Page Six
Heppner Gazette Times, Heppner, Oregon
Thursday, February 23, 1939
STATE
CAPITAL
NEWS
o No New Taxes
o "Sit Downers"
o Game Protection
By A. L. LINDBECK
Salem Although the legislative
session still has at least another
week or ten days to run, its pro
gram is now sufficiently developed
as to make it fairly safe to predict
: that there will be no new taxes im
posed upon the people of Oregon.
There are a number of tax and
revenue measures in the legislative
ihopper, notably a sales tax, a gross
income tax and a proposal to boost
the price of liquor ten percent for
the benefit of relief. None of these
proposals, unless it is the liquor
price increase, has attracted any ap
preciable support. Oregon has swat
ted the sales tax so hard and so of
ten that the legislators do not take
kindly to any proposal to submit
another measure of this kind to the
electorate, at least not just yet
Then, too, the attitude of Governor
. Sprague, who has turned thumbs
down on new taxes, has not been
conducive to any enthusiastic sup
port of any tax program.
The only demand for more rev
enue has come from the better pen
sion group whose spokesmen have
agreed to support a gross income
tax if the lawmakers will submit
such a measure to the voters. The
grange and organized labor, on the
other hand, have warned that they
will vigorously oppose such a meas
ure' as they have in the past, so these
i proposals will probably be permitted
to die in committee.
Senator Ellis' proposal to increase
the price of liquor has attracted
considerable interest and has some
chance of enactment although the
state liquor commission is opposing
it. If enacted the additional revenue
from this source would go to the
counties to help finance relief costs.
Ellis estimates this to amount to
something in the neighborhood of
$1,250,000 for the biennium.
Administration advisors, too, have
abandoned their plan to sock the
small income tax payer in order to
make up losses from the intangibles
tax levy which it is proposed to re
peal. Instead it is now proposed to
make up these losses from a surtax
on intangibles incomes and increased
levies against corporation incomes.
A sit-down strike by the legisla
ture failed to materialize when mem
bers who had agreed to support a
sine die resolution closing the ses
sion at midnight Friday got cold
feet and refused to go through with
the program. Senator Lyman Ross
of Washington county who was pro
moting the move as a gesture of pro
test against the 40-day pay limit
and the $3 per diem, claims to have
had the promise of 18 votes in the
upper house, more than enough to
insure passage of his resolution,
while at least 25 representatives
were said to be ready to vote to go
home. Rumors of the threatened ad
journment with all of the big legis
lation still untouched and none of
the appropriations made brought a
statement from Governor Sprague
to the effect that he would not call
a special session if the lawmakers
quit and went home before finishing
their job.
Hopes of the League of Oregon
Cities for a "cut" of the highway
revenues were dashed when the
House voted 42 to 16 against the
proposal when it came out of the
House highways committee on a
"do not pass" report.
It is now proposed to dissolve the
Capitol reconstruction commission
as of April 1 and turn its functions
over to the state board of control.
It had originally been planned to
continue this commission in effect
until August. It is estimated that
overhead expenses of the commis
sion amounting to approximately
$1200 a month will be saved by its
early dissolution.
If the House follows the lead of the
Senate the State Bakery board will
soon be a thing of the past. The
senators voted 20 to 8 for the Ellis
Wipperman bill abolishing this board.
Friends of the board charged that
antagonism to the board was based
on a misunderstanding of the facts
that Al Rosser and his truck driv
ers and not the bakery board were
responsible for the high price of
bread in Oregon. Governor Sprague
in his inaugural message recom
mended that the board be abolished.
Civil service for state employees
is a dead issue so far as this legis
lative session is concerned. The
measure proposing this government
al reform was killed in the senate
with only eight votes in its favor.
The usual flood of salary increases
are being approved by the lawmak
ers. A measure increasing the sal
ary of the deputy state treasurer
from $3600 to $4800 a year has al
ready been signed by the governor.
Bills still pending provide for better
salaries for the deputy secretary of
state, state labor commissioner, cor
poration commissioner and state
printer. In addition there are nu
merous salary increases for county
officials.
Sweeping changes in the state
game protection set-up are proposed
in a bill sponsored by Senator Wm,
L. Dickson and Representatives Car
ter and Kimberling. The measure
would turn all the functions and du
ties of the state game commission
to a new wildlife conservation com
mission. In addition this commission
would be vested with authority to
make rules and regulations for the
protection and propagation of all
wildlife. These rules and regulations
would have the force and effect of
law and any existing law that might
conflict with the mandates of the
commission would be automatically
repealed.
Public power advocates have ap
parently given up all hope of put
ting over their Bonneville-inspired
program at this session and are now
concentrating on a compromise
measure which will permit the is
suance of revenue bonds to finance
development of peoples utility dis
tricts, these bonds to be sold on bid
and to the highest bidder. Chief
point of controversy now appears to
be the matter of taxes to be paid by
these power districts. The proposal
that the districts contribute six per
cent of their gross revenue toward
the support of governmental activ
ities is meeting with much opposi
tion. Private utilities in Oregon now
pay out more than 13 per cent of
their gross revenues in taxes. A
smaller contribution by the power
districts, it is pointed out, will neces
sitate an increase in the levy 'against
other property in the district.
A bill to change the date of pri
mary elections from the third Mon
day in May to the first Wednesday
in September has the backing of at
least 20 senators and is believed to
have enough support in the House
to insure its passage. Governor Spra
gue has also endorsed the measure
as one designed for the relief of of
fice seekers as well as the voters in
asmuch as it will materially shorten
the time of political campaigns.
