TWO The Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon, Thursday October 26, 1978
Sifting through
the TIMES
o easy choices in 'battle of the ballot measures'
Pity, the serious-minded
citizen who enters the voting
booth Tuesday, Nov. 7, and
attempts to cast reasoned,
unemotional votes on the 11
statewide measures on this
year's ballot.
All 11 are either highly
complicated or equally emotion-laden.
No. 1 would change the
manner in which judges are
elected. No. 2 would clarify
the State Senate's power to
reject appointments by the
governor. No. 3 would in
crease motor vehicle
registration fees. No. 4 would
change formation and financ
ing procedures for people's
Utility Districts. No. 5 would
permit denturists to fit dent
ures. No. 6 would limit
property taxes. No. 7 would
prohibit state-paid abortions.
No. 8 would restore the death
penalty in some instances. No.
9 would prevent private elec
tric utilities from including
any of the costs of construc
tion money (interest, etc.) for
generating facilities in their
rate bases before facilities are
actually generating electri
city. No. 10 would make
selected changes in current
land use law. And No. 11 also
would limit property taxes but
by a formula at variance with
that fostered in No. 6.
This particular ballot gives
voters the power to decide
issues that have been perplex
ing our lawmakers for more
than a century. How can
anyone stay away from the
polls?
Two issues involve the
power over life and death.
Three bear significantly on
that other of life's certain
tiestaxation. False teeth are
almost an inevitability in
modern society and that issue
could be made more emotion
al only by adding a statewide
requirement for flouridation.
Voters even are vested with
the power to turn off the
power. About all that's miss
ing from this ballot is a
question regarding the right to
bear arms.
In these days just before the
election, campaign fervor is at
its peak. Claims and counter
claims bombard the voter
from radio, TV, newspapers
and signboards. Statewide
candidates for governor and
many candidates for the
legislature have taken sides.
On most, if not all, there is no
clear consensus.
Campaign organizations for
and against most issues are
grinding their axes by almost
any means. In addition to the
emotions involved, some is
sues are highly technical,
difficult to fully comprehend
and subject to opinions that
can be settled only in courts of
law.
One highly visible example
of the voters' dilemma is
exemplified by the battle over
Measures No. 6 and 11. The
former achieved ballot status
by initiative petition and
attracted a staggering 200,000
, signatures. Because it ap
pears incompatible with
existing law, Gov. Bob Straub
called a special session of the
legislature to prepare No. 11
as an alternative. One or the
other must receive a simple
majority to pass and many
oddsmakers figure voting
may be distributed in a
manner that would preclude
acceptance of either.
But even surpassing the
clamor and confusion sur
rounding these property tax
relief measures, is the furor
being raised about Measure
No. 10.
Here's an example. The
campaign group seeking pas
sage of this land use law
constitutional amendment is
called the Citizens Committee
to Protect Our Land. The
opposition calls its committee
Citizens to Defend Your Land.
Protection and defense are
quite synonymous and one
wonders if voters are sup
posed to choose sides on the
basis of whose land is involv
ed ; yours or ours. And if that's
the case, who's who?
Supporters of Measure No.
10 claim they seek to bring the
land use planning process
closer to the people. They
want to make the legislature
assume the responsibility for
enacting land use laws and
remove that power from a
seven-member appointed lay
commission.
Opponents claim passage of
No. 10 would obliterate cur
rent land use law and leave
the state's natural attributes
open to outright rape. Law
yers on both sides make
claims and counter-claims.
Opponents say the measure's
right of referendum by the
people on local land use
legislation will deter develop
ment. Proponents point out
that power currently exists
and has not proved a deter
rent. Opponents claim No. 10's
passage will lead to legal
entanglements. Proponents
point to the legal morass in
which current land use law is
foundering.
Gov. Straub opposes No. 10
and is using opposition reason
ing in his campaign for a
second term. He forecasts the
end of an era for Oregon if it
passes and bears down hard
on what he considers the
impossibility of the legislature
to comply with one of its
provisions. The provision re
quires lawmakers to adopt
new or existing land use laws
in 60 days.
Straub doubts the legisla
ture can do an adequate job in
that period of time. On the
other hand, he warmly em
braces No. 11, the alternative
to No. 6 that legislators
hammered out in that short,
Salem Scene
By Jack Zimmerman
five-day special session.
