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,-J
JME.CEER ADMINISTRATION
The political quoetlon in which the
people of Marion county nnd of the
whole atate of Oregon life moat "deeply
interfcatod ia whether Governor Qeer
will boren0ralnatcd bjrthonoxt Repttb
lIcaTfttatoSdntrenttdn. If the rank Arid
file of 'lheRspdbllcan party woro to tie
consulted on a direct vote, no ono doubts
but tbat'tbd present entire atato admin
istration would be givona second term.
But the way the nominating business la
managod there mutt bo an aronssd pub
"He Bdrltlmont to do justice to any ad
ministration upon Its morlta, For the
purpose of arousing public intcseet In
.the mattor, Tu Jorjatui, has taken the
troublb to preaenfa rovlow of tho Qeer
administration In tho various dopart
menta'of our stato government from an
entirely independent standpoint. It is
aiaumed that there Is a largo body of
cltfzona who aVo primarily interested In
Booing the state woll governed, who aro
not interoatod in puroly personal con
troversios between aapirants to ofllce,
and who are willing to aeo fair treat
mont'of any man in public office who
has eduglit to do his duty without fear
'"or favor, and 'who baa uphold the good
airne of hla Btate, advanced the cause of
Reed government to the beat of hia abll-
itlna. Political manaeara cannot al-
, ways be trusted to deal fairly even with
thoe whostrive hardest to moot their
demands, An official who shows a high
'scnabol rosponaibilily to tho people and
ft decent regard for the welfaro of the
state as tho boat moans of sowing his
party, is not apt to be found an univer
sal favorite among thoao who follow tho
'p&rtyllag solely from the standpoint of
unrestrained party plunder. It can be
fairly claimed for Governor Gear that he
waa nominated against the wish of the
machino managers in Oregon and that
he has conducted bla administration
not solely for thoir benefit. It can bo
safely aaaumod that in standing for a
ronomlnatlon ho does bo without con
sulting tho boasoa who declared that hla
nomination in 180b was an acoldont, and
that auch thing as any man succeeding
himself on the merits of hia administra
tion is an imposaibllity. Tho Geer ad
ministration will go bofore tho people
squarelv upon ita record.
When iliacuaeing tho Geer adminis
tration aa a whole, it canuot bo claimod
that tho govornor ia ontitlod to any moro
than hia share of what has been ac
complished for tho improvement of tho
state government, or that ho la to blame
' for any moro thau hla share of what haa
not' boon accompliahod. While throe
state institutions have boon placed solely
in his care and koeplng, ho is a member
of tho boards that have five othor insti
tutions undor their control. As the
head of the otato government a largor
degree of reaponaibility attachos to the
' govornor than to any other one state
offioial. It ia upon him that most praise
or blamo will bo bestowed, It is the
govenor who must go boforo the people
and mako tho canvass and defend tho
administration of tho atate government
nnder'bimself and hla colleagnea in the
onaulng campaign. It can bo said to the
" credit of the Geer adminlatratlon that it
has been froo from all clashing and atrifo
betweendho officials who have had con
4t trol of tho stato'a affairs for the past
three years. Governor Gear and hla col
lengues on the Btato boards havo workod
,' as an unit. They havo conducted all
publlo buslnoss In a eplr't of harmonious
X corporation, It can be claimed with
, out fear of contradiction that they have
labored in tho publlo interest and to Im-
prove the public sorviee in overy respect
that it might not bo said of them, they
had been obstacles to tho development
- of tho commonwealth, They havo falth
. fully tried to do what waa exactly right
and what was required of them by the
law In every instance to the beat of thoir
ability. It would bo the holght of folly
to 'proclaim that they havo made no
mistakes. But it ia doubtful if the atato
' has tver had a moro faithful and intol-
ligent sot of men in control of its affairs.
