed the law, lightening
penalties, removing discounts for
payments, reducing , interest, and
abolishing interest .and penalties.
The situation is now that although
on the whole we have lower levies
than neighboring states, our delin
quent tax list is far larger. In
Washington, for example, for the
past five years their tax delinquen
cies are 12 percent whereas ours are
20 percent nearly double. Our tax
delinquent list is now at an all-time
high of $46,000,000, which is $5,000,000
more than the total 1934 tax.
"We therefore request the next
legislature to appoint an interim
committee to study the question of
tax collections and tax delinquencies
and report at the following session.
As possible lines of effort, we rec
ommend to such a committee for
study the following:
' "1. Our tax foreclosure procedure
is expensive, clumsy, and out of date.
The Idaho system should be studied
where there is practically no ex
pense. "2. Frequent changes in rules gov
erning penalties and interest keep
people hoping for more changes. If
we can find a workable system, we
pledge this organization to lend its
. influence toward sticking to it.
"3. It might avoid buck passing if
the same county office made the as
sessment and collected the taxes.
This would centralize tax authority
in one office, tend to make that of
fice more expert in dealing with tax
matters, and tend to put assessments
more in line with actual values.
"4. Much of the delinquency is
due to assessments which are now
entirely out of line with property
values.
"5. Some counties let taxes run un
collected for ten years or more be
fore starting foreclisure. Such a
procedure is of no help to a hard
pressed land-owner because before
that time the delinquent ' taxes are
.invariably so high that payment be
comes impossible. Moreover, this
tempts other people to let their taxes
run. ,
"6. Perhaps the state could han
dle tax foreclosures better than the
counties. The state could then in
sure and guarantee title when the
properties are resold."
We should reaffirm the stand tak
en last year against the further issu
ance of municipal county and state
bonds. The Committee feels that
government business within the state
should be handled on a pay-as-you-go
basis. ,
A very considerable portion of the
total county tax goes for the sup
port of schools. The Committee
feels that here is a fertile field for
saving. We would do nothing to in
terfere with the adequacy of our
school system nor to limit the op
portunities of any child for secur
ing an education. We feel, however,
that with the development of roads
and transportation facilities, that
certain of our methods of handling
school matters have become anti
quated. Material savings could be
realized and much duplication of
function could be avoided through
consolidation of school districts. We
therefore favor consolidation of
school districts where practicable.
At the present time nearly all of the
expense of operating our schools
falls upon real property within the
county. We feel that it is vital that
this load be lightened. We, there
fore, favor partial support of our
public schools from state and fed
eral funds.
. Labor Controversies
During the past several years nu
merous instances have occurred
where producers and the public, in
general, have suffered material dam
age from controversies between va
rious labor and employer groups.
We realize that in the course of
events it is inevitable that legiti
mate differences will arise between
such groups. We further realize
that each group must be conceded
the right to defend its interests and
to seek remedial measures. In our
present complex civilization the de
pendence of the public on the smooth
operation of all branches of indus
try and commerce is such that any
one group cannot cease to function
without causing damage to the oth
er groups.' We can see no reason
why any group of men urging a le
gitimate cause should object to ar
bitration before an impartial trib
unal. We commend Governor Mar
tin and the State Police for their
service to Oregon in labor disorders
during the last tyo years.
We therefore strongly recommend
that the 1937 session of the State
Legislature and the next session of
Congress pass such state and na
tional legislation as will compel ar
bitration of disputes between labor
groups and employer groups to the
end that the flow of commerce will
go on uninterrupted and that the
public welfare will be protected.
Production Credit Associations
We feel that the Production Credit
Associations are furnishing a type of
credit which is of tremendous value
and could be of still greater value
to the wheat farmers of the Pacific
Northwest. We strongly urge on the
part of the Production Credit Asso
ciations and farm organizations a
campaign of education to thoroughly
acquaint farmers with this type of
credit. We feel that farmers should
anticipate their credit needs just as
they anticipate other seasonal re
quirements. There has been but
little criticism of the Production
Credit Associations in the speed with
which second and later loans have
become available. We feel that a
low rate of interest can only be con
sistent with sound loans and that
adequate friendly investigation of
the borrower's financial condition is
necessary if the Production Credit
Associations are to be continued on
a sound basis. We urge that such
preliminary investigations be made
with such speed as possible, but we
also suggest that applications be sub
mitted as far as possible in advance
of the actual need. .
' Dredging
We reaffirm the stand taken by
this committee last year on the sub
ject of dredging.' In line with the
recommendations of the 1935 con
vention, we strongly oppose the
dredging and consequent permanent
ruin of fertile mountain valleys such
as those in Grant and Baker coun
ties. Invariably this land goes back
to the county, through tax delin
quency as soon as the dredging is
completed. Already the tax levy in
these counties reflects the removal
of this dredged land from the tax
roll. If such dredging must be done
we favor a law by which the dredg
ing companies would be required to
deposit with the county sums large
enough so that if invested in Gov
ernment bonds the trust funds would
earn enough interest to compensate
for the loss in taxes. , ,
Gasoline Tax ?