The Governor's opponent,
State Sen. Victor Atiyeh, does
n't endorse Measure 10. But he
deplores what he calls the
Chicken Little syndrome that
predicts the sky's collapse if
voters act in its favor.
Atiyeh calls on 20 years of
experience in the Oregon
Legislature as basis for his
relatively impassive reaction
to the outcome. And he calls
on that same legislative ex
perience in supporting
Measure No. 6, while Straub
favors No. 11.
Time alone will reveal the
outcome involving both candi
dacies and measures.
Political analysts doubtless
will lay blame or favor for
those results on one strategy
or another.
But many voters on both
sides of each race and
issue likely will be as con
fused the day after election as
they were the day before.
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Measure 6 would stymie buzzards in Salem'
Editor:
About three years ago, I read something in the paper
where I was entitled to a refund on my local property home
tax from the state. I understood that it was a refund because I
was a Senior Citizen, so I applied and received $320 to apply
on my taxes which were around $700. I didn't like this
arrangement in no way, for I knew I was only breeding
another bureaucratic monster here in Oregon, and we have
hundreds of those, too many. To my surprise, this stupid
rip-off was for everybody, which made it stink even more.
But, believe it or not, before the ink dried on the check that
paid my taxes, the three Musketeers in our County Court and
their buddy, the Assessor had jumped my taxes up, and
completely wiped out this assistance that I received from the
state. I thought that this was a pretty rotten manuveur by my
local government, but I have known for a long time that they
are experts in that field. I am used to having my intelligence
insulted by them, so this manuveur didn't disturb me.
Then I heard where the United States Government was
going to come to my rescue on my tax problem as a veteran.
They weregoing to pay the first $7500 of my home taxes. That
was another manuveur that smelled to high heaven and of
course, my intelligence was insulted again. But believe this
or not, before I can get home from filling in this application,
the three wise men in our County Court, and their busom
buddy, the assessor, send me a notice that my taxes had just
gone up again ant that completely wiped out this benefit.
So at present, my prayer is that "Measure No. 6" passes.
It may not be perfect, but I would like to see the citizens of
this state build a decent tax system and not turn it over to
that crop of "Buzzards" in Salem, who are so disconnected
from reality that they honestly believe that the sun comes up
in the west. If we lose this round, the Siberian salt mines
would look like "Paradise."
In closing, I feel that "Measure No. 6" is our first shot for
freedom, and I would like to suggest to the over-taxed
citizens of Oregon that we dig in and fight, for if we don't we
might as well kiss the word "freedom" good-bye.
Otto H. Jorgensen Jr.
Scappoose, Ore.
OBITUARY
SUBSCRIPTION RATE
$8.00 In Morrow, Umatilla, Wheeler & Gilliam County; $10.00 elsewhere
The Heppner
11 11 ill 11 Mvllll
Morrow County's Award-Winning Weekly Newspaper
The Official Newspaper of the City of Heppner and the County of Morrow
Published every Thursday and entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, under the Act
of March 3, 1879. Second-class postage paid at Heppner, Oregon.
G.M. Reed, Publisher
Rick Steelhammer, News Editor
Goyle Rush, Composition
Dolores Reed, Co-publisher
Eileen Soling, Office Manager
Kyra Query, Composition
Ron Jordan, Printer
Terry M. Hager, Managing Editor
Justine Weatherford, local Columnist
Cindi Doherty, AdvertisingOffice
Genet Booth Mandt
Genet Booth Mandt, 76,
Heppner, died Sunday, Oct. 22
in Heppner.
She was born in Azalea,
Ore., Aug. 13, 1902. She was a
retired restaurant cook and a
member of the American
Association of Retired Per
sons. Private funeral services for
relatives and close friends
were held Wednesday, Oct. 25,
at 2 p.m . at Sweeney Mortuary
Chapel, followed by cremation
services at Walla Walla,
Wash.
She is survived by two
sisters, Agnes Davis of Lone
rock, Edith Bailey of
Sacremento, Calif., and
numerous nieces and
nephews.
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The Heppner
GAZETTE-TIMES
676-9228
At least one Morrow County rancher was happy that
Portland invaded the area's forests and rangelands during
deer season 15 years ago this week.
Portland hunter Ray Dobbs came to the county hunting
for a buck, but picked up a good many "bucks" contained in a
wallet lost in the mountains by local rancher Bill Barratt.
Barratt had lost the wallet while riding for cattle with his
wife, Bonnie. The billfold contained considerable cash, plus a
check for $3,400.