The governor and hla associates are men
a till In the early prima of life, men bred
to pnblic careers and taking the natural
pride In publlo affairs that distinguishes
every true American. These men be-
' lie've that self-government by the people
li boat carried on when publla officials
' show a bigh-mludad determination to
.saccwd for the solo purpose of lessoning
the burdens of tho taxpayers as well aa
promoting the true Interests of their
Governor Geer has been Intensely
loyal at all times to hia party and yet it
can be claimed for him that no man has
ye; sat in tho Governor's chair who
came nearer giving the atato a non
partisan buaioeati adminlatratlon, In
..1 all bis appointment on state' boards
r'iNiiitspf educational institutions
ho haa sought capablo men and effici
ency for public service rathor than to
consult only his personal Interests or
inclinations. Ho lifts reappointed or
continued compotont and experienced
mamliora nf nfutn hoards rOBOrdloaB of
their politics or whother they woro his
personal adhorentB. He haB consti
tuted now boards nnd made appoint
menta entrusted to him by tho legls-
ilaturo with the 'same caro and puuuc
spirit. Tho leglalaturo put many now
appointments Into hia hands with full
confidence In his judgment, and In no
instance waa their confidence violated
by unfit appointments. In aelectlonqf
mon for tho stato board of agrlculturo
or tho textbook commission nnd for
olhor important placoa he doomed no
man too good to ak him to aorve and to
political pull ho paid little or no at
tention. Governor Geer has gone
farther to consult tho maaaea of tho
people and tho proea of tho atato in
making nppolntmonta' than any prede
cessor. He haa tried to find their wlahba
and proteata and has sought to
meet the ono and rospoct the other.
And it is not strange that ho has fairly
well succeedod. Hia lifo haa been for
twenty years a continuous training for
public aervico. For ton years ho dls
cuaaed publio questions in the news
papers. Four times ho aervod in the
logialaturo, once na apoakor and tho
state nover had a bettor- man in tho
chair. In 1890 ho mado a campaign aa
prealdential elector, apeaklng for aovon
weeka and In that timo ho waa at homo
but two hours. Ho haa mado apecchca
in all but two counties of the Btato. In
montof them speaking many times.
No man has a hotter record for party
aorvico or haa contributed moro of
his time and ability to help carry on
popular government. Ho won his
nomination for governor in 1803 against
tho opposition of aomo of tho beat party
managers In tho atato and carried hla
state ticket by a large majority against
aa united oppoaition for a strong can
didate & ts e
Besides giving tho stato a good Buai
nesa administration, aa will appear from
the review of tho workings of tho differ
ent departments nnd institutions,
Governor Geer haa not neglected his
dutioa to hla party, going out and apeak
ing in tho Juno election and proaldontlal
campaign of 1000. Tho past year ho
furthor eorvod hla party in tho Ohio
campaign, taking a full hand with mon
llko Governor Naih of that atate and
Govornor Shaw of Iowa, and in evory
county whoro ho apoko tho party rollod
up an Increaaed majority. This becomoa
a aourco of prido to many mombers of
hia party in Oregon who havo known
him from boyhood and watched him
win hla way from obscurity to parthil-
pation in national affairs. Governor
Geer has a record lor having taken an
Interest in military affaire, and a
patriotic intoieat In tho home-coming
8ocond Oregon rogltnontfrom tho Philip
pinea. He went to meet their transport
aa it sailed Into Ban Francisco Bay and
went again to moot thorn with his atalf
at the Btato line. He took tho Initiative
In securing recognition at the hands of
of Becrolary of War Root who on tho
Governor's suggestion had a medal
struck from a bronze cannon captured
by tho Orogon boys. For this purposo ho
made a trip to Washington at hla own
oxponae. Governor Geer has done much
to put this state in touch pith tho larger
llfo of the nation, Ho first met Presi
dent McKlnley atGauton when carrying
tho electoral voto of Oregon, won In a
close contest largely by hla own labors
on the stump. Ho met him again at
Chicago In 1800 n.id waa with him at
at San Francisco at the home of Irving
Bcott, when he was on his way to visit
Oregou, Thoao seem not important
mattera to aomo, and others may think
lightly of them, but by tho people of a
state that has been too little in tho eyes
of the world It will bo viowed and
appreciated, or at least it should bo, In
the publio spirited light of all of Gorver
nor Geer's actions since he haa filled tho
chair aa chief exocutlve. His solo
thought has been to fill that offico
worthily and to conduct himself so that
ho might come boforo the peoplo again
with fair assurances of having mot all
his public obligations fully aud credit
ably.