We feel that the state revenue
from gasoline and license fees should
be expended only for road purposes
and should not be diverted to any
other use. We feel, however, that
since a large sum of the state gaso
line tax is collected "from logging
and heavy commodity ' trucks op
erating practically 75 of their
mileage on county roads, and since
only about 10 of our public roads
in the State of Oregon are desig
nated as primary highways, we are
justified in asking that a consider
able portion of the gasoline and li
cense revenue should be distributed
to the various counties for road
building and maintenance purposes.
We therefore recommend and urge
that 15 of the total state income
from gasoline and license fees should
be returned to the counties on fthe
same basis as the present division,
provided that at least two million
dollars be so divided.
Improved Accounting Systems
, in Counties ,
Feeling that an improved account
ing system would make possible
more accurate budgeting, we urge
our county courts to study possible
improvements which could be made
in our respective counties to the end
that savings in total county expense
could be realized.
Agricultural Legislation
'We feel that the production con
trol feature of the old wheat pro
gram was one of the most forward
steps in farm legislation that has
been made in many years, and that
some form of production control
should be an integral and basic part
of any future agricultural legisla
tion. We urge the legislature of the
State of Oregon in this coming ses
sion to work out a state act incor
porating the provisions of adjust
ments in crop production and har
monizing with the Agricultural Con
servation Act so that Oregon may
be in a position to cooperate one
hundred per cent in future agricul
tural adjustment and conservation
programs. '
We regret the tendencies shown
during the past few years to make
agricultural legislation a political
issue. Our committee recommends
that the administration of such an
act within the state be placed in the
Land Grant Colleges through the
Extension Service. The Extension
Service, being divorced from politi
cal influence, is better qualified to
handle this Act than any other state
agency. Further than this, the ob
jectives to be attained by the act it
self make it fit logically into the pro
gram of the Extension Service with
the least possible additional expense,
as has been evidenced by the carry
ing out of the production control
and soil conservation programs. We
feel that the allotment committee
feature of the production control and
soil conservation programs has been
a good one and that the administra
tion of these programs would have
been even more successful had the
county committees been given more
authority. We favor as great a
measure of authority as possible in
the hands of the farmers through
such committees.
Weed and Seed Legislation
We recommend revision of the
Oregon seed law to- provide for
standardization and labelling of all
agricultural seed and to prevent the
sale of lots of seed containing nox
ious weeds., We further recommend
continuance of the seed testing work
at the Experiment Station and that
the State Department of Agriculture
be charged with adequate enforce
ment of the law. ' -
We recommend modification of
the Oregon weed law to place en
forcement with the" State Depart
ment of Agriculture and that addi
tional provisions be made to contro!
movement of weed infested products
along highways and from farm to
farm. '
Erosion Control Districts
The Eastern Oregon Wheat League
strongly recommends early passage
in the 1937 session of the State Leg
islature of a law enabling the set
ting up of erosion control districts,
upon the favorable vote of two
thirds of the farmers within a given
area, forthe establishment of such
a district. ' , ,
, We recommend . that such a law
follow very ; closely the provisions
and procedure set forth in the draft
of a bill, a copy of which is append
ed to this report, which already has
been prepared by members of the
Lexington Erosion Control District
The Lexington Erosion Control
District, organized in 1931 for the
voluntary control of wind erosion,
has" found this proposed legislation
to be necessary for the effective con
trol of blows within their district,
This bill has the endorsement of the
farmers within that district, the Lex
ington Grange, and the Morrow
County Pomona Grange.
Property Taxes
Our Committee feels that taxes on
real property have reached the point
where further increases would ag
gravate the present serious tax de
linquency situation.
We commend Governor Martin for
his announced opposition to any in
creases in tax rates of whatever na
ture. We feel very strongly the de
sirability of a county and state pol
icy of living within our' income.
We favor the present arrangement
whereby intangiple and income taxes
which tend to broaden the tax base
must be used as an offset to reduce
property taxes. . ', '
The Eastern Oregon Wheat League
puts itself on record as unalterably
opposed to further increases in taxes
on real property.
We feel that some of the resolu
tions passed, by this and other com
mittees of the Eastern Oregon Wheat
League could have been more ef
fective if we had been in a position
to promote them more energetically.
Those resolutions bearing on legisla
tive matters should be followed
through and favorable resulting ac
tion should be insisted upon by some
representative of the Eastern Oregon
Wheat League. To this end we urge
that the ' Eastern Oregon Wheat
League energetically promote at
Salem legislative, measures fostered
or favored by it.
