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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1936)
PXGE TCTflHT MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFOKD, TVEDX"ESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1936. E e E WESTERN STATES Thirty Million More Paid Government During 1935 Than In 1934 Oregon Share Is $8,204,575 WASHINGTON. Jan. 30-(AP) Taxpayers In the II far western state, pound 130,000,000 mora Into the treasury till! during 1035 than they did tn 1834. An Internal revenue report dlacloa ed today the Increase came chiefly In Income tax collection from cor porations and Individuate. Of the $30,284,365 lncreaae In collections from all sources, 425.778363 was In the Income tax dlvlalon. Corpora tions paid ail,478.70B mora In Income taxes and Individuals an additional 414,300.063. Total collections from the 11 atates, comprised of Income, and AAA pro cessing taxes and mlacellaneoua re ceipts, were $358,093,017 In 1935, com pered with $338344,883 In 1934, .In 1938 the states paid $103,119,765 In income taxes, while In 1934 they paid $78340,908. Corporations paid $51361331 In Income taxes laet year, and Individuals paid 450,288,331. California waa the banner state In the Increase column. Approximately $30,000,000 of the entire $30,000,000 Increase In the western atates was cred tled to the state where Individual Income collections Increased $10,000, 000, corporation collectlona $8,000.- 000 and miscellaneous revenue ap proximately $6,000,000. California'! payment of processlsng taxea, how ever, declined $3,000,000. ' Nevada waa the only state allowing a decrease In the total payments to the federal government. Aitnougn Individual Income taxea Increased $136,000 in that state, there was general decrease In total payments or $760,000. All other states showed subatan tlal Increases Is nearly every dlvlalon, The statement Included: Oregon: Income taxes: Oorpora. tlon. $963313, $1,739,690; Individual, $1,087,373, $1,389,617: total $3,031,188, $3,138,308. Mlaoellaneouss; $3,435, 854, $3,434385. Processing: 43,358,t 419, $3,701,891. Total ell sources $7,833,469. $8384,678. dBTGfc TRUCKS NEEDED R A oall for trucks to be used WPA project m Jackson county was Issued by nesdquartera Hen today, It waa emphasized however, that no drivers are needed Owners aeeklng to ies thel, machines to WPA, there. fore, must be prepared to turn over the truoka for operation by men now employed. Dump or lat bed truok of 1H tons capacity or xrore f n needed nere ana while they can be obtained In other parts of the state the local WPA office Is making an efiort to get them 1n this county If possible, Tom Deleell, director, explained Anyone having a truck for rant waa asked to consult Wll.lsm Ptanrws at WPA headquar ters In city hall. FRIDAY, ELECTION DAY ' Th atat liquor -rtore In thl city will bs clorWM all cay Friday, election Y tocordliiff tg J.hn Peter, malinger of the itoM Th closing will be in line with the Uquot oommtMlon'e DoL'oy to hiv 4t&te storai and agen clei closed on elect'on deys. Tor the on vent no- of the public. the nbore will remain o,wn until 11 o'clock Th iTAdny evening of thla week, Mr. Peter announced. - 4 Evangelist Sees Divine Influence In Transformation The eurfuen transformation tn aoire live oan nn'y be explained on a d.Tine baais." tVd Engl ner Evan -ettltit Lewla la, night at the Free Methodlit ohuroh, In relating the hlotory of hla life Thla railroad career, he rn.ri, begin at 13. From thas. as to 27, he 11 red the arerajte rati reader 'r life, climbing to htfher honora until one night, in fluenced by hla mother's prayers, he roee from his chair In the home, call d the offl end got the next day off, turned to his brother and aald, "t am goto to cet religion." He went to a revival meeting and that night ali wi chawed From then on his course led him into the ministry and 30 yesrs in the eringslintlc flela. ctom ing the country bar and forth several tlmea and Into Ctnada White no record nae been ktpt. hli ornrerts probab y number in the thouaandi. Tli subject ann-unced for tonight . "Up In the Stratosphere and A