Weekly Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1900-1924, January 16, 1903, Page 8, Image 8

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WEEKLY OREGOK STATESMAN, FRIDAY. 'JANUARY lfi, 1903.
however, these hitherto worthies sec
tions were boughf up, many of them In
one day, and before the State Land
Board bad any information of the con
templated creation of the reserve. This
supports too concilia Ion that the pur
chasers or these lands bad some in
formation of the Intended withdrawal,
and bought them with, a view of using:
mens ror base in the selection of valu
able indemnity lands. . Some of these
sections were already so far in process
of adjudication as to have been ap
proved by the local United States Land
Offices, but the fact had not been re
ported to the Stafe Land Board. The
result is, that these purchasers of
hitherto- unsalable lands for purposes
of speculation will. If the reserve shall
be finally established, be entitled to the
selection of valuable indemnity lands
in their place, but. if not made, it is not
likely anj? further payments' wilt be
made, and I the state will have gained
the 25 cents per acre already paid., :; .
Not a single complaint has been
made to the board by any one claiming
to be a settler on any of the- lands upon
which adjudication is being made. .
The Penitentiary,; ; if ;
resentativea to do the same thing; cr,
as is of ten the case, to not do it.
The direct primary nominating sys
tern has every argument In its. favor.
When the people are assembled In their
primary meetings they can select their
candidates instead of their representa
tives to choose candidates for them. The
system will require two elections. one
to choose candidates and the other to
choose' officers, and under it the oppor
tunity for designing men to manipulate
conventions and thwart the public de
mand will be entirely removed. Unter
our present, system for decades past
instances have been' frequent where the
popular will has been' turned into the
grasping vortex of unrelenting bossi?m.
to be recognized,, otf heard . of ngUn
nevermore. " If you adjourn without
giving the people the relief they de
mand, and have been long demanding
in this direction, you will have failed
to perform your duty in a most imort
ant matter. !
Election of United States Senator.
In obedience to a general demand
from the people and the press of the
state, the last legislature passed a law
providing for a d'rect vote on candi-
Tour attention is called to the neces- I dates for United State Senator. - After
sity of an increased appropriation for a careful revision during its passage
guard service at the penitentiary. This this law was enacted by a vote that was
.has been requested repeatedly of former practically unanimous and in exact ac-
legislatures by the prison authorities cord with its provisions the popular
but without success. No provision has rote was held last June. Its passage
ever been made for but one night was advocated on the ground that the
watchman within the grounds at the people should be heard on this ?uesuon
prison, which has furnished little more and" because for twenty years scarcely
than no protection at alL. The prison a session of the legislature has been
stockade is so constructed wjth outside held In Oregon without a prolonged
buttresses every twenty feet that nine J contest that has unnecessarily ret r led
men out of ten. as they might be select-1 needed legislation. To avoid this need
ed at random, could easily scale it with-1 less turmoil the present law was passed.
out any assistance,, whatever. There! In many states of the Union the result
being no guards on the wall at- night! of this first attempt at the popular cte
and only one insiae. any ex-convict so for United States Senators is watched
disposed (and they are. all informed as I with much Interest, and its promot ob
to the situation on the Inside), could fservance and ratification will not only
without trouble, scale the wall and de- j encourage its adoption in other states.
posit n rearms or .other weapons fori out will prove the sincerity of our pro
mischief with a minimum of danger of testations in favor of popular elections
discovery. . It was this manifest de-( of Senators, and render impossible a
iiciency in protection that made the es- J repetition of former experiences in Ore
t ape 01 i racy ana aiernu possioie. xnis i gon, to prevent wnicn, this law was
danger was pointed out to the last leg-j formulated, supported and adopted.
isiature. but as no evil result had fol
lowed, it was suggested that no change
was necessary. - t
After the break last June occurred,
with the deplorable consequences that
followed, the superintendent employed
two extra guards on the rfight force.