While there does not appear to
be any likelihood that the lawmak
ers will attempt to wipe out the
milk control board there is much
sentiment for some changes in the
milk control act. One measure which
has already passed the House
would confine the operation of the
act to the larger cities of the state.
Senators Mahoney and Chaney who
are sponsoring a bill to abolish the
board have announced that they
will carry their fight to the people
if the legislature turns them down.
Increasing Film Use
Shown by Report
Educational motion picture films
covering 702 different subjects were
distributed last year by the depart
ment of visual instruction in . the
general extension service through
the office maintained on the campus
of Oregon State college, U. S. Burt,
head of the department, has report
ed. These were shown at 5557 differ
ent meetings or classes and were
viewed by 1,640,787 persons. The
department also distributed numer
our charts and many sets of stere
opticon slides from the 907 sets now
available.
These visual materials are exten
sively used by the grade and high
schools of the state, as well as by va
rious community organizations.
Land, Forests Are
"Meat and Potatoes"
Say State Planners
Oregon's agricultural and forest
products provide the "meat and po
tatoes" of the state's economical ex
istence, and the substantial but
variable income brought in by out
door recreation seekers and tourists
should be considered more as "gra
vy," it is pointed out in one of the
latest reports of the Oregon state
planning board, "Oregon Looks
Ahead."
The state should continue to in
vite people from everywhere to
come here to enjoy its unique rec
reational features such as matchless
scenery, unequalled fishing and
hunting grounds, beaches and oth
er attractions, but should not make
the mistake of depending on rev
enue from this "crop" to a large ex
tent, the report says. Recreational
habits and demands fluctuate with
economic conditions and are rela
tively unpredictable. Economic
structures founded on such a base
may suddenly topple.
Although warning that agricul
ture and stable industry should be
given first consideration in the state
development, the report points out
that public expenditures for con
serving and developing recreational
areas are sound investments. Preser
vation of native scenic beauty, es
pecially along roadsides, is as im-.
portant as development of recrea
tional projects.
Conservation of game fish and
wild life will bring substantial re
turns from tourists as well as be of
great value to residents, the report
points out.
The report especially urges that
immediate action be taken to pre
serve timber along Oregon high-1
ways. At present 250,000 acres of
magnificent standing timber along
1,000 miles of highway is unpro
tected.
The report, "Oregon Looks Ahead"
was edited by V. B. Stanbery, ex
ecutive secretary of the board. Cop
ies may be obtained at the planning
board office in the Spalding build
ing in Portland.
Famous Printer
Publishes Book at U.O.
University of Oregon, Eugene,
Feb. 22. Publication of "Religio
Medici" by Sir Thomas Browne, the
first volume of major importance
to be printed since he established
his press here, was announced at
the University of Oregon this week
by John Henry Nash, internationally
famous printer.
The book, which is expected1 to
take its place with the foremost ex
amples of modern printing, was pub
lished for the Limited Editions club,
and its 1500 signed and numbered
copies will be delivered only to
members of this organization. For
the first time a volume by the for
mer San Francisco printer bears the
designation, "Eugene: , University of
Oregon," thus making this institu
tion one of the centers for the
world's finest book printing, it is
pointed out by Eric W. Allen, dean
of the school of journalism.
Dr. Nash, who moved here last
fall, set every line of the book by
hand, and designed and executed
borders and decorations for what he
considers one of his best works. The
paper, a light India in tone, is
Broadcaster Text, one of the best
made by Strathmore. Type is beau
tiful light face Cloister. Cover stock,
in mottled dark India, blue and
cream tones, came from Germany.
Weed Leaflet Series
Issued by College
Eight illustrated leaflets, first in a
series dealing with perennial weeds
found in Oregon, have just been
issued as extension bulletins at Ore
gon State college, and are now ready
for free distribution.
Each leaflet carries an accurate
reproduction of one weed in various
stages, such as the mature plant, the
root system, leaves, blossom, and
seed's. A description of each weed
and its distribution in the state is
discussed, as well as the latest rec
ommendations on control methods.
Weeds covered so far by the series
are Canada thistle, white top, morn
ing glory, quack grass, plantains,
leafy spurge, Russian knapweed,
and St. John's wort. All are written
by Lawrence Jenkins and E. R.
Jackman, extension specialists in
farm crops.
FALL, WINTER TERMS EQUAL
Oregon State College Registration
at Oregon State college for the win
ter term has come within 25 of
equalling the total for the fall term,
according to reports issued by E. B.
Lemon, registrar. Although enroll
ment for the winter term is usually
smaller than the fall term, 4381 are
now enrolled compared with a total
of 4406 in the fall term. This repre
sents an increase of 8 per cent
compared with a year ago.
EXAMINER COMING
C. M. Bentley, examiner of oper
ators and chauffeurs, will be in
Heppner Thursday, March 2, at the
city hall between the hours of 1
and 4 p. m. All those wishing li
censes or permits to drive cars are
asked to get in touch with Mr
Bentley at that time.
fTtTWKY - Ml . -A cot n-- UVttMHKS
Mr' gF Im MGISTRAT,ON "GURI8 m f
jmjjtwfl CHEVROLET. 513,11 6 FH
fffBTuS NEXT MAKE . 464,647 HSX
FERGUSON MOTOR COMPANY
Heppner Oregon