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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 9, 1923)
MEDFORD MXTL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD OREO OX, TUESDAY, - JAXUAttY 9, W2? PA OK THTIEK IRRIGATION BOND PAYMENTS ASKED ENFORCEMENT DRY LAWS NEED SUPPORT ALL (Continued from page one.) to reduce the loss to the lowest possi ble minimum. Expressing .sympathy for the loss Buffered by Astoria In the recent fire, Governor Pierce suggested that any financial aid should be given by direct appropriation, and not divortlng money from other needed funds. The governor's message in part fol lows: I wish to express to the people of Oregon my sincere gratltudo for the significant vote of confidence in the recent election. I fully realize the almost staggering responsibility of my position. I will do my best to justify Jhe confidence reposed in me. As I look -over election returns I realize that I received, on the 7th of Novem ber last, as many republican votes aa I did democratic- votes. I therefore, declare myself the people's governor, and I ask the continued support and friendship of the people of Oregon, without reference to past affiliations, political or social. I have no intention of building a I recommend that you carefully scru tinize all appropriations for fairs- The state fair is an Institution of great value and It must be maintained. It should, however be as nearly self sustaining as possible. Our farming communities derive needed benefits from county fairs, but perhaps existing provisions for their maintenance will be found sufficient without additional appropriations. ' ! The experiment stations have been of much benefit. The smutless wheat developed at the Moro station will save farmers thousands of dollars. The blightless pear from the Talent station will revolutionize the pear Industry. The work of the stations is too far reaching to mention in detail, but I wish to assure all It is valuable. We must not, however, Increase the num ber of stations. The extension work of the Oregon Agricultural college, and the Univer sity of Oregon, should be maintained: but I have no doubt a saving can be made. In the present stressful times we can suspend the continuing exhibition of Oregon products in Portland and thereby save $20,000 during the cur rent biennium. I oppose any increase of salaries. I believe there Is money In the trea sury sufficient to meet the., require ments of this year and therefore rec ommend that you repeal the soldiers', sailors' and marines educational law. No further appropriation should be made for the World War Veterans' State Aid commission and the commis sion should be abolished when money now on hand is expended. Numerous state departments are maintaining branch offices. In every rtnlltlenl mnrhino. T nhnll enll Around me, to fill positions, those in whom 1 1 case possible the expense of branch have confidence and I shall remove them from office without fear or one single thought of the future if I find they do not live up to my expectations. I shall give every ounce of devotion I have to the interests of this atate, fearlessly working, as I see the light, to make Oregon a bigger, grander state In the greatest galaxy of states that tho world has ever known.. I will return the commission, in four years, as clean and untarnished as I receive It today. Coming as I do from the farm Into the turmoil of the state government, 1 believe the paramount question before this legislative body is reduction and redistribution of the burden of state taxes. We must not wreck the stnto government or too seriously handicap any of its necessary activities. I sug gest that In your appropriations you constantly ask yourself the question, "Can we afford it?" I promise you and the people, that as a member of the board of control, I will as far as iny power lies save every dollar that can be legitimately saved, in the manage ment of state institutions, and I ask you to keep in mind the same principle of economy in your duty as Btnte legislators. Property in Oregon assessed at little more than a billion dollars can not continue to bear a collection of nine and one-half million dollars, as it did in 1922, for stato activities. As long as these trying times continue it is essen tial that we eliminate all unnecessary expenditures. Legislatures of which I have been a member havo for many years in good faith endeavored to consolidate the state departments only to meet with opposition from those specially inter ested. The time has come when the Interests of the few must give way to tho felfare of the many and I earnestly recommend that a law of wide scope be enacted consolidating many com missions and departments and abolish ing others altogether. By enactment of such a law hordes of stato agents and .inspectors and special deputies who are traveling the stnto over, year in and year out, will be disposed of and a conservative, efficient method of handling tho business of the state be substituted for the present costly ann haphazard system. The best possible government 1 a simple government economically administered. Three of our state commissions, which