This extra force is still maintained, as
ft Is an actual necessity: I ursre that
T
upon you the importance of memorltl-iThis shouldnot be allowed to continue.
izing Congress on this subject, asking for it is not only indefensible as to neg
for speedy and effective action looking Hence, but Is flagrantly inhumane. The
toward .the accomplishment of these water supply is so scant as to be ab
ends. ; . -; '' - 'Tsolutely uselessjin a case of fire. There
Northwestern Stove Foundry. 1 lis no reservoir and no water supply of
. . . 'any bind, excepting that 'which comes
tH-Tl- throaSh the pipe leading from Rose
the Lowenberg & Going Company the . mHJ.h.L nr, ui iv
payments for convict labor continue to
be promptly made each month when
burg, which rs , nearly . closed by
i corrosion. : The ordinary ' demand for
water during the morning hours of each
4 ia EWkWt tit lvk-i rn t n aw a? rtnor tlniT r
under'ine"newcract water which the
four year. ago. ail the obligations ot!"'
1115 Mtat ctxa iuc uiriuuio ,
MESSAGE OF THE NEW
GOVERNOR OF OREGON
Hon, George E. Chamberlain's First Address to
the Legislative Assembly
trouble oVdelay. It has. fde the last he horoe are f f .TM T
two years, employed all . the convicts 1 drPL ,ef.P thlnLtory
ii:-..m JZ r .u- f the buildmg, it should only require
The Oregon Historical Society.
During the last two years the Oregbn
Historical Society has accomplished a
Vast amount of good n the colleet'on
of valuable data in connection with
the early settlement of the state. For
the future historian of Oregon the toots
thus collected will be invaluable, '-.'he
you make provision for its permanent I plone'r8 wno wlely and patriotlenl
ma In term nee. i 1 y ,a' tn 'ounlatl0ns for our pr.nt
-,. , tK v-, i. o . ! government are fast passing away, and
vmnij fnrrri tcu, 11 m vi
been and is a , model : pena I Institution,
and with the exception of the unfortu
great importance that as perfect a rtM
prison work, and has frequently , made
application for more. The receipts for
convict labor, have amounted approxi
mately to $24,000 during the past two
years, or an average of .f 1,000 per
month. In addition to this the state re
ceives the sum of $2,000 per annum for
the rent of the foundry plant. i
! Child Labor.
H " -
As a measure for prevention, rather
than for cure, I recommend the enact
ment of a law prohibiting the employ
ment of children, within certain ages.
in factories or similar places of labor.
am not aware that this Is at present
done in Oregon, but it is a species of
injustice and indiscretion permitted in
many other states, and it will be well
to prevent its introduction here before
it becomes a custom. Children are the
incipient men and women who, in time,
will be called upon to discharge the re
sponsible functions of adult American
citizens, and their proper preparation.
in schools and otherwise, is a matter for
general public concern.
i The Text Book Commission.
The legislature of 1899 passed a law
providing for the appointment of ,a
State Board of Text Book Commission-!
era whose duty it should be to adopt a
new series of -text books for the six
years beginning with their selection.
Under the provisions of this law I was
required to appoint these commission
ers ome time during the month of
January, 1901. In accordance with this
requirement I have to report that I;
selected five representative citizens of
the state, who faithfully performed the
great trust committed to their care, and
in" such a satisfactory manner that no
word of complaint of any kind has ever
been heard. It is seldom .that a more
responsible or more difficult . duty is
delegated to five men, and both the
people and the commissioners are to be
congratulated upon the successful and
satisfactory manner in which the ob
ject of the law has been attained.
; Protection Against Forest Fires.
The devastating forest fires which
nate escapes of last June, and which I P palM,lb,e obtained from them destroyed so many lives and so much
ji.i. . . . I while yet among us. by those soeeiallv ! nmnc k .....
uuaer existing conditions could not
have been avoided, the results have
rx-en satisfactory in (every : particular.
In the. Interest of efficiency resulting
from experience, a large perenta?e cf
' the employes nerving under the preced
ing administration have been retained.
Oood discipline has been enforced with
out the use of the dungeons at all and
-excessive or unnecessary punishment
has in no case been resorted to. Ac
companying this document! you w.ll
find a record" of the pardons and com
. mutations issued during the last two
years, with the reasons therefor. (
Oregon National Guard.
yet among us, tty those specially . nroiiertv durinr fh rv.at o.,t,,.,.
our great home builders will soon h;ie
passed on to that undiscovered coun
try, and for this reason I am prompted
to earnestly urge upon you the neces
sity of an appropriation amply suffli-nt
lor the successful prosecution of the
work now under way by the State His
torical Society.