Governor Geer is ono of tho few mon
who have lived all hia life on a farm
and went from his farm to take the gov
ernor'ti chair. He has no other occu
pation than that of farmer aud when he
retires from public life it will be tore
turn to tho plow. He carrlos with him
tho careful waya and plain manners of
the farmer, and it can bo said he has
honestly and plainly and economically
'lived in Salem without putting on any
show or appcaranco of stylo or adopting
any habits that ho was not accustomed
to when living on hla farm. Hla homo
llfo ia aa plain aa his station and tho du
ties of hla position will permit. With
out playing the demagog to tho cxtromo
of JoffersonUn simplicity for appearances
and effect only, htn homo nnd offico nro
open to any citizen at all tlinos. Ho
works hard, mostly in his shirtsleeves,
in hla offico from nino a. m. until from
eix to ten p. m. He haa taken n plain
art aa a plain citizen in the ordinary
duties of llfo. Ho haa not run a aocloty
adminlatratlon and has given no public
receptlona, but haa received evoryouo
cordially and haa fully borno hla part In
all tho little dutlo8 that go to mako
community life agreeablo In thoso ro
spects Govornor and Mrs. Geer havo
humbly and unostentatiously borne
thoir part. In nnothor way Govornor
Geer has mot tho peoplo a groat deal
All tho timo ho could sparo from his
official duties he has gono out and de
livered addresses in all parts of the Btato
on all sorts oi occasions. Ho line not
accepted one-third ol tho invitations ho
haa receivod, but ho has gono whonovor
he could without neglecting publio busi
ness. Ho haa done this to got bottor
acquainted with tho peoplo and to lonrn
moro fully the needs of tho people. He
haa gono Jo their homoa and assem
blages to inform hlnieelf moro thoroughly
aa to their Wants and conditions. From
social standpoint Governor Geer bn9l
filled tho moasuroof public ideals under
democratic '.Institutions. Ho has been
more democratic In hia poraonal conduct
of his administration and in all hla in
tercourse with tho pooplo than many
politicians calling thomsolvca Demo
crats. Thoro will ho critics who say
such things nro all put on for effect, but
they aro not to be found among thoeo
who havo soon tho Govornor in his daily
lifo at Salam and who knew him and
mot him when ho lived on hla farm in
tho Waldo hills.
If for no other reason than the troat
montof tho quootlon of tho soloution of
textbooks for tho public schools, Govor
nor Geordeaorves well of the peoplo of
Oregon regardless of party. A prominent
educator from Milwaukee, Wis., recent
ly lectured boforo the toachoro of Marion
county and said that a toxthook of twen
ty years a,;o was as much out of dato ae
tho old muzzlo-loadtng Springfield rifle
In modern warfare Oregon had n soriea
of textbooks practically unchanged for
twonty years, all supplied practically by
ono firm. Many of thoao books woro of
inferior manufacture, to Bay nothing ol
tho contonts, and all wore higher priced
than more modern books could bo bought
for, and tho corporation furnishing them
was charged with using all kinds of in
direct methods to hold Its monopolistic
grasp on tho peoplo of this atate. Tho
leglalaturo placed in hia hands the nam
ing of a commission of fivo mon who
should mako n now contract (or text
books, and it was froely prodlcted that
money would bo used to dictato results.
