MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON
TUESDAY. APRIL . 1M1
Oregon's Traditions Retained In Constitutional Revision
(This is the eighth in
series of articles about the
revised Constitution pro
posed by the Oregon Con
stitution Revision Commis
sion. The articles were
written by Hans A. Linde.
professor of constitutional
law at the University of
Oregon and a member of
the Commission.)
In public discussion of the
revised Constitution, atten
tion has naturally focused on
the major branches of govern
ment described in the preced-
ing columns.
Proposals for change are
news; decisions against
change are not. Yet familiar
features continued from the
present Oregon Constitution
are among the most import
ant in the revised Constitu
tion. Oregon has a trajiilion o'
strong local government, of
voter control over taxes, and
of direct popular legislation.
All are preserved in the re
vised ConstUtitfon.
Popular Control
The "OregojiSvm" of
the initiative and referral of
legislation, which won Ore
gon national recognition 60
years ago, is changed only
slightly in the revised Consti
tution. The number of signa
tures needed on initiative and
referendum petitions is now
based on the votes cast in an
election for Supreme Court
justices. With a change in ju
dicial elections, the vote for
governor makes a better and
more stable base, and the per
centages of signatures needed
were adjusted for this new
base. To discourage unneces
sary future efforts to "freeze"
in the slimmed-down new
constitution pet projects that
could be placed in the stat
utes, initiative constitutional
amendments will reauire a
somewhat higher number oP:
signatures.
Provisions for the re.UI of
elected public officials are
also continued.
Fiscal needs are the great
est problem facing all state
and local governments, and
many people believe that leg
islators should squarely be
given full responsibility for
tax laws. Nevertheless, the
Constitutional Revision Com
mission decided to continue
the Oregon tradition unique
in the nation by which tax
laws cannot be placed beyond
the referendum power of the
people. This power places on
Oregon voters a great respon
sibility for self-restraint, if
the state is to avoid fiscal
chaos.
oRetains Limitation
Likewise, the revised Con
stitution retains, the "six per
cent limitation" on increases
in local taxation- without spe
cial approval by the voters.
Home rule for cities and for
counties is continued from
the present Constitution.
A controversial issue was
the earmarking of gasoline
and related taxes for highway
purposes, another principle
originated in Oregon long
ago. Earmarking of revenues
for special purposes is g9i
erally undcftrable, and the
Commission first voted to
move it to the statutes. But
in the end the highway lax
provision was reinstated in
the revised Constitution.
Provisions for state control
over beaches and water pow
t?r, and Q(or people's utility
districts, were retained.
Thus, when it completed its
task, the Commission felt able
to report that "the Revised
Constitution does not deprive
any political, economic so
cial group oi any right, privi
lege or possible advantage
which that group may have
under the existing Consti
tution." Statutory Material
One reason for constitution
al revision is the accumula
tion in the present Constitu-
j tion of scores of sections and
I thousands of words that do
j not properly belong' in a con
: stitution but in statutory law.
! In part this has been neces
sary because ui ttwkw$ 'd
l limitations in the old Consti
tution. For instance, each
state bond issue for veter
ans' housing oans, for college
dormitories, for reforestation
has had to be spelled out in
all its wordy details in a con
stitutional amendment.
In part, also, initiative con
stitutional amendments have
been used to circumvent leg
islative responsibility as, for
instance, by putting liquor-by-the-drink
into the Bill of
Rights.
Continued as Statutes
In removing such material
from the present Constitution
into the Oregon Revised Sta
tutes, the Commission did not
undertake to pass on the wis
dom or desirability of the
policies involved. It accom
plished this aspect of revision
in a novel and ingenious
manner.
Ontario Republican
Returns to Senate
Salem - flJPD - Sen. Anthony
Yturri (R-Ontario) returned
to the Senate Monday.
The Senate minority leader
spent the past week in a
Portland hospital for observa
tion after a dizzy spell earlier
blamed on fatigue.
He was in good spirits to
day and was warmly greeted
by his colleagues.
Beginner-Ess?
I ' 10-16
Article XIV of the revised
Constitution is a compilation
of present constitutional pro
visions that are to be contin
ued as statutes. They include
details of election laws, legis
lative procedures, the death
penalty, liquor-by-the-glass
all without substantive
change.
Upon adoption of the re
vised Constitution they will
automatically become sta
tutes, without need of re
enactment. When these for
mer constitutional sections
have been codified in the
Oregon Revised Statutes,
Article XIV by its own terms
ceases to be a part of the re
vised Constitution.
As a result, the revised
Constitution has pared down
the 22.000 words in the pres
ent 237 sections to a trim 127
sections of 9,644 words per
haps the shortest among the
states. The revised Constitu
tion deals with fundamentals
of government, and with the
protection of basic individual
rights and popular control
over authority.
(Next: Can Oragon adopt
the revised Conilitution?)
TRACTORS TO BCD
Trenton, N.J. - (uTD - The
Senate passed a bill Monday
to put farm tractors to bed
with the chickens. The bill
said tractors shouldn't be
driven on public roads be
tween sunset and sunrise be
cause such machines are not
subject to the night driving
equipment inspection require
ments of normal motor vehicles.
fluoridation Proposal
Approved of Sheridan
Sheridan - (OTD - A proposal
to purchase fluoridation
equipment for the city's water
system was approved Monday
night by the Sheridan city
council.
No date for its installation
was set.
A 7
Cemerino, Ii aly-OT-A light
earth tremor shook this city
Monday for the 13th time in
eight days. No damage or in
juries were reported.