The State Fair.
By the special direction of the legis
lature four years ago. I appointed an
entirely new board of directors for the
state fair, which at that time was ap
parently upon the verge of. final dis
solution. ' Under the excellent businKfi
Resulting directly from the constant management of the board thus selected
attention to duty On, Ahe part of Adiu- the state fair has beco ne a m iguifieein
taut General and bis assistants, the success in every feature. anl is so re
National Guard has reached and is garded everywhere. The diookty of
rnaiiUaining a high degree of efficiency. tock. especially, for the :st two years,
A well organized National Guard is a has admittedly surpaKed M,iy -xhibU
necessary complement of every state in that line ever held west of the Rocky
government. a guarantee for the pro- Mountains. With these results to
tectlon of life and ptoperty in cases of .peak for themselves in aiding and
riot or invasion. An increased appro- stimulating the agricultural tl -v-lop-priatiort
for this purpose was made two ment and resources of the state the
ye-rs ago. and It has been used with a former prejudice existing agiinst the
-view only to the better equipment of fair ha rhnH riin r
- I r --.-, "''
uiar approval, and I bespeav for the
our citizen soldiers.
Kor the purpose of presenting certirf
claims of the state against the United
State Government growing out of the j expended.
opniBn war. 1 airectea Adjutant Gen
eraj Gantenbein to proceed to Wash
ington and represent the state lb per
son. This was done at small cost to
the state. The" first claim was for
articles furnished the Second Oregon
Regiment, and amounted t $10.25$. but
the War Deimrtment thought the claim
unreasonable, and suggested, a settle
ment oy tne payment of $17,000. By
the personal attendance and explana
tion by the Adjutant General the sum
of I3:.8l s secured, ori nearly $16,
OtMj intre than was at first goffered.
In January. . 1902, the Adjutant Gen
eral was again directed to proceed to
Washington City and present the claim
,ff the Second Oregon Regiment Vol
tuiteers who: were members of the Ore
Ron National
management a liberal support from the
state treasury. It ill be money well
Fiat Salaries.
For many years there has been a
growing dissatisfaction among the peo
ple as to the fee system which Is ap
plied to the payment of certain public
salaries. LHirtngjthe past year the
question was given a degree of promin
ence which secured for-it a place in
every party platform demanding its
abolition. It is riot a partisan .ques
tion at alL and since it was one of the
in
Oregon suggests . the necessity of
amending our present law on the sub
ject of starting fires during certain
mouths of the year. Withoit suggest
ing any special provision I desire to call
your attention to the subject as one
that should not be overlooked. Thou
sands of acres of valuable timber were
swept out of existence within a week,
an utter extinction of wealth that had
been hundreds of years in reaching its
perfected stage. ' Strict penalties should
be provided for starting fires under any
circumstances during certain months
of the year. We are inviting investors
from 'all over the United States to buy
our timber lands, and we owe this
guarantee to them as well as toour
own citizens. While fire. When under
control, is an invaluable sen-ant. It is a
most unrelenting master.
The Stat Institutions.
The system of government provided ,
by our constitution embraces a form
this statement of the situation there to
guarantee an appropriation sufficiently
large to provide against the possible
loss of life and property through its
unnecessary and unjustifiable contlnu
ance.
: . insurance on Public Buildings.
. ' This leads U the consideration of the
Question f insurance on public build
ings. It Js my judgment, concurred in
by other members of the .different
boards, that the state should' carry no
insurance on its public buildings. Dur
ing the past forty years I believe there
has been? no fire n any public build
ing, save the recent fire at the reform
school. . This fact ' shows 'that; the
chances for loss of property from fire
are too small to justify incurring the
expense of insurance. ; The most valu
able of our state buildings, the capitol.
is not insured for a dollar and never
has been. i
I bring this matter to your attention
as an important question and one upon
which you should take definite action.