now require large sums from the state treasury tor their mainten ance, should be solt-supiwrtiug. Corporation Tax With but slight readjustment of Its rates, the stato industrial accident commission can derive all of its funds from the industries to which it renders so valuable a service In giving exemp tion from litigation, and prompt and Bdoquate benefits for injuries and death to workmon and their, depen dents. Likewise, the public service commission should bo supported from fees paid by the public utilities tnai come within Its Jurisdiction. Stability of revenues is afforded to these util ities by the public service commission, as has been demonstrated during tho trying times follinwg the war and it 13 hut lust that a fair return in tne wa of compensation for the actual cost of supervising their affairs should be paid by the utilities to tho state trea sury, thus roliovisg tho general tax payers of what Is otherwise a largo burden. Indoed, the time will come, t nld in my campaign, when nil niiMir. Rorvice corporations will be i.i n tholr cross earnings, rather than on their general property, as Is done in California and othor progres siva RtAtPS. The department of fisheries Is cost ing the state large sums of money, believe such an Industry should be at least self-sustaining... In some states It Is a source of public revenue. No doubt the tourist associations have been of great benefit to the stale hut In this hour of stress snd need believe - appropriations for such pur ports should be omitted. There should be no appropriations this session for state buildings. bo responsible to the people for tho tion law. When I introduced tills mea- acta of tho highway commission and sure in tho sonato some years ugo, the-entire department, but the way I little dreamed that it would grow would be paved to save considerable ' into tho largo department that it has. sums of money. 1 1 remenibur say to tho senate that It I therefore recommend that tho old, would uecome sen-sustaining, nnu i quarter mill road tax bo retained for wish to call the attention of the legla- the road funds, and that tho tux on: latu.ro to tne laei unit It is now sen- tion too dangerous to Issue more bonds to pay interest on irrigation and draiu ago bonds that tho various districts issue, without ndvko and counsel. I boliovo In tho Workmen's Compen sation law. it has been of groat bene fit to tho stato, and 1 am oijih'oi-,'. to any material change that would affect Ancient Methods in tho stato was as a farm band. In There have been many serious er-itho Intervening 40 years, however, lie rors In the work of past legislatures by j has been engaged In many activities, reason of the ancient method employed ; school teacher, lawyer, county clorlt in engrossing and enrolling bills. The j of Umatilla county, Btute senator and cost last session of this work was farmer. .':,- $S,3I.50. Section 2US0 of the code should be amended so that a prliitod ' lu was born on a farm in Illinois In 18(12, has parents being substantial gasoline be increased and that any sustaining. It nover should have been j tho honest oporatlon of the law as It bill only would bo used on final 1"8- j citizens of their community. present automobile law do not reduco sion, with which it does nut harmonize. revenue, if any changes are made In Boost for Portland the licenso law, 1 recommend that the I do hot want to bo. considered fees on high-priced cars be Increased, ono preaching the causo of the country cent or moro of tho money collected fori takes which load to litigation and save the purpose to"- which it was collected ' at leant $50uo this session In legisln is a successful and beneficial law. tivo expense. Tho narcotic evil is a growing men-i The present motor license law was Settling adjustments that may be made in the' put undor tho public service commis- stands. Any law that returns 92 per 'sage. This chango would avoid mis- tn Umatilla county, Oregon in 1883, young Pierce started to work on . a farm, and to increase his income In a small way he taught school. Later, In ISKti. Iib was elected sunerintendont of Tho market road law has proven its : against tho city; I think 1 can envision ; llc0- 1 llia legislative assembly should hastily drawn at a special session. It schools of Umatilla county, and was merit. Cities and farmers have been as wejl as anyono the possibilities of i P1188 a drastic law to enuuio onicuiis to includes some gluring detects and pro- re-elected in 188S. In 1890 he was mutually benefited. 