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