There should be a law Instructing the
different boards to insure the state
buildings in an amount definitely speci
fied, of, you should -declare that, since
the spate's resources are stronger than
those of any insurance company, it is
the policy of the state to carry its own
insurance.
The failure io take definite action in
this matter may well be taken as an
indication, that the various boards are
not expected to maintain insurance on
the state's property.
' . , Conclusion.
Gentlemen of the Legislative Assem
bly. I am about tolay down the great
trust confided to my keepmg.our years
ago by the people of Oregon., They
have been four years of constant atten
tion to. the details of the multifarious
duties devolved upon the chief executive
under our constitution and the laws.
Being subject to the limitations of hu
man imperfections, I have doubtless
made some mistakes, but at this mo
ment I am conscious of having at all
times ben guided by an undeviatfng de
sire to enhance the welfare of my be
loved native state, and the splendid
eorylitiojy of our financial and other in
terests it this time bespeaks the degree
of success that ha been achieved.
1 can hot close without congratulat-
' ' '; 5
t" " ' ' '
i v.
George E. CiamberMm. rliii
ocrat), Governor; Imrn Nat-
cnez. AluKissipjii. Jan. 1.
jrvt; raucauou ottaiml In
public school and vllecc;
graduated in law 1876; came
u Oregon iu iXt-en 1 1 ier, 1 7 ;
a a . ' . .
launtoouniry fH-hoid until
- 1877 when appointcti dejnu v
clerk Linn county, serving
in that ofiicial ca aci I y un
til Summer if 1879; ele-tei
representative to IfiNlatiire
in 1880: in ISMi elw teil dis
triet attorney of Third Ju
dicial district; apMlntci
lirst attorney-general of r-
ej?oD by iov. pv I'en'ioyer,
(democrat) May, 1S91, hold
ing such kOfitioii until gen
eral electun in wr.en
elected to foiir-yean' lenn
an such officer; in June, 19H,
. elected pnwet-iitiiiKatlnritev
, for Multnomah county, and
held such oMK until Jan.
,,14, 1903, when inaugurated
- Governor of OiVRim, having
. been elected at general elec
tion, in June, 11W2.
ing my colleagues in the state govern
ment upon their re-election, and this
congratulationehould and does extend
to the people. Associated with-; these
public officials In the closest of busi
ness relations each day for four years,
I have found them at all times courte
ous, careful, industrious, and honest.
No shadow has come across the path
way of our official dutieW to mar ourl
pleasant relations and no disagreements
upon matters of public business jhave
arisen in any case. Daily consultations
attended always by unrestrained con
fidence, have en held and advice has I
been Knight and given on all matters
RECOMMENDATIONS IN GOVERNOR CHAMBERLAIN'S
MESSAGE J -
, ' .- . ;. - .- . .
Appointment of a commission to prepare a general assessment law. to
thus correct the evils of inequality and non-uniformity. ;
Taxing corporations to thus add to the state's revenue.
JPIacing state officers on-flat salaries. -
Have books of all state and county officials experted at regular inter
vals.' ; -. . .. -.j.
. Enlargement of the jurisdiction and power of the Circuit Courts With
reference to youthful criminals between the ages of 1$ and 21.
Executions for murder should be done at the Penitentiary, and all
such bodies forfeited to the state. '
Sailor boarding house nuisance ought to be severely dealt wljh.
Improve the public school system in the districts outside of cities.
Have but two Normal Schools under state aid 1 " i
Regulate pilotage rates at the mouth of the Columbia river. '
Repeal law providing for a health officer with a boatman at Astoria,
thereby cutting off a sinecure of $1500 per annum. j
Establish a Bureau of Labor or appoint a Commissioner to rejort to
the next Legislature regarding the relative conditions of capital and labor
in Oregon. - j
Pass! some legislation to give initiative and referendum amendment a
fair trial, L j "
Relatives of the state insane a.nd.also the Incorrlgibles at the Reform
SchooI.,should' be made to assist in the support of suchj wards.
State should own and operate its own light plant.
The Columbia and Willamette Ciers ought to be open and' free for
navigation.
Bpyii and Girls Aid Society deserves support by state.
Legislation is needel governing water and riparian rights..