bore. Jury Picker Three dollars a day la more than grown men get for juggling govern ment spades or doing more back- breaking work. But Louis Scrugham age 6, get paid that amount for drawing alios out of a box while an audience looks on. Louis, seated on a stack of law books In the court house at Charleston, 8. C, with his bare feet dangling, earns more drawing Jurors than any other member of hla family. ... He has managed to hold his Job for a number of months, al though he feu from the books during aolemn trial and created a wave of merriment In the court room Once he goes to school, however, hla Job will end. . , . The law says that only a person unable to read may pull the names from the box, .... The Scmghams, realizing the day must come . have tutored 5-year-old Henry to succeed his older brother. WILL BE OPENED AT EAGLE POINT The Jaokaon oounty rural dramatics contest, held each year as a major project In ftrme economics extension work, opens thla evening with pre sentation of a one-ac play by Eagle Point O rang & in their hall, at 8 p. m. The play, 'The 31rpapore Spider," written by IMwnrd Finnegan, prom ises to be a real thriller. It has won first prices in many state and little theater tournament. The play Is directed by Charles Fraser. Clarence Dav'ea, cost as Ja son Harrlde will be remembered by Jackson oounty Dlaygoers for hla fine acting in the production of Miss Maria In the county contest two years ago. Mr. Da v ea b supported by Mrs, Al Mtttleattvedt. Raymond Neugart and Cort Orwndall Mrs. O. E. Davie la prompter. Engle Point Orange has arranged musical number and a social even ing following the play which Includes a basket aocial. Othe plays present ed 'thla week win be the "Blue Tea pot," by Central Point Orange, Janu ary SO; "The Man from Brandon," by Rogue River Community club, Jan uary 31; r TaiuMse" ai d "Dust of the Road," by Applegate Orange. Febru ary t, and 'The Clod " by Phoenix Orange, February 1 The oounty dramatloa committee met with M s Mable O Mack, county home demonstration agent, Monday n4 selected Judges for the county contest playe and mad arrangements for the contest finals. The Judges for the Eagle Point play will be Mrs. Joe Nee of Jacksonville and Alice flpur geon of the Medfort senior high school. 1 FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL UNITE ON CIVIL SERVICE Every member of the Medford fire department la 'n favor of civil aer vice. Chief Roy Elliott disclosed to day Whether the local department should be placed on a civil service statue will be dectdeu by ballot at the special state and city election- Friday. "All the men In the department know what It takea to make an ef ficient fireman and how beneficial civil service will be. not alone to the department, but more especially to trie community Chief Elliott said. "That la why we all are In favor of civil service and why we are asking the people of Medford who want the bee fire protection attainable to vote "yea' on the ballot Friday." Mr. Elliott, said that olvil service would remove the fear of firemen that they are liable to be discharged without cause to make room for a friend of someone having authority to make ohunges in the department personnel. "For the past several years Med ford ' fire department has been and atlli Is rated as one -of the beat In the state, and poslbly In the north west," the chief atateo '.'It baa been built up to that point by long and careful tra.nlng and service. Why not keep It that way by placing It under civil service, which Insures the men of their Jobs as long as they are erricient, and provides for their dls oharge whe.i they are not? Firemen sre under .civil service In practically al the Israel cities In the United States. If it la good for other cities and It has been proved so It will be good for Medford " The chief emphasized that civil ser. vice would r,ot cost the city a oent but was likely to erect ssvlnns through continuance of efficient fire protection and reduction In fire in aurance rates. Meteorological Report Jan nary t$ 193. Forecasts. Medford and vicinity: rUr tonlgnt and Thursday: continued cold. Oregon: Fair fmlght and Thurs day: continued cold Local inua. Temperature a yesr ago today: Highest, 01, lowest So. Total monthly precipitation, 447 inches. Exceaa for the month, 4.13 inches. Total prec.pltatltn since September 1 193S. 13. M Inches. Excess for the season, 3.07 inches Relative humidity at 5 p. m. yes terday, . sam today, 71. , Sunrise tomorrow, 7:3fJ a. m. Sunset tomorrow. 