1 have often made 1 great industrial development in the cPe with thoso who are vending visions dividing authority with the re- elected county clerk of Umatilla coun Uio statement that "If this law is kept seaport cities of Oregon. Portland can ! drugs. ; gun that administration is in many , ty, and was re-elected In 1892. , in the statute books for ten years Ore- become a city of a million people with- oaaaenea uy Liquor cases Impossible. It should bo carefully i j a un(.,lme a(ate senator for the dla- revsed at this sessiou. ,-,, pn,i,ruclne Union. Umatilla and eon will ho uneouulled In tho nation in the life time of nmnv now living. I nave Ueen saddened many tunes uy for good market roads." At the end of Our water power may be developed so ! finding that prominent men of this state behind closed doors are breaking tho prohibition law. I nak tor a higher sons of moral duty nnd for un awaken ing of the public conscience. We must ono and all determine to drive liquor from our midst by making it so hard tltnt period there will be no bonds to that this state may becomo one of tho liquidate because the roads will have great Industrial centers of the world, been paid for as they have been built. Our unsurpassed foresta may.be cut I recommend that the preaent law be off and the timber manufactured into altered to provide the county court , lumber, we may grow prosperous and with full and complete authority over . wealthy, but we may. unless we rem an A...in.. nx.i fmm t!,. ieinmU nf tii-.; mice Willi Him nis noinrious ousiness. T iln not. intend tn encroach uiion t 10 . "o " uocu " sea, and we may see the beautiful i 1'lu.uor venders can not do business : ,)erogatives of tho legislature. Firmly ! Payers League of Oregon since .Its ior- n.r.r.n n.a ,-i,ift f atone, i uhk you ior aasiaiauce ui u - .n i i.nlluva tho two finnnrtmmita or 6iwn..u.n,u, " - . There la a widespread demand tor. tho reduction of tlu hunter's license. I It should be given careful consilium-1 tion. - j 1 usk the ways and means committee In drawing appropriation bills to fully itemize each bill so that I can, It I I dairy offices should be eliminated This session should provide means of lifting at least one-half of tho pres ent state tax from farms and homes nnd to that end I recommend a gradu ated Income tax. For purposes of sim plicity In collection and enforcement I would reennct the federal law as the law of this state, with exemptions the same as in tho federal law and making the rates such percentage of tho fed eral rates as will raise four to five million dollars per annum.- Enforce ment of the act I would place in the hands of the state tax commissioner who can, 1 believe, through cooperation with the federal tax officials keep the costs of administration to a minimum. I can not emphasize too strongly that an income tax be treated as a means of redistributing and equalizing the pres ent hurdon of taxation and not as an excuse for increasing that burden by new and additional expenditures of stato money. , ' As a further means of relieving -real property ot its present, unbearable load of taxatipn. and without Intending to invito new 'expenditures, I call atten tion to the fact that one-third of the standing timber in Oregon is in forest reserves and Is thus non-taxable. As this timber passes into private owner ship and is marketed it Bhould bear a severance tax that has some relation to its true value. Other states havo long Imposed scv erance taxes - on natural resource wealth as It Is converted into private wealth. Need Sinking Fund I am advised that recent investiga tion has disclosed a bad state of af fairs with reference to sinking fund provisions in the various taxing units of the stato. In son instances, bonds have been issued without regard to making the maturities time witli the useful life of the improvement. - This is resulting, in some counties where tho chief resources are timber. In the timber being cut at a rate that will result in default on the bonds when they mature unless provision is made either to refund the bonds on a Bhorter term -basis or to adequately tax the timber na it. is being removed and put the nroccods in a sinking fund. I ask the legislature to revise tne assessment laws of the state and give tho tax commissioner tho right to suDorviso county assessments. At the present time there ia widespread dis crepancy in the assessment oi pro- nertv in different counties, in one county sheep are assessed at $2.00, the same kind of sheep in another county at $3.00, and in another county at $8.00 and it Is notorious that large stocks oi merchandise in various parts of the state have escaped their just share of taxation through lack of control of tho stato tax commissioner over lax nnd inefficient local assessors. Tho state tax commissioner should have full authority to compel the same propor tionate assessment on the same kind of property in every county in the state. . By an equitable valuation of all pro perty millions of dollars can be added i. ,i. . monnv derived under the market ,iv conditions, at that time be buvlnglfor the bootlegger to thrive that he ,ieem i necessary, veto Items that op-! . . .. - . . ... ...Ill l.A (rl.,.t . laotrn a,,a nml I . . . ! road rund, tne roatls to ue duiii acconi- our rood and claming in Asia, soutni"1 " " Ini- tn i.lnnu nn,l simriflonllnns furnish- A mnrlnu niwl from the ialiimls nf til-. ! take With llllll his nefarious business. ed by the state highway department. Th nirl fttnrv A f ,inv ni-n T won on mv farm, i many a home, driven from the state by contlnuod effort to enforce tho law. 1 1 government Bhould function Indepen I watched a beautiful pen of' white- its greatest competitor, the coconnut . do not want a etato constabulary but I j uently. I have pointed to some condl ,,,, a,.ra