Liberal appropriation for the Ijewis and Clark Exosition.
Oregon Historical Society should receive state support.
j. Redistrict the state into Senatorial and Representative Districts upon
a basis of justice to the people instead of in the interests of any political
party. - , ! - ;
Guard at the time they I .w...... ti nn im.
imo tne i nuea SMais 1 1 ,, j ... .k .
well taken for granted that you will not
let the session pass with the promise
unfulfilled. I wish to especially im
press upon the members of the domin
ant party the necessity for prompt and
It
A-
gate assessed valuation of all the prop
erty in the state in 1892 was $16.2."!,
64.00. while in 1899 it had decreased to
$U0.K28.87?.O0. r.Hthhg III 1900 the sunt
of $117,801,874.13. j
The decrease has been steady each i j
year since the date first mentioned
with the exception of 1893. when ther
was a slight Increase in the total valu
ation. If this condition continues; the
result" is inevitable under the present
system of taxation, that the fixed gov-.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
Representatives:
I vouljjt be recreant to my. duty if
did not in the very beginning of- what
I have to say, express to you, and
pertaining to our respective positions I through you to the people of the stste,
and duties. j 1 my high annreciation of the Erre.4t bn
1 mane no attempt to conceal the 1 or wnicn nas been conferred upon ine
sadness with which I now never my I In electing me chief executive. When a
officia l connections with them. I do so I convention of my party put me in nom-
which. for economy, is not equaled bywith tne expressed hope that the term I ination 'for this exalted place, it was
any other state in the Union. Oregon of office just opening to them miy be with one voice and without solicitation
has fewer officers than any other state, attended ith the same degree of sue- on my rwrt. I feel and know that I am
and therefore, they perform more du- ,n tne Performance of their official indebted for my election to that gen
ties than are required of similar officers duties as tha which characterizes the erous spirit of political "independence
elsewhere. ; The four principal state of- jone just closing, and that my successor! which has characterized the" people of
ficers.. consisting of the Governor,; Sec- ,n Fne executive office may meet"" with I this state from the earliest pioneer
retary of State, the State Treasurer and j an ; experience as pleasant as mine has j times, and fully realize that it was npt
tne superintendent or fubiic Instruc- . ; . ? oecause 01 any superior merit In me.
tion. control and direct all our public It is with a grateful heart that I Under such circumstances, I enter upon
'institutions, as well as the vast busi- thank the people of Oregon for- the the iferformanee tf the high trust that
ness connected with our state lands, the Rwou. and unfailing support they has been imposed upon me with a deep
irreducible school fund, our enormous have at all times given me when the f sense of the great responsibilities
fishmg industry, and other interests 'not opportunity has been presented to them, that devolve upon ine, with a greater
now necessary to mention. 'It may be na 1 return to private lire; dominated fear that I may not be able to meet
ell imagined that this entails a vast y thei all -pervading hope that the fu- the exie tations of those who have so
amount of work and constant attention ture of this great commonwealth .may honored me, and with a tirim-r deter-1
to duty on the part of four men bnly.L0 commensurate with that position I mination to do a"M in my humble towerjtheir respective roiintl ih tio
It is with a feeling of pride, shared f""M"-S her sister states Which.? under to l-t subserve and prote t the Inter- den end in view to ZZ. .,
by my colleagues in the state govern-ftn,? Pvidence of God. her resources.4 ests1 of the stated I have no higher am- ,r.i r t J
ernmental charges, remaining the sainW
and other exiienses continuing to hi4
crease, the rate of taxation -must cor
respondingly increaae; An examination
of the assessment rolls . will j. disclose
that a majority f the counties have
decreased their aggregate valuations '
when every man in the state kviowa
that there is not a single county In the
state but has increased in bth i-puU-tion
and wealth. - - ' " '
The record made would seem to hiJ
dicate that the assessors were vietoz
with each other as to who can t.l e th
.lowest valuation .upon the properties
few questions upon which all parties Ijnent, that I call your attention tq the j n hr people have said should be hers,' bition than to wn th
Pledged affirmative action by the repre-texcellent conditibn of all these lnstitu- I "" v i' my fellow citizens Vi
sentatlves in the. legislature, it may be tions. and the greater interests involved OLD SEEDS THAT GROW. hVe expired, for duty
' 110 mgner am-: ii, nr th
the eiKomiums of' -
rciuires trial
lb
evl.4
prot
the proposition will be urged, as all the
new officers were elected upon this
pledge. Where the people have dire-"try
expressed themselves on any qu?ston
at the ballot- box a disregard of the
mandate Can only be attended by cis-
astrous results. 7
. . ' Th Salmon Hatchori,
"tne salmon thatching industry has
shown a marked stimulus during the
service, at the rate Of fl.SOi per day
from the day of rendezvous to the int
ler into the volunteer .army. The
amount thus secured, with other cla'-ns.