5:23 p. m. Observations Taken at 6 a. m., UO Meridian lime. If f!J. CENTRAL POINT GRANGE DRAMA CONTEST PLAY FARM HOME IS BURNED NORMAN. Okla . Jta 40 mtva.r persona werv burned to death today wr.en their two-awry term home near -ucotrurra OT lire. me victims: Ed Meltabaraer. so. ri,w,i.nH ty larmer. Mrs. Mettabenrer 3 Charlea MrtlU'iarner. t. Barbara Mltaharger, all months. Two children. A nrf a we-e eamt when they ran from the ..vu- , wn.,r nigni ciotnea. UPILS SPARED WHEN OLD BOILER BURSTS SALEM. Jan. 90. j& wik. ... Plls narrowly escaped serious Injury when the parochial school at Suo- nmiiy east or here was damaged by the explosion of a ,,. Parte of the boiler were hurled for mora than 60 f,, ttsmsgm,, , destroying woodwork and equipment n the basement. The pupils hd been In the basement a few minutes be fore the explosion. Hotel Cornelini 1 d.w. Park Portland Feel at Home in "The Heart of Portland' - Comfort Convenience Courtesy iervlre Attmrtlre Ralrai Drlarhed bat Ullh bath si!iB. MSI l' -UAljtiJ',.4 BF.N O. ORIMSON. Mgr. IN THE HEART OF THE CITY Park Avt Hotel t.l S.VT. Park Porl land ThS Second nir! rip-matin- mah- test nlav will h irlven t. fh cnt-.l Point Orange hall Thursday at 8!t0 p. m. rno piay to De presented by the Orange will be "The Blue Tea- DOI,. DV Jean IJe lAthCm. - hi,m. OroUB COmfrdV. folkav anri Hnnalln ic is aoour, two need-strong young moderns wtlO are enimfferi h,,t. H ..- decidedly different views In regard w piana ior t.neir noma. The old folks and the blue teapot play an Important part In straightening out UllllCUlllBO. , The play, directed by Mrs. Victor Bursell, will be Judged by Miss Doris Bsler of Medford high school and Miss Mildred Patterson of the Phoe nix high school. The leading role la played by Faye Rltzlnger. Mrs. Rltslnger also carried the leading role In the Central Point play produced laet year and will be remembered as one bf the outstand ing characters In last year's dra matics contest. Other members of the cast are J. Sanford Richardson as Pa Brown: Robert Sparks, an or phan: and Janice Heeselgrave, the daughter. Mrs. O. O. Mauat la prompter and Paul Smith, stage manager and technician. The Jack sonvllle Orange orchestra will fur nish music for dancing after the play. Slaver's Aide Paroled , PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 30. (API A. 0. Lehman of Portland received a two-year prison sentence, end subse quently wsa paroled, for taking George Fielder and Ferdinand Wes ton, convloted slayers, to Vancouver. Wash.. aftAr 1,m. nli rv-r,, Sheriff Ernest loll near Portland oepiemuer 2B, ipso. Try Undy'i M:lk Depot for Grade A Raw Milk 30c gallon tli K Main. Boston Chicago Denver Eureka Helens Los Angeles MEDFORD . New York Omaha ,,- 10 -12 Phoenix .! Portland Reno - 80 10 38 8 14 10 18 84 43 13 - 88' 68, 58 :s 33 18 J1 70 44 .' .. 33 60 06 Roseburg Salt Lake 88 ... San Frandsoo 86 62 Seattle - 48 33 Spokane ., 32 6 Walla Walla 36 14 Washington, D.O 32 16 Clear ... Clear M Snow M Clear .... Clear T. Clear T. Cloudy .... Clear .... Clear .08 Snow Clear Cloudy Clear Clear Clear Clear Cloudy MATTIE INNING PASSES IN TALEN T Mittle L. Manning. 61. wife of O. A. Manning, paseed away at their residence In Talent at 0:46 a. m.. to day. Mr. and Mrs. Manning had re sided in Talent for the last twenty years. Mrs. Manning waa born at Morri son, 111. Besides her husband, ahe leaves one sister, Hattle Bresler of Sioux City, Iowa, and niece. Lucy Babcock of Greaham. Ore., who la expected here for the services which will bo held In the M. E. church at Talent at 3:30 Saturday. Arrange ments are with Conger Funeral par lors and the rites will be conducted by the Rev. T. H. Temple. Conclud lng services will be In the Talent cemetery. Inmate Hangs Self SALEM, Ore., Jan. 29. (AP) Wil liam H. Swank. 