Tho textbook trust that had tho Orogon
contraot was charged with trying to se
cure a commission favorable to ita graft,
and othor firms wero charged with try
ing to dictato results. Govornor Gear
wont about making his commission in a
moot doliborate open, and above board,
manner,anddlaregardod all rumors of at
tempts to influence him ono way or tho
othor. Ho askod tho busineaa men aud
oducatora and farmors, men and womon
all over tho state who took an Interost in
education, to ouggoat names of suitable
persona for that commienlon and out of
the names auggeatod ho picked five that
aa a body entrusted with an Important
duty haa nover beou surpasBod for ability
aud high character In tho history of the
state. As n result tho pooplo of Oregon
got a toxthook adoption froe from all sor
did iulluonces whatever, aud that in
quality and price are pronounced tho
host adoption ever madu in tlio UnHod
Statos. Textbook agents who went up
against that commission and got not a
book adopted said they woro tho best
and fairot commission that had ever
been organizod. Gov. Geer refuaod to
listen to tho clamor that demanded -per-aona
only of a certain class or profession,
and namod two business meu, two law
yers, and one oducator all mon of tho
highest and moat irreproachable stand
ing mu who gave their timo and spent
their own money freely to got only tho
best result for the peoplo of this stato,
for tho glory of our common echoola and
tho wolfaro of tho coming generations.
It waa a moat Important service perform
ed In a high-minded mannor, when it la
romemberod that Btates all around Oro
gon havo beon disgraced with scandals
growingoutof tho aelectiou of textbooks.
A new boundary stako has beon sot in
textbook adoptions and mercenary greed
has beon told to keop ita hands off tho
EDITORIAL PAGE OF OWE JOURNAL
EDITION,
most oacred treasure of tho Atnorlcan
pooplo Ita common schools.
Tho labors of tho textbook commlBalon
havo nover boon called In question or
even subjected to a disinterested criti
cism, while It can bo cosily shown that
about $20,000 a year haa been saved to
tho people of this stato. It was a body
mado up ontlrely from tho standpoint of
nhllitv. and without a thought as-to ita
political composition. It Is known that
rroro than ono moinbor on that bcurd
spont hla own money to employ expert
educators to road through toxtbooka
that ho had not time or doubted his
ability to pass upon. Tho selection of
Buch u board to deal with such an im
portant mattor may nover bo fully ap
preciated, but it should win for Govornor
Geer the hearty admiration of those
who lovo our freo schools and tho cause
of education in gonoral, as it will no
doubt win for him tho covert opposition
of ono trust that was knocked down nnd
dragged out of tho public arena in old
Webfoot, This is an ago o! tho world
when ono man who nets nnd doea some
thing tanglblo for tho peoplo Is worth a
thousand academic theorists or loud
mouthed demagogs. Tho samo devotion
to buelncaa principles waa shown by
Govornor Geer in his formation of a
new Btato fair board oi fivo men, the
solo appointment of whom was vested in
tho Govornor. Tho old fair board had
rff-
grown cumbersome and waa not mooting
tue uomanus oi mo peopio. in inct mo
fair was about to go undor,and Governor
Geer had to pick out a board that could
aot it going on now linos. Ho retained
ono of tho best business men ou tho old
board Goo. Chandlor of oaalorn Oro
gon, nnd namod Messrs, Wohrung, Set
tlomlor, Wilkins and Reoso. The
board organizod by electing tho only
Democrat president and haa kept him
thoro Mr. WehrUng. Tho two falra
conducted by this board havo boon great
succossos in apito of bad weathor. Thoy
havo boon grand oxblbita of tho real ag
ricultural resources of tho Btato and a
financial succeas as well. Tho whole ad
ministration of tho stato fair has been on
a business and non-political basis. All
tho old faBhloued grafts have beon qui
etly dono uway with, and the reputation
of tho fair even for its raco management
has beon put nmong tho very highest ol
such shows any whoro in tho country.