Dobbs would not accept a reward for his honesty, asking
only that he be reimbursed for his long distance telephone
call from Portland which was made to inform Barratt of his
find.
While the Portlander failed to bag any game during his
stay here, Barratt made it clear that Dobbs would find a
ready welcome the next time he came hunting in Morrow
County.
Another Portland hunter was in the news this week 30
years ago. Mrs. Lilly Clark, 65, was the object of an extensive
air-ground search when she was missing for two days from
her hunting camp in the Ritter area. The elderly nimrod was
eventually found alive and relatively well.
Voter registration 50 years ago this week showed a five
per cent increase over the previous year, with a total of 2,297
Morrow Countians signed up to cast at the polls. Republicans
in 1928 Morrow County numbered 1,667; Democrats totaled
530; Socialists drew in nearly 20 party members;
Prohibitionists, 9; Progressives, 3; and independents, 68.
Will Rogers was appearing in "A Texas Steer" at
Heppner's Star Theater this week 50 years ago. Added
attractions included Our Gang in "Rainy Days" plus a
newsreel.
During the same week, Union Pacific railroad was
offering a special $6 round-trip fare between Portland and
Heppner for local residents wishing to take in the 1928 Pacific
International Livestock Exposition.
fen years ago this week, the U.S. Forest Service began
negotiations with Orville Cutsforth for purchasing a 650-acre
parcel at Kelly Prairie. The Forest Service at that time
planned to develop a reservoir and a recreational area at the
site.
Cutsforth 's wife, Barbara, was also in the news during
this week in 1968, when the Gazette-Times carried a picture
of her displaying an edible, 12-pound mushroom she found
growing near the couple's summer home near Cutsforth
Park.
A Heppner-Wahtonka duel was in the sports pages this
week in 1968, as it is today only this week's news is better.
During the matchup a decade ago, the Eagles front line
proved too much for the Mustangs, leading to a 20-12
Wahtonka victory.
Five years ago this week, Dave McLeod, Morrow County
ASCS agent, was prompted to a position in the state ASCS
office in Portland, following a 21-year association with area
farmers.
During the same week, Heppner's Lyle Lowe became the
first person to become a double winner in the Gazette-Times
football contest. Lowe broke a four-way tie with Robb Rush,
Anna Mae Steagall and Kevin Rountree by successfully
predicting the outcome of a tiebreaker game.
Last week, Lowe left Heppner to assume new duties with
First National Bank's Portland office. Rumor has it that
Lowe's final pigskin forecast before leaving town was
unsuccessful, the banker having predicted a Wahtonka
victory over Heppner.
Picture Credit
lone Mayor Linda LaRue tells Congressman Al Ullman of her
town's problems, caused by a revised Corp of Engineers
report released recently that increased Ione's flood plain to
devastating proportions. A Corp report of revised flood plains
for Heppner and Lexington is expected to be released
soon again with increases in flood plain deliniations. The
Corp reports come after each of the three towns has adopted
their respective draft comprehensive plans.
Where to write
Federal
Following is a list of Oregon and Eastern Oregon public
officials for the information of readers who want to
communicate with them:
U.S. Sen. Mark O. Hatfield. Russell Senate Office Bldg.,
Washington, D.C. 20510. Member of Appropriations
Committee, Interior Committee, Rules Committee and
Indian Policy Review Commission. Portland office , Pioneer
Courthouse, Rm. 107, 520 SW Morrison, Portland, Ore. 97204,
phone 221-3386.
U.S. Sen Bob Packwood, Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.,
Washington, D.C, 20510. Member of Finance Committee and
Commerce Committee. Portland office, 1002 NE Halladay.
Rm. 700. (P.O. Bos 3621), Portland, Ore. 97208 phone
233-4471.
U.S. Rep. Al Ullman, of the Second District, House Office
Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. Member of Ways and
Means. Committee. Salem, office, 530 Center St. N.E., Rm.
330, (P.O. Box 247) Salem, Ore., 97308, phone 399-5724.
State
Gov. Robert Straub, State Capitol, Salem. Ore. 97310,
phone 378-3100.
State Sen. Ken Jernstedt (Morrow, Gilliam and other
counties), 311 Pine St., Hood River, 386-1393.
State Rep. Jack Sumner (Morrow, Gilliam and other
counties), Route 1, Heppner, 676-5364.