wms $21,779. Of this Slim the amount
of I17.10S was due to the volunteers
nlM were accepted under ; the Prel
- dent's first call for troops, and the act
of Congress authorizing it expressly
provides that it shall not be covered
into the state treasury, but shall be ie-
! livered to the Governor as trustee for I Past four years., as indicated by the in
I the men. Payment was: begun on Feb-j crease of young fry turned out from
' ruary 25. 1902. and 83$ first -call vol-j the state hatcheries. In 1899 the totil
unteer were paid upon; properly veti-1 output from our state hatcheries was
fied vouchers to and including Decern-1 .w.w;a in 1900. 3.600,000; in 190L 15,-
ber SL 190J. The addree Of 19 hvel ww'.wou. and in 1902, 2S.000.000. The
not yet been found. i I : fish commission has left nothing un-
The total amount collected was IZi.- done In the way of establishing hatch-
0. $32.81 as the result of the Ad- eries where there seemed a probability
jutant Generate first; trip' to Washing- of success, and not only does the grati-
ton. and $21,779.94 a the result of the fring increase noted by the figures giv-
econd. i j j 1: ; j en establish without doubt the feasibtl-
f ' Thm OirU NominaUog Law. ! ln3lPlr!l!!ChrlUt th Krat
I J. " . Increase of salmon in the Columbia
Kor many years there ha. been a river and its tributaries demonstrates
general demand for reformation in the the practical and permanent value they
manner of making nominations for wm to tb tate. The salmon In
publio offices. The discussion of the autry has become one of the great
question ha taken a wida nni. Ki sources of our permanent wealth and
the sentiment In its favor is practically I furnUnes employment to thousands of
unanimous. The instances wher a uur oriar citizens. ,
county or state convention trample tin- Tour especial attention Is called to
der foot the demand of th people have the "report of the Master Fish Warden
been too numerous and flagrant to re- 'or detailed statement of the business
quire any argument in support of their trn-iCted in bis department during the
rroof. The convention system is a u- paat "" years,
perflaous agency for doing that which I Beard f Pilot Commissionsrs.
. the people may themselves as well do Rr referent .
J. i. . . i - ""
1 ne peopMi 01 ine enure j .tate. of seen that the condition of the bar at the
, " 'i iwni ik opening 1 mouth of the Columbia oners a greater
" j are ciuea 1 oostacie to shipping' than for
binary meetings. xni8 is done to e- years past. This is a serious matter
,wt to represent them in county and not only affects the material In-
r.rr. r purpomcMiri tnt -nd lopment
lrJLl?a.';ty W?m Jld Oregon, but is a matter of concern to
.other men to represent them In the dif- every section of the .tate. NoquesTion
. mnbil r mV0nc to thentatei
, . I ulpresis at large than the ma in ten -
"TTJX uum IMBMmlimAf . - -m - .
fiillhfilllv
in some or the Other departments men-I Jne stieniinc menof Europe seem to I honestly terformed.
tioned. . be. considerably interested.. Just' how as ' With absolute consciousness of, and
Only men of character and , Integrity Jo the length of time that a seed may faith in, the rectitude of mv own inten-
bave been chosen for the discharge of preserved and still not destroy it? tions, keeping in view tbe oath I have
the duties required of subordinate offl- Bermlnating qualities. Interest . has taken to xuprort the .institution and
cers, and the exceedingly small number i stirred up concerning the matter taws of the state. I plac-e my trust in
of complaints made against the man- bv the publication of a story to the ef- f.wi ......i .vti;. ... .a .