Tho displays of Hvo stock havo beon In
creased until thoy aro tho equal of any
In tho host cattlo showfl in tho United
Statos. Tho stato fair has been mado a
reality in name and nature and tho uc
cuBatlouthat it was in overy respect only
a local exhibition has been ontlroly dono
away wltn. Tno maintenance oi mo
stato fair ia no longercal'ed questionable
and for this tho pooplo of Salem and of
tho atato at largo havo roason to feel
thankful to Govornor Geer nnd tho la
bora of his fair board.
Tho state penltontiary haa boon well
managed in tho past, but at no time
bottor than for tho past three yeare.
Thoro has boon great Improvement in
tho sanitary conditions prevailing, Bot
tor bathing and vontilatlng facilities
havo beon provided. The health of
tho prisoners and the amount of timo
dovoted to labor has been Increaaed,
Land haa been leased and cleared by
convict labor, employing moro of the
convicts at producing food and supply
ing tho fuol (or tho Institution. Tho
amount of farm produce has boon in
creased, moro land has beou mado pro
ductive. With tho increased quantities
of (arm products and garden truck, and
tho larger earnings of tho convicts, tho
ponltonttary has boon made as nearly
solfsustaiuing us it is possible to mako
It. Llko all the Institutions it ia woll
officered. Aa theono institution directly
undor the oyeol tho Governor, he has
taken a trot pride in having a vory
efficient sot of mon in charge, and
they havo proved thoir worthiness by
n record that Is haid to best. Undor
this administration there has not been
a single escape from tho prison, and two
convicts havo been recaptured who hod
previously oscapod. There luvo been
but two escapes from tho trusties, ono
of whom has beon ro'akon, and the
other 1b quite generally believed by ho
authorities to havo drowned himself.
Tiie greatest improvement haa been
made iu tho management of the atato
atovo works, which is iu part duo
to tho prevailing better times aud
bettor markot for tho. product. At tho
beginning of this administration tho
Loweuherg & Going Oo. waa behind In
its payment to tho Btato so far that
alter a compromise was effected that
company waa indebted to the Btato in
the Bum off 32,200. This has all been
paid. Tl o monthly amount due for
the wages of the convict labor haa been
paid promptly and monthly, aa haa the
quarterly rontal of the plant. The
1902.
amount received during this year for
convict labor haa beon n llttlo over $ 12-,
000. This with tho 12000 for rontal of
tho plant makes over $14,000. During
tho last throo yearB nearly $3,000 has
been paid Into tho Btato treasury for
convict labor, making about $70,000
which tho Lowonborg & Going Oo. haB
paid Into tho treasury for all purposes
tho past threo yoara. Tho taxpoyora
can hardly nek for a hotter buslnoaa
management than this.
ft A
Tho Geer administration haa put tho
management of tho atato Bchool land
(unda on a higher plnno of efficiency
than oVor beforo. A system of promptly
collecting interest on tho irreducible
school fund was inaugurated at the be
ginning of Tronsuror Mooro'a term that
has resulted in n marked improvement.