rni fo,i tmiIv for mar- cow. That kind of development took i do want sufficient police agents totlotl8 tllnt x beil0ve Bhould be treated ket, and as I watched them I thought, you are worth about $50.00 each on the present market. If I were to count the tuxea on the land from which you have eaton the grass, nnd the taxes on the land from which you have eaten the hay, and tho taxes paid upon your selves and your mother, then there is standing against each of you approxi mately $15.00 taxes. Each steer has actually cost this farm $75.00. When your hldo is cut up nnd made into harness and shoes, and you are cut up into steaks and roasts, then you will Morrow counties in 1902. In 1916 no was elected state senator for Union and Wallowa counties. ' .., Pierce had been admitted to the bar ; i In Oregon in 1895, nnd in 1890, to com- pleto his legal education he took a course In Northwestern University law school nt Chicago. . '.. pluce in England when the industrial i elimlnato ns far as posslliio violation by mw It is your province to prepare revolution act in something like a cen- :"f the prohibition act. I also ask that ,BIld ,msa measures embodying matters tury ago. When the great war came, ; one-half of nil fines collected through !on which the poople have so clearly England waa importing 75 per cent of ' enforcement ot the state prohibition ; spoken. I am ready at any tlmo to her foodstuffs ' from oversons. The : and narcotic laws bo turned into a help you either Individually or collec German submarlno would have starve! special Tund, such fund to be used In tiveiy ami i orr0r you the fullest mea England to death had It not been f t enforcing tho laws. j sllre 0f cooperation. , the vnllnnt sons of America who I Wo should enact a law prohibiting Tnn people aro exposing much of caught tho wavering banner ot clvili- the selling or leasing of land In Ore-jt,s legislature and many of those ex zatlon and bore it to victory on Ar-; en to the Mongolian and Malay. Euro- p0ctntions will become dlsappolnt gonne's shell-swept slopes. I Petln nnrt Asiatic civilization can not ' menta unless the executive and leglsla- Some years ago the people of Oregon amalgamate, and wo can not nnd must tiV6 branches carry out tholr respec nassed a constitutional amendment nt submit to the peaceful penetration i tlve duties In harmony. I am sure that giving the state of Oregon the right of the Japanese or othor Mongolian you know fuu well how intensely the egon Agricultural college slnce.1905. For several years he has operated a farm in the Grande Ronde valley, eastern Oregon. In 1918 he was a can didate for governor on the democratic ticket. : !- ''.' He waa married in the early nineties to Miss Laura Rudle, a. daughter of pioneer parents, They have slx- chil dren, five daughters and one boo. ...... With Medford tradu lit Medfnrd mads. a, ahnnt trt i-nnranlpn Interimt nn bands Issued races. 500 00 each. The railroad that takes by irrigation nnd drainage districts' Tho alfalfa weevil, a dangerous para you to market fixes the freight rate for a period not exceeding five years site, has entered Oregon s boundaries and makes a profit, the packer that and placing this great power in the I recommend an appropriation of $5000 prepares vou for the market fixes the hands or tho state superinionaem oi - .,... -price and makes a profit, the retailer banks, the stnto engineer and attorney-. quarantine, the appropriation to be fixes the price and makes a profit, the general. Undor this constitutional . used by the state board of horticulture, hotol keeper, the harness maker all provision bonds havo been guaranteed j 8chool Economy fix the price so that they will make a by tho state in many districts over al I am a firm believor in tho free pub profit Tho farmer is the only one in period of from ono to five years. The llo schools but tho present burden of the long long line from tho producer commission holds that when the state 1 taxation in tills state compels me to to tho actual consumer who asks the has guaranteed tho interest the state ask every school board and all boards world to fix a price on his product and is pbligod to issue its bonds to pay the ot regents to practico tho strictest he is the only one who fails to make a interest on tho bonds of tho irrigation economy. ... ..m nniv ton ner cent is and drninago districts. The totul! No mortgage company could long re- allowed in this Instance to the ono who amount of tiro interest the state has main salvent that loaned 75 lier cent produces ninety per cent taken ny thus guaranteed is i,iuu,uuu. mo ui miuo uiiu i i- those who can and do dictate the internet upon theso bonds Issued by diers' bonus a. t requires. Fluctuations i smwiv in nlaces. ranldly in the stato is then to be paid by the in values will In many caBes more than nthor nlnena. the nroducers are being district but it is a financially ruined by the present mar keting system. I do not even want to poople are thing. 