agement of any of the public interests I ft0 1 pea t0 fro "sarcophagi j guide me in all that a fleets the welfare
attests the excellent character of their 1 'ne Pharoahs. which were evidently of the,iop)e r.f the vhole state, irre-
uiiuiiiir4,iiun. wiu oe utterly im- I " , J'"" not oniy germ-I spective of race, religion or Dartr
i-veoivre ivi cm, smucr ucxrm or tcon l - yt tiun lairr uios
I rTll vitiat 1 t t Ia a... a f.
en my term shall i Aji..i" - . . T
., . i irniriaui; Assemoiy snail provi'ie nr
ano . r . . .... 1
" r uiiiiuiii una etjuai rate or
atlon. As a step to that end, the lvir
provides that all, property h.ilL be asf
sessed at Its true' cash value. In orer
to be uniform it lis not essential tht
. iT.. . laoTTuwi u,,H i, .'I AVhile the mandate of the constitu
stitutions. The mm niA i I flowers
ployes are in 'every instance
low. and in many cases are
tressingly so. The cost of mai
can not be well reduced at the present I that was supposedly at. least S-IO
prices for supplies, which are purchased I ears Pa- cesser instances have been
trora the lowest bidders. I speak fori lr-nuon n this country, where, the
i i i i x ri . mrtnsrri' nai m ta
w -1 I . ..... . . ' 7 I in oiirfrtvf its' OTOfiitlt'o i
extremely Puoncauon or this instance has "brought m2: " I"" "
almost dis- lo mention two cases in England, where Z" "IT "..L rT" - .
I rare specimens' of henbane rr- fm.k T'. r-' ""' ,rlc,e" l"
Hiatimi, in me verv
my. colleagues as well as for myself In
stating that at all times, when discus- i
sing- ways and means for the manage
ment or all our public Interests, our
dominating purpose has -been to dis
cover that which would best subserve
the general welfare. Not in a single in-
eeds upward of a score. of years shave
been found still ,able to produce'! life.
There is little doubt of the, fact 1 that
-eeds will endure longer if kept under
favorable condition,, but whether or not
the power of germination is. Sufficient
to endure for such a length of time as
mentioned In the first
Stance has there been anv dmartnr
from this view of our public duty. The! a very interesting question. '
success that has attended our efforts
is evidenced by the unusual scarcity Of
criticism of present conditions either
by the press or the people. ; j
WHAT J AXE SUFFERED.
nature of things
tne suggestions of the retiring execu
tive deserve and will receive -at your
hands more attention than any I can
make. Many years service as a legislat
or and four years as executive have not
only familiarized him with the business
affairs of the state, but peculiarly fit
him to point out for your consideration
needed legislation to meet existing con-
W "lAUIn-. Cf.lff . . . . , J ...
SnstaAce cited I oww ranra la,"; M,1""1
nc ui me opportunity anoraeo. ire oy
the constitution to call to -our atten
tion in a general way some matters
which seem appropriate to be consider-
j ; Th Soldiers' Hem.
There is, perhaps, no soldiers home
n the United States that is better man
aged .than the Oregon home, at Rooe
burg, a. faxft that Is a strong argument
against the trustee system of manage-'
r.! 5!? JJ- roolaUKthe llowlnTl
rtant ru;,,' r'; :rzz"": i he. had caught
member, of ttat iTrj V- rm"" naent nurse with a -poetical
. wuiinsunct: - - i - .
even the inmates of the home. This dis-1 jane ate ftn 3stnm. 'Jtm t,,.,..
amarl . 1 115 mJm calce n1 Jane ate Jelly;
tT Z-;.:iZ I ent to bed with pain in her
... .. w uis Wl. UK V.m- rfnn I. j .