Ono of tho most difficult things in tho
management of tho school fund la to pro
vent dollnquencioa in tho collection of
interost. Tho borrowors aro situated in J
evory county of tho Btato nnd many of
them in remote districts. Many aro
Inclined to regard the stato as thoir
easiest creditor, with which thoy can
sottlo last. On tho first of January,
1899, thoro was about ten percent ot tho
interest fund delinquent from one to ten
years. At tho presont thoro is losa than
ono percent, due, and tho Interost on
ovory noto In tho atato treasury, except
ing only about twenty, la paid up to
aomo time in tho year 1000. Compared
to the samo kind ol collections In pri
vate institutions, it would bo hard to
find a batter business management than
thlfl. Tho entlro service in tho atBto
school land department haa beon Im
proved, as It la only natural and proper
that it should bo with tho dovolopmont
of the etato nnd tho oxporiouco galnod
by succefllvo administrations. Prior to
tho year 1899 tho duties of the stato land
agont woro confined to tho Bolectlon of
lieu lands. Tho retiring agent reported
to tho logialaturo of that yoar that there
was no moro land to select in quantities
that would justify tho contlnuanco of
hia offico for that purposo. But for
many yoara there haa boen no ono
specifically designated to look after tlio
(ariUB which had bocome tho Btato pro
perty through foreclosures, or to look
(or purchasers, or to find renters aud
colloct tho ronta. Por this purposo the
office ns continued with tho Intention
of having Bomo ono loak nltor thoeo ad
ditional duties. At that timo tho Btato
owned 44 farms. During tho succeeding
two years thoro wore 160 foreclosures,
and 02 farmB Bold for $188,000 which had
coat tho atato $105,000; and $10,000 had
also beon colleotod for rent. During tho
present year thero hnvo been 30 foreclos
ures, and 44 farma sold, leaving 103 on
hand. Tho farms aro practically all
rentod nnd tho ronta oro collected prom -
ptly, which In addition to tho ealos,
makea tho Btata land agont a vory busy
offlcor. The atato'e farms aro all for sale,
and atneo tho avorago money lender who
is compelled to (orecloeo (aims for
security, seldom does so without a lots,
tho record of tho state land agent in tho
matter of salos Ib worthy of considera
tion. Tho Btato land board has adopted
a vory strict and careful system ol inves
tigation In ovory instanco boforo making
loans and the gonoral charactor of loans
has boon Improved for the past throo
years.
A A
Thero baa boon reduction iu tho run
ning expenses of noarly all of tho atato
institutions. Tho atato reform school an
nual oxponses have boen kept down to
the economical standard maintained by
tho preceding administration. All sup
plies aro nuw required to be purchased
of the lowest bidder here as in evory
department of the etato. The industrial
and educational work havo beon extend
ed and tho general health of the boys
improved. Like the penitentiary it has
been placed undor a good businosas man
agement. Tho samo has been done with
the Soldier's home at Roseburg. Until
the beginning oi tho present administra
tion the management was under a board
of trustees. The fact that thero waa
moreorloaa strife existing there was
not allowed to drop qut of tho mind of
the public. Tlio nowfpapore of tho
eluto wero full of it. Tub Jouunal got
regular lottera from old eoldiera at tho
Home burning up i lio commandant in
in charge or the trustees. At tho legis
lative aosalon of 1899 the board ot trus
tees wit? abolished, and its management
placed under direct control of tho Gov
ernor, who appoints tho superintendent
and matron aud to whom tho wholo
business and every employe is directly
responsible. Under the new system all
troubles havo disappeared and every
thing haa been perfectly harmonious and
satisfactory. Iu many reapeota this ia
ono of the hardest iuatltutlona to
man-
ago, The old soldiers aro tho wards
ot
tho itato and nation and, while it ia
mUfortuno for any man to hnvo to go to
an Institution to ond his daya. thoso
votorana aro eritltled to nil tho care and
attention thoy recolvo. Tho prosont
efficient sorvicolenvoB nothing to com
plain of, nnd is a credit to tho officora
nnd thnreforo to tho pooplo of tho atato
who havo mado liberal provision for
thorn. Additions havo been made
during tho paBt yoar to both hospital
nnd barracks nnd the capacity of the
inatltullon haa boen Increased about 25
per cent. In tho Blind aohbol new
Industrial work hns boon ndded for the
dovolopoment of tho skill of tho sightless
children. This does not conclude tho
rovlow of all tho departments of admin
istration but tho gonoral statement holds
that thoro has boen progresa nnd re
trenchment nil along tho lino without
injury to tho publlo eorvico. In (act,
what Tub Jouknal has always claimed,
that thoro was an actual Improvement
to bo accompliahod In tho public eorvico
by a closor busluosa management, haa
boon accomplished In noarly ovory
department of tho Btato government at
Salem and in the institutions named.