1 know you are ready and willing to bury persona nnd party ambitions and all differences for the common good. WALTER M. PIERCE. Biography of New State Executive "Cascarets" 10c For Sluggish Liver or Constipated : ', 'Bowels , ' Clenn your bowels! Feel fine I When you feci sick, dizzy, upset, when your head is dull or aching, or your tamnch ia sour or eassv. tust take one Walter M. Pierce, who takes office ; -two SSSSS ns the seventeenth governor ot tlio artJ;,,,,,r ownp, and children I0o state of Oregon, enmo to Oregon as a x. Taste like candy. ".' The of value upon real property aB tho sol- i y""g 18S3. and h Is first work fact well known nbsorb tho 25 per cent margin. More- that some districts are likely to fail to over some men havo taken advantago pay fr,m tnvnn collected within tho ' or the needs ot cx-soidierB. Hence, 1 think of atate owned packing piams district me interest cumins uu uijum -u ocu ,iuh..b u..v v. . and warehouses tor distriDiuion oi uonus issuou uy tnu nuno. mc ui .,u ,u0.. . - . farm products but I do want to warn way to moet the 'prosieotlvo loss to bonus law. 1 call upon everyone who the business world that the producers the state will bo by taxation. . has charge of the enforcmnt of this must have bettor treatment and a fair! A deal is about to be closed in law to see that the loss Is reduced to chance for existence. which nn Irrigation district proposes the lowest possible minimum. Eight vears ago from this platform 'to sell Its 6 per cent bonds for eighty- At the present tlmo there are no Governor Wlthycombe delivered his in- three conts on the dollar, tho state to I funds available for the reconstruction augural address and In that address Should the stato guarantoo that inter-, of state buildings destroyed by fire. I .i,i frm nf nrecon are mort- est? It is a question that can only be . recommend that a sinking fund be pro- fnr nnnroximatelv $22,000,000." I answered nftor a. most careful, nnd ; vlded for that purpose Today Oregon farms are mortgaged I searching investigation- for approximately $100,000,000. Why; Irrigation Bonds . a,.. Mn,.rnu-Aa mn,A thiin T n.v flm nmntflpnt. nf the senate and nuidmoled in eight years? I can I tho speaker of the houBo to appoint, sanitarium, to pay for their care and 4uuuuji,.u o - (.. i if ,,,tr flnnnplnllv nhln. 1 iny people say "Dan manuse-tne auicst men, mo uoot imuuucu ... v,.w , -- nnther it has been due to the the senato and house on their irriga-i shall boo that the law is enforced. failure yes the downright Inability of tion committees and I ask tho commit- One of Oregon a finest and most producers during late years to balance j tees to meet in joint session, examine prosperous cities, Astoria, narrow y their annual budgots. Unless that sit- j all of the records, Bummon witnesses, escaped total destruction recently in nation is remedied, the country ia ; aearcn out tno lacts anu muae a reinjn. ma niun uw, - threatened with a breakdown in tho, to mo aa governor and to the people of heart of the stato bleeds for the crip morale of ita farming element the the state of Oregon so that I may havo pled city. If the legislature decides to backbone of the nation. I something to guide me when the state ! give financial aid to Astor a, I believe . f n-min nnd ' ia niiori nnnn to net after vou have It should be done by direct npproprla- hay there Is much dissatisfaction with returned to your prospective homes tion and not by diverting money from ... r ... . r. p ,t,n Train inanpr- -I nn nniir in inn frr.Lif:ui mill ill: omin ui'-i " .......... The law compelB relatives ot pa- tiontB in tho state hospitals for the insane, and in tho stato tuberculosis 12 ' 1 1 . I . ctrir TUIQ Nnwi:::l: ..K I m!XSOinsgam5&i&EEaiK?'.- II I com!S?y REVIEW l-l j , ' i AUOK JAY AT TlfK OROAX , ,, ,1 THURSDAY "THE FACE IN THE FOO' wiimiimiwi amma ismss imsmsrimi nsi sasssim nmmmmwtmumwmmNmtmmimKmmimmmmmmm H M. fep. Stoirie Sail to the present assessment roll without raising tho Just assessment on farm, homes and livestock.. Insurance Dodging I am advised that extensive Insur ance is written in this stato by com panies that havo not compiled with the laws of Oregon with the result that premiums on such business are escap ing taxation in tills state. I recom mend a law that will either halt this practice or that will reach and tax operations by non-resident companies. I am forced to the opinion that in stead of having an unpaid highway commission giving part time to this niguntlc business, unless a consolida tion of state departments and commis sions ploces-the highway program under other supervision. It would be marked economy for the state to have a commission of three members who will devote their entire time to the highway work under tho direction of the governor and receive reasonable compensation for their services. Under that Plan the govornor would nt only The past few days have showed us just how the people believe in us They have crowded, ; jammed our store; they have bought merchandise by the armload; they believe, they know we tell them the truth when we say we are cleaning out, that this stock will be sold down to the figures we have set by February 1st, inventory time. And we want you to believe this we would not break faith with you. Come in and let us make good. If you have already attended this sale come in again. .7"