07. hanged himself with a towel at the state hospital early thla morning, offlclnls reported. Swank was committed to the Insti tution from Marlon county April 8, 1930. He wns s resident of Lyons. I FASTER service! PORTLAND VA hrs. SEATTLE 2 hrs. SAN FRANCISCO VA hrs. LOS ANGELES A 4'ihrs. - New faster morning and evening planes to California; also to Portland, Tscoms, Seattle. Now you can leave at 3:12 p. m., and arrive in Portland before dinner. Or leave after lunch and be in Southern California in etrly evening! Twin-engined planes. Heated cabini. Stewardesses. Tickets: Municipal Airport Tel. 241 Hotels, Travel Bureaus; Telegraph Offices UNITED AIR LINES I PAST TWO SALES MADE AT REALTY MARKET OF M. E. CHURCH TO CONTINUES ACTIVE MEET IN ASHLAND FARMERS' AUTOMOBILE Inter-Insurance Exchange FINANCIAL STATEMENT A. of JANUARY 1, lf36 ASSETS Cash Government Bonda "Municipal and Corporate Bonds... P?ferrd Slocks Pramtuma In Course of Collection. Prepaid Reinsurance Premiums tntereet Due and Accrued .-..,. ...1,039.101 01 130.378 30 839 ,54.3 .68 43.1)1990 99.18337 8.834.03 9.569.35 NET ASSETS .. 83.15S4P8.33 Msrk.t Tslue of bonds on December 31, 1A38, waa 835,358.37 In excess of these figures, 1,1 Anil.lTIV.S and 81 RPI.1'8 Resanre for Clalma In Process of Adjustment. Heeerra for Adjustment sTxpensa Recerv. for Administration Exper.cea Rrwni for Accrued Taxea ... - Tteeerx. for Relnaursnce PrenUums ,. Reserve for Unearned Premium 843 887.40 88.534 33 38.475 94 93 817 07 878 31 870.839 03 431,178.13 Total .83.133 493 33 Year 1918 19'.t 19S0 19?! 1933 1013 194 19.13 Aets . 170.868 493 830 . 841.543 931.594 . 1,088.833 . 1.371.470 . 1.887.033 ...J.133.198 isiaTrsT Net Surplus 34 331 109 391 118 418 159.139 331.7.M 301.374 337.031 431.178 lIKCORfl Or PKOORF. Unearned Net Prema, Written 8 170 .991 743.440 Premiums 43.334 303 330 404 830 417.734 tT8 307 380.458 719.393 8T0.M9 1 083.103 1.377.839 1.339.783 1.588 90S 3.138.588 8.043.029 Total Income 333.731 749.338 1.098971 1.311.773 I 371.743 1.839,783 3.311.998 8.103.833 Total Dabramt. 88.730 413.831 884 8J1 1.138.403 1. 308.79 1 1 389.483 1.919.330 ,38!,0-H VOII DON'T HtVK TO HE A FARMER TO IN81RE VIITH VH AND 8 AVE AllOl T 40 H. B. DUNCAN, Dist. Mgr. Two sales and a lease were announc ed today by Drown tc Whits, realtors. Th firm auted that th real estate market Is continuing active, with de mand for both residential and farm properties. The late w. T Crowaon residence at 10 1; East Main street was sold to R. Milestone, ho arrived here recently witn nis wue ana lamuy. The prop erty, the Brown it White office said. Is to be renovated and remodeled. It Is a two-story, e'ght-room modem home. Mr. Rroweon operated a res taurant here for years Hla widow, for whom the sale was made, resides In Martlnes, Cal. An unimproved tract of 40 acrea In Eairle Point waa sold for the Essie Point Irrigation district to Lewis M Russell, Tliler rancher. Mr. Russell la planning to develop the tract as a general farm, making his home there aa soon aa It Is built up, the realty firm aali, Construction of a home ano outbuilding will probably be started In vhe spring It waa stated. The Judge O. M Thomas home at S3 Ross Court haa been leased for a year to MaJ Lincoln Martin, retired array officer who came to Medford recently with his wife and family. Mat Martin chose thla city as an Ideal plaoe to Uvo the realty concern stat ed The major la a friend of Capt. Oliver, L. ovormver, who also la a re tired army '.fficer. ASHLAND, Jan. 39 (Spl.) Meth od'at ministers at his district will convene In the Methodist Episcopal church In Ashland, Thursday, Janu ary 80. according to the Rev. Mel ville T. Wire, pastor. Outside speakers, Including Bishop Titus Lowe, D D. LLD of Portland, will be present .The general public la Invited to the sessions. Special attention is called to Bishop's Lowe's address at 7.-80 p m The program la as follows: 0:30 a. m, Devotions,. O. J. Olll, minister at Merehfleld. 13 a. m. Chief Book of Evangel ism M. T. Wire minuter at Ashland. 