Then Ib no inconalatency In tho strictoet
economy nnd good government in fact
they thrive together and aro not
objected to by any but thoso who thrive
by oppoblto conditions.
e
If a stato admlnistrat'on ia to bo
judged by tho oxcollont moral nnd fi
nancial condition of its several stato ins
titutions, Buroly tho Govornor nnd mom
bora of tho sovoral atato boards aro to bo
congratulated. While tho appointing
power carries with it tho responsibility
of disappointing sovarnl aspirants for
each placo, nnd somo of thooo can always
be relieved upon to mako uncoaBing war
upon whatever is dono in tho position
thoy Bought to eccure, thoro haa boon
lees scandal nnd fowor sensational
charges mado In connection with tho
atato government at Salem than over bo
foro. Tho big asylum with its tromond
ous stato farm adjunct, tho Reform
school, tho Deaf-mute echool, tho Insti
tute for tho Blind, aro all doing their
work smoothly aud well. Faithful eor
vico isrendorod to tho unfortunate wards
of tho stato. An examination ot tho ox
noneo nccountB of thoie institutions
shows that thoy havo novor boon mon-
aged with greater economy than at pros-
ent. At no time In tlio past uavo tnoy
been moro froo from critlciam than now.
What tho JounsAi, llkoa und what It bo
llovea tho peoplo llko ia tho purely huBl
noes aspect of thoao mattora, as divorced
from moro partisan considerations for
political effect. At tho city ol Salem a
newspaper man hoars all tho complaints
and defects that arises in tho manage
ment of any department of tho atato
government. One hoara the worat aide
1 of evory thing that happens. Viowed
(rom this standpoint, overy nowspapor
man in tho city will say that thoro has
nover beon a cloanor or moro wholosomo
atmosphere surrounding ovory detail of
tho govornment, or one which the peoplo
would moro gladly soo contlnuo. Tho
moral considerations involved in con
ducting institutions for defective ele
ments of society have boon keptln view.
There have been no cruelties or sensa
tions at tho asylum for the insane, no
Inhuman punishments at tho state pri
son, no fbgglngs at tho reform school,
and nono oi the abuses of the unfortu
nate that aro eomotlmoa 'read about in
tho nowapapora as happening in other
states. The peoplo ot Oregon can dcclaro
with pride that In no ntato aro tho prin
ciples of humanity carried to greater
length in tho caro of tho uufortunato
than In Oregon. That a humane nnd
christian management is insured in ev
ory instanco tho publio institutions
ought to count for something with tho
prido of Oregon's best citizenship, It ia
gratifying to tho buslnoaa Intoreata of
the state that good management prevail
iu finances. Tho reduction mado in tl e
running expenses of the state institu
tions it bound to mako a reduction in
state taxes if kept up. But the greatest
satisfaction cornea from the knowledgo
that thero is absolute righteousness
in ovory detail of their management.
To a disinterested observer, ono who
haa never aBked any political favora of
Governor Geer and who under uo cli
cumstances will bo an applicaut for any
appointment he may have in future, it
would appear wisdom for tho people of
this atate to recognize tho condition of
things ho has brought about and that it
would bo tho highoat political aagacity
for the members of hia party to continue
such an administration by giving it an
unauimousendoraotnent at tho prima
ries and in the county conventions.