In line, with this, 'we recommend
that we again accept the offer of the
Oregon Shippers & Producers Asso
ciation to serve as our legislative
contact agency as was done at the
1935 legislative session, it being un
derstood that this organization will
keep us in close touch with all legis
lation affecting agriculture and par
ticularly wheat growers, without
cost to the League. .
, L ' " '
Erosion Control Districts
Recognizing that unchecked ero
sion may seriously threaten the val
ue of property, not only of the in
dividual immediately affected, but
of adjacent lands, just as unchecked
fire may threaten adjacent build
ings, and recognizing that to protect
property within any erosion control
district, effective preventative meas
ures must frequently be taken be
fore damage has progressed to the
point where actual harm is being
suffered by such other property, it
is hereby declared that the control
of erosion, as herein provided, is a
proper exercise of the police power
of the State of Oregon, and that it
is for the best interests of the state
and all persons concerned that soil
erosion be reduced to a minimum.
It is further declared that the pro
tection of the land and property
values in the community shall be a
primary consideration in guiding the
policies and actions of the Advisory
Board of any erosion control dis
trict hereinafter set up. It is recog
nized that improper cultivation prac
tices may be destructive of neigh
boring farm land and that the pur
pose of this Act is to protect the tax-.
payers and permanent .residents
within such districts.- It is further
recognized that the establishment of
such an erosion control district is
admission, on the part, of the free
holders resident within the district
that few constant rules of farm
practice are applicable to all condK
tions, or to the same land under dif
ferent seasonal and physical condi
tions, and said freeholders, by es
tablishment of said erosion control
districts do set up an Advisory Board
in the manner specified in the Act
for the purpose of exercising the
best Judgment of its several mem
bers in determining the most effect-,
ive procedure to the best of their
abilities. , . ' ' - '
County Erosion Control Board Es
tablishment of Erosion Control
District Petition. , ,
In any county in, which this Act
shall become ' effective the. County
Court and the Board of County Com
missioners, if this Board is a separ
ate body, shall constitute the Board
for the laying off in their, county of
a convenient erosion' control district,
or districts, such Board tQ be known,
as the "County Erosion Control
Board." -The said County Erosion
Control Board shall establish, alter
and abolish the boundaries of Ero
sion Control Districts' when petition
ed so to do in the manner herein
after specified. The County shall
make a record showing the boun
daries and numbers of the erosion:
control ' districts in the county so-
established and , organized. The
County Judge shall act as ex-officio-
Chairman of. said Board and shall
appoint an ex-officio Secretary of
said County Board. . The Secretary-'
and two. members of the County
Erosion Control Board shall consti
tute a quorum for the transaction
of business.- The County Erosion
Control Board may establish an ero
sion control' district' on' petition of
twenty (20) per cent of the electors
residing in the territory included in
the proposed erosion control district,
and may, at its .discretion, upon the
petition of twenty (20) per cent or,
more of. the electors in the district
affected, change, divide or abolish
any erosion control district within
the county. Before any new district
shall, be- established or any change
shall be made in' the boundaries of
any existing district, the County
Judge shall cause to be posted in
three (3) public and conspicuous
places in such proposed district, or
in each of the existing districts, at
least ten (10) days before action is
xi i i i - 1 1
wmii as nerein proviaea, wriuen
or printed notice of the boundaries
of the proposed new district, or the -changes
to be made in the boundar
ies of any existing district, and of
the date of the meeting of the Ero
sion Control Board when the same
will be done. '
III ,
Election Notice Ballots Es
tablishment of District.
When the petition of twenty (20) .
per cent of the electors of any ero
sion control district established as
herein provided shall be filed with
the County Clerk, the County Clerk
shall forthwith give notice of an
election to be held in said district,
at which election a vote will be tak
en for and against the establishment,
organization and operation' of said
erosion control district. Such notice
shall describe the boundaries of said
erosion control district and shall be
published once each week for at
least four (4) Consecutive weeks
prior to such election in a newspa
per of general circulation within
said County. Such notice shall re
quire all electors, as defined by the
Statutes of the State of Oregon, in
said proposed district, to cast , bal-
ots which shall contain the words:
"For the establishment, organization
and operation of an Erosion Control
Districtr--(Yes); For the establish
ment, organization and operation of
an Erosion Control District (No)."
Such election shall be conducted as
nearly as practicable in accbrdance
with the general election laws of the
State; provided that the provisions
of the election laws as to the form of
ballot shall not apply. The County
Court shall, at its regular or special
meeting next succeeding such elec
tion, proceed to -canvass the votes
thereat and enter an order declar
ing the votes of said election. Such
court shall cause a copy of such or- .
- (Continued on Page Nine)