10:35 a. hl Pull Orbed Evangel ism Jos. Knotta, minister at Med ford 10:30 a. m The Ancient Evangel istic Method. J W Warren, minister at Klamath Palls. 11:18 a. m. Evangelistic preaching. Preaching for a Verdict, O. L. Oood aell, minister of rtrst church at Port land, Mid-day prayer, E B. Lockhart, minister at Roaeburg 1:30 p. m. Sing. 1'48 p. m. The Place oi Emotion In Evangelism. J. B Coan. minister at Grants Pass. 3.10 p. m. is Visitation Evangel Ism Futile or Productive, Louis Ma gin, district superintendent of Salem district. - . 2:35 p. m. ChurcL School Bvan- gellam, 4. 0. Harrison district super intendent of Portland district. - p. m. The Soul of the Evangel ist, e. W. Ball, district superintend ent of Caacaos district. . 8 .28 p. m. Round Table discussion. Bishop Lowe In charge. 4 : 18 p. m. Adjournment. The men of the Cascade district will meet In the small room designated The Oreen Room." 8:18 p. m. Banquet In the church parlors. 780 p. m-reat mass meeting with local pastor In oharge. Evening address by Bishop Lowe. Topic, "When a Man Meets God." THE DALLES, Ore.. Jan 39. (AP) Funeral services were held her. to day for Thomas Gavin. 69. mayor of Shanlko, In the southern part of the county. He was born In Rockbridge. 111., but waa a merchant at Shanlko for 35 years. FINAL SEAL REPORT . Final reports on the sale of tuber culosis seals by the Jackson County Health association will not be avail, able until about March 1, It was announced today, due to the fact that a large number of communities In the county have not Bent In re ceipts, and also a number of reports are still outstanding from Individ uals to whom seals were sent. - At the end of Isst week the total collected amounted to 81818, which the committee expects to be sub stantially enlarged by forthcoming receipts. NEW LOW PRICE ON , Land Plaster SEE US BEORE YOU BUY Our first car will arrive about February 2nd Monarch Seed & Feed Co Cor. 6th & Bartlett . : Phone 260 - Governor Charles L Martin Supports Sales Tax For Old-Age Assistance Every Voter Should Read His Statement He Does Not Dodge the Issue Social Security a Compelling Subject In recent years one of the general sub ' Jects most prominently before Congress and the Legislatures of the several states baa been that bt public welfare and aocial security. Consideration of thla subject haa been prompted by the conviction, growing stronger each year, that neither the nation nor the state can Ignore lta responsibility to the aged and the destitute. A generation or more will be required to clear the economic and aocial wreckage of this depression. Many workers In their prime six years ago now have reached physical and mental conditions largely pre cluding re-employment for the remalner ot their lives. As unavoidable results of tbe depression, reversals ot fortune, losses ot property and dissipations of savings have come to millions ot middle age, leaving them no opportunity whatever to regain a competence for their remaining yearn. These aging men and women must continue below the border line ot self-support. Measures and means for tbe amellora tlon of these conditions are engaging the most seriona attention ot the legislative and executive branches ot our national and state governments. Irreslstahiy the conclu sion has com that humnn welfare and social security are vital problems of the nation and the state which no longer can be left largely In the rare ot lesser political units. X)ld-Age Assistance Necessary and rennanent A crowning achievement of welfare leg islation is thu Social Security Act ot 1935, and particularly so aa it relatea to assis tance for the needy aged. " Regardless of whether we be for or against the so-called New Deal, or whether the advisability of -othar features may be subject to Question, we cannot sensibly deny the necessity nor doubt the permanence of that part ot the Social Security Act which makes provision for assistance to tbe aged In want. Oregon Law Now Idle Machinery By acts of the 1936 regular and special sessions ot the Legislature, Oregon sow haa an Old-Age Assistance Law which con forms In all respects with the requirements