At iut i a Kataut, iinaaWaii wjr
to help bmk aaMktasT kakit Omt
-aSSV taste, iftlj sMdkateft
fSMSto bip ntuty tow
ajajfaraW cnrXmj. At dray
Here's a way for everybody to invite
everybody to Oregon this year:
(GOVERNOR HATFIELD HAS DESIGNATED APRIL 16th AS THE DAY WE DO IT)
9347
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Printed Pattern 9347: Teen
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takes 2 58 yards 39-inch.
FIFTY CENT in coins for
this pattern - arid 15 cents for
each pattern for first - class
mailing and special handling.
Send to Marian Martin, Med
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Dept., 232 West 18th St., New
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NAME, ADDRESS with S1Z
and STYLE NUMBER.
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-er
86 PROuF . ECHO SPRING DIST. CO., LOUISVILLE. KY.
; rE. wmm s
BOURBON Fj years old
The success of the "Ages"
b
SA80
' Fifth
I3O5
P.nt
SAY IT AGAIN,
MIH
ANO
AWN! fc'XU'Si
Spring, 1963
Dear
It's rooking chair season, the time when lots of people dream
and plan their 1963 vacations. So because I know you'd
enjoy it I want to put in a plug for n?y state Oregon.
As usual, the roses are growing into Paul Bunyan giants fo
che Rose Festival this year (and you can time your visit for any of more than
200 or so county fairs and community events). Now, let's examine some of the
reasons most Oregonians (like me) think you ' U be wild, about Oregon, too.
"It's tne tyianTj." Will, ,we nave a breathtaking Column of bi
mountains rcrcfcing from north to south down the spine of this
big stat (lik Mt. Hood in July, you can snow-Ski or her
slojtes or vtter-(Li sneterby!). W nswe cathedral forests
(vttt're Africa's grejitelst tauter arocXicer) ,
Cramer LefcB, hundreds of milels af saectacuJ&r
and fis from
vlietof. lends , -p
.plus beiacWsK, JiMtting,
grazing lamtis , rittsr valleys
breathtakingly blu
seaoeast to drive alone
waterways, lush orchards.
ghost tcvns you name it!
'it's thg thiiwa to wan and io." Fr tlm nihele family. Fishing
,
f beyaati yaiy- wildest dre&is deiaa sm. surf, lake or streap!
SIf, iorsiiitos riding, tennis, hiking, canning, swimming;.
... ?n
"75 r.VUpi oba.ffl.ikB. wild life ta stud? or JK-Zf C&T&it&X
tlt. abKN rlsvi jjjstt rck MLt, W ' T e got elkcW roam!
O
I
i
o
"It's t. clikt." foet JMkre you go in Oreso, the
vMttw'o stat t" jtst Mtskk ami v5 men ytr 'roun. (Tteat's why we coined
9
ti yjra, '"gk? lrt bJs flt fct- You All Year 'Round In Oregon."
zl en.
Ck lsaak tkiias Itkawt our votiosland: almost anywhere you go,
o
t.M Mftitt srJ ftit and r9w, and you're never far away from a
trile.r.t, resort, inn, luxury hotel or motel whatever
a
your fs0$ yrefpr'soor yoir budget dictates. (Plus the more
thn 250 state parks and Forest Service camps.)
af3
? th v, for tejsjpiPirjs stsclof travel folders to helpypu plan your vacation,
just write the Travel Division, State Highway Department, Salem, Oregon, or
any of our Chambers:of Commerce ... See you soon?
Yours, for better vacations.
A WILD-AB0UT-0REGON 0REG0NIAN
Joesntgthe letter above make you feel glad to
be an Oregonian? Well, if it does, you're invited
to join all of us Pacific Northwest Bell phone
folk in a project to tell the world about Oregon!
Here's the scoop: On April 16, each of us
5,700 or so Pacific Northwest Bell employees in
Oregon will mail a copy of the letter above to at
least three of his or her out-of-state business
associates, friends, or relatives!
Why? If only one-fourth of these 17,100 invi
tations "take," there will be more than 4,000
extra families coming to our state this year. And
according to tourism experts, the thousands of
dollars these happy visitors will bring will boost
our state's economy mightily. (Just think, we
did it all with our little ballpoint pens!)
Where do you come in? Right here and thank
you for asking. Eiitially, we viewed this come-see-Oregon
letter drive as just a project for us
phone folk. But Governor Mark Hatfield heard
about it and was so intrigued with the idea that
he suggested it be broadened to include every
Oregonian! Governor Hatfield has designated
April 16, 1963 as "OREGON-WELCOME-BY-MAIL-DAY"!
If you'd like to help our state,
we'd love to have you aboard!
Here's what you do: Cut out the letter and
address it to an out-of-state friend, relative,
business associate or even enemy. Hold it until
the April 16 mailing (everybody mails April 16
for bigger impact'). While you're waiting, mail
the coupon below (or phone, write or drop in
at your local telephone Business Office) and get
more copies. Any number you wish, from one to
one thousand (and these are neat, irresistible
copies, printed on good bond paper).
Then, address 'em all and flood the mails to
out-of-state friends on the big day in April!
(Note: If you think letter writing is out-of-style,
feel free to invite yourout-of-state friends to Ore
gon via long distance phone. We won't be mad.)
With your help, there's no telling how many
thousands of extra (and lucky) vacationists we
can lure, or how much extra prosperity we can
bring our state all in our altruistic role as hosts
to the rest of the world.
So get extra copies, address 'em to your
out-of-state friends, get set for April 16 ant?
Let's Tell The World About Oregon!
The people of PACIFIC NORTHWEST BELL
n
Pacilic Northwest Bell
509 S.W. Oak
Room 800, Lincoln Building
Portland 4, Oregon
We're ready to help. Please send copies of the letter.
We promise faithfully to mail tham to out-of-state
friends, business associates and relatives on April 16th.
Name-
AddreiO-City
Zone State-
Company Name (if a company project)