1"V VA14 Tma hJI v - t
one .nH th. n l . I - . " ,""? paiu i
. .' . i.iiuwnj iuo nncci head.
existed. It is the only borne In tbl m. I
"7.-- 4 "rC " yJ r I entirely surprised and somewhat shock-
iron I el parents, they asked him: -What did
A dear little boy. whose Identity it isled at this session pf your body, and to
u....c.ry w uiwiose. attended school I them I will refer. ,
iasi inier ana on an occasion when
visitors were announced took nart In
the exercises given in their honor. The
programme consisted of recitations by
the brighter children of the school, and
among mem tnis particular little boy
was called on. j He recited, In perfectly
nes. which
- - - - 1 uuiwgronnn ui uie anairs or tni
Board of Pilot. Commissioners it will oe j home under the control of the Cover
meert that ttut mrwlltinn f ' ., . .
direct tw-t . 'Z I . - """-'
. - "c"'r'"- l"r coun-1 vommoia river and an open river to the
ty and iUte candidates as to choose ren- head of narition, I desire T to ru?e
The present system Is am advantage
over the trustee system because it Is
ten -times as 'difficult for ten men to
agree on a given proposition as . U If
for one tnan. . . . ..
The soldiers" home is absobitety with
out fire protection of any kind, and is
the teacher say T
He replied; She saM nothing. She
tnst turned around and looked out of
the window, but the scholars and the
visitors wanted me to say it again.
There is only one thing that will keep
life from hwimr a fitlimi k . - i -
the only, state iusUttiUon so tvituated. ome kind of useful employm-nt.
Assssmnt. Laws. : i ' . '
It is to be expected that as the state
Stow, in population and in wealth there
must be a proportionate lni-reaa in ex
penditure to successuily -administer its
affairs. But it doe not follow that the
general rale of taxation should continue
toIm-rea. The steady growth In
wealth, constantly adding to the aggre
gate assessed valuation, ought to keep
down the rate of the tax levy. This has
not been, the case. ! With an increased i
and steadily increasing expenditure, the
rate of the levy has not only not re
mained stationary.! but the tendency I.
to Increase each year The responsibil-
marily In a defective assessment la wT
and secondarily with the assessors of
the several counties.
Notwithstanding Uhe acknowlenH
fact that there has been a large In
crease in our population since 1$9, and
ia consequence a proportionate increase
In wealth, the returns made to the Sec
retary of State by the assessor, of the
several counties ehow that the g;re-
propel y should all be assessed at lt
true cash value. This requirement
would as! well be attained If all prop
erty were assessed at the same propor
tionate part of lts value. But the law
Is violated in letter and In spirit whrlu
no uniform basis for assessment is ftx4t
In any of the counties. In some It f.i
assessed Jat one-quarter, in others at
one-third, in others at one -ha If of Its
cash value, and knowlnglyu I done fri
open violation of the law, and no means
has yet been found to compel a prtier
observance of th statute. . j . j .
Attention has been called to this mit
ter by eviery executive before me, hut ,t '
seems that prior leglslatlve bodies hove
either not had the) time or' the Inclina
tion to do anything to correct existing
evils In the plan of assessment. i
The subject is so difficult to prtperly
adjust that I do riot lelieve It iossibt
In the bustle and confusion of a short
session tio frame a law revisory of pres
ent statutes and meeting the many ob
stacles n the wajf of a consistent as
sessment and. taxation plan, i Attempt
at each, session have proven abortive,
and have but ' made, confusion wor
confounded. j - f "
I therefore earnestly urge that Lt
provide for the appointment bv theiex-
cutive of u commission tof prepare a
geiVeral assessment law, to be reported
to iseiiext legislature for adontion or .
rejection. This has been done in other
states, and wherever it ha. been tried It
no resulted In partially correcting the
evils of inequality and nonun!foriait.
, i Taxation of Corporations, f j
rge proportion of the taxes J Of
many of the state Is derived from
source, other thai the general land and
ity for this condition of thing, lie. pri-4 , T a.x R1 "t18 here ia b-r-
Ing an unjust proportion of thn txes
tor ootn state and local purprse. 5er
oal property and money largely es
cape taxation. This is not a. It should
be, and some remedy ought to be found
and a pitied for carrying into effeift the
letter and spirit 1 of the - cojstit(i(ioh.
which requires all taxation to be e$uai
and uniform. The period through which
we are now passing I. characterizel
by combinations of capital, as welt a