ot the Federal Social Security Act. But this law Is not self-operative; It must remain Idle machinery until put In motion with funds which Oregon Itself must provide to match the proffered funds ot the United States. State money In half la required for payments up to 130.00 a month to th needy aged. The Legislature waa confronted with the necessity of providing a revenue measure to put the Old-Age Assistance Law in oper ation. The final result ot its deliberations on this difficult problem Is the so-called sales tax act. referred to the people for ap proval or rejection at the special election ot January 31, 193s. Effects of Approval or Rejection of Proposed Tax If th aalea tax proposition shall be ap proved. It Immediately will begin providing funds for old-age assistance. Equal match ing funds then may be obtained from th. Untied States tor th sam purpose. This means that qualified persons, 15 years of see and over, may reeelv aa mnch as S30.00 a month, $15.00 ot which will be contributed by th United States and 1 5.00 by th stale ot Oregoa. In place of th county old-age pensions, now paid In beggnrly amounts to those only In th. dir est need. TO year, ot age and over. Th re duction In th age limit alone will increase by 'i per cent the total number ot eligible persons In Oregon. It, on the other band, the sale, lax prop osition .hall be rejected, th Oregon Old- Paid Advertisement. Age Assistance Law will remain wholly In operative, unless and until some other rev enue measure shall be devised, enacted Into law and begin supplying state funds to match the waiting Federal funds. Property Taxea at Breaking Point I have vigorously opposed Increases In existing taxes and, also, the Imposition ot new taxes on the people and Industries of Oregon. Property taxes are at or beyond the breaking point and running against the Inflexible lav of th diminishing return. In general, Oregon's accumulated 147,000, 000 ot delinquent property taxes not only Impair the solvency and efficiency of many local governmental units, but also have brought loss and ruin to thousands ot own ers and bang, as a heavy cloud over the processes ot Industrial and economic recov ery. ., Let Well Enough Alone With Income Taxea I am a firm supporter ot our state In come tax laws personal. Intangibles and corporation excise. But It Is time to let well enough alone. Our Income tax laws are In more danger from their unreasoning friends than from their most violent ene mies. No surer method could be found ol destroying these laws or Impairing their productive capacity than by reducing the exemptions and so bring In an enlarged opposition, or by Increasing the rates so high as to drive those with large Incomes from the state. Inordinate property taxa tion has killed many a goose laying golden ,eggs and similar results can be secured by -excessive and unreasonable taxation ot In comes. Agree With Legislature on Sales Tax . As Is well know, I have not spproved th Sndlngs ot the Legislature In several Important matters. But I do agree in the findings of the last special session that Oregon's necessary contribution to ade quate old-age assistance, In cooperation with the Federal government under the Social Security Act, could not properly and safely come from Increased taxes on prop erty or on Incomes. Neither do I know of any other source or sources of revenue sufficient snd available for that vital pur pose, except the sales tax. Support Sales Tax Because Vitally Necessary I have no fondness for a sales tax and for any ordinary purpose would not support It. But we are confronted by a serious bum- an condition and I cannot join with thos who would sacrifice the aged In their neces sities for the sake ot maintaining stubborn ly an economlo theory. Therefore, I sup port this sales tax whole heartedly, not be cause It Is a sales tax, but because It la vitally necessary to bring aid and comfort, her and now, to thousands ot aged men and women who are In distress and want. I know they say thl. Is the worst sales tax yet proposed. Such statements are com mon with people given to superlative, ot denunciation ot all Ideas not ot their own conceiving. To them each sales tax Is th worst ever, notwithstanding that the partlc- ' ular features ot on to which they chiefly object do not appear In th next proposition submitted. In on brealb they proclaim that thl. sales tax would ruin th. merchant because h. would bar to absorb It and, also, op press th buyer because the merchant would pass It on o him. Manifestly, It could not do both these thing. t one and lh. same tim. The merchant Is permitted to pass the tax to th buyer and common sens tells us be would not absorb It to his serious Injury. Common sens further tell, us th passing ot th tax by merchants or seller, would Inrolv. a distribution so thin and wld that th economic .talus ot buyer. and consumers would not be appreciably impaired. Numerous representations that this sales tax would "soak" particular groups of pro ducers, manufacturers, merchants or con sumers are but further demonstrations ot tbe fact that issues In taxation present some ot the severest tests ot our capacity for self-government, for no other Held Is more fertile wherein appeals may be sown to Ignorance, prejudice and selfishness. No Time to Dodge Issues or Twist Fact. I am not unmindful ot the devises many publlo officials employ to avoid commis sions on unpopular Issues. But this Is no time for artful dodging of responsibility or clever twisting of plain facts, particularly when such responsibility and facta concern tbe vital welfare of thousands ot mlsfort unate aged men and women of our state. Ancient Arguments Do Not Apply Neither am I unmindful ot the sound arguments against a sales tax where em ployed as a principal source 'ot publlo rev enues. Like learned sales tax opponents of the present day, I too could repeat Adam Smith's denunciations of 150 years ago, hurled at the Spanish alcavala and other sales taxes ot the Middle Ages and later centuries. Whenever "sales tax" (a men 't toned, the alcavala and Its kind of the centuries - preceding th American and French Revolutions loom before those ot narrowed visions. Immediately they Join the courageous attack on the same old wind-mills. But it la a far cry from the Spanish al cavala and other sales taxes of som tour hundred years ago, outrageously Imposed by absolute monarch, at rates of 5 to 10 per cent, for purposes ot conquest and op pression, to the sales tax now proposed in Oregon, at rates ot one-quarter of 1 to 1 per cent, with liberal exemptions chiefly beneficial to th poor, to provide funds necessary for the support and comfort ot our needy aged. Properly hav th economists denounced the sales tax as th theoretical basis ot all taxation. But none such 1. proposed or con ceived tor Oregon. It Is proposed only as a minor fsctor in a tax system and to meet a desperate emergency. Meet Responsibility and Perform Patrlotlo i Duty It Is high time that we turn from the ad vice of Ingrowing narrowness; that we meet our grave responsibility with open and liberal minds. Let us all chip In our bits ot assistance for th needy old people, and particularly so alnce each penny or dollar w contribute will bring another penny or dollar from Washington. "Th Greek, are at our gates." I appeal to all th people ot our beloved .tat to perform their patriotic duty In the present emergency by voting for the sales tax for old-age assistance. Let na not leav th old folks In want Th Legislature at Its special session, on Its own Initiative, gav thla question the most thoughtful consideration and conld And no other meant, without further Im pairment of our present deplorable tax Ituatlon, than by th proposed measure to rati th necessary revenue for old-are sa il stance. I would b. much distressed If th peopl ot thl. stat. should reject th. proposed tax measure and thu. leav our needy old peopl In dlstres. until th Legislature shall again tak up th then mora difficult problem of old-age assistance at Its regular esslon a year henc. (Signed) CHARLES H. MARTIN, " Governor ot Oregon. Salem, Oregon. January J 5, 193 MERCY TAX LEAGUE. A. M. Smith, Secretary, Pacific Building, Portland, Or. Llherl; lld. X