Such action would have the moat far
reaching results for the welfaro of tho
atate by endoralng good eervice and 'do-
votlon to tho publlo welfare instead of
throwing overboard an adminlatratlon
J&
THE PAPER OF THE PEOPLE.
thathaa nothing to fear in going boforo
tho pooplo with tho Btnnlloat dotnlla of
Its public-record. To allow a faction to
' . .. - ...
doieat Govornor Uocr (or ronominatlon,
for ulterior roasohfl not connected with
the discharge of official duties, moans to
extend tho factional fight within tho
party that haa horotoforo boon confined
to federal affairs Into tho stnto adminis
tration, whon the party would bo des
troyed for nil usofuliiosa nnd no posslblo
bonefit could cotno to the causo of good
government. It la up to tho republican
party to cndorBO a atnto adminlatratlon
for keeping ita pledges nnd faithfully
discharging ita dutioa or to lowor tho
standards of publio eorvico and drag
them In tho miro of puroly factional and
personal place-seeking. Republicans
who lovo tho cause ot a bottor stato gov
ernment should ecu to It that tho party
takes no stops backward In this matter,
and to uso a homoly phroso, lets woll
enough alone, and not swap horseB nt
the crossing of a Btream, If Govornor
Geer and his colloagues havo cot tho
atnndnrda of good govornment In Oregon
a notch hlghor thoro ought to bo peoplo
enough in tho Republican party with tho
courago to say bo, nnd if they do tho
peoplo of all parties will ondorso their
action at tho polls. If Republicans al
low a cownrdly policy to prevail, and ro
fiiBo to endorse a man upon hla record,
what ehnll tho independent pooplo of
tho Btato any whon thoy go to tho polls?
Thoy will bo tomptod to apow out tho
wholo proposition nnd turn tho atnto
over to tho opposition nnd who shall say
thoy would not be justified in doing it.
An adminlatratlon that la clean enough
and good enuugh to win tho beat expres
sions ot good will and public approbation
of many of tho most intelligent mon in
other pottles ought to be good enough
for Republicans. And that will bo the
vordict of Republicans when thoy go to
the primaries and conventions.
Tho foregoing review of our statu gov
ernment haa been without any intention
of disparaging the labors of any former
adminlatratlon. It In n recognized fact
that tho dovolopmont of n atato gov
ernment requires constant progress. All
that is asked or claimed for tho present
administration ia a fair consideration
ot tho facta na fthown by tha records.
Wo think thoy prove conclulvely that
our atate officora hnvo maintained tho
roputntion of tho atato in evory rospoct,
iiave boon a credit to tho party to which
ita members belong and worthy to be
entrusted with furthor management of
public affairs.
STATE
PRESS ON
SALARIES
YersusFees and Perquisites
Now Paid.
System Should be Changed
and Fair Salaries Only
Paid.
Albany, Linn County Democrat.
Salaries, not fees,
YYestoa, Umatilla County, Leader, Rep,
State officora havo too many perquis
ites. Pendleton, Umatilla County, East Oreronlsn,
Dem,
Tho Salem Journal says stato salary
reform Is not a question of party Ibiuo,
but ono nppsaling to all.
Baker City Herald, Baker County, Hep.
Tho Salem Journal has a plan to put
the Btato ofllcera on a salary by which
tho atate could savo $50,000 a year.
Athena, Umatilla County Press, Rep.
The Salem Journal contonda that atate
servants put on a ealary basis would
save money for tho commonwealth. It
ia a Btate roform proposition,
YVasco, Shermaa County flews Rep
Tho Capital Journal, of Balem, Ib mak
ing a hard flight to ahow that by putting
nil stato officials on a reasonable salary
and turning alt feea into tbo stato treas
ury, the taxpayers could bo saved about
$50,000 a year.
Milton Umatilla County, Eajle, Rep
Stop the leak. Put Btate nffuira on a
ralary. The Capital Journal publiahea
some intereating official figures, showing
that the officials ought to be placed upon
salaries and tho fee system entirely dis
pensed with. It Bays that in this man
nor tho taxpayers of tho atate would be
saved at least $50,000 per year.
The Dalles, Wasco County, Times Mountaineer
Dem.
The Salem Journal rightly concludes
the present ib tho time to discuss the
proposition of putting atato offluials or
stated salaries If it la put off until the
convening of the legislature thero will
bo so many other jobs to attract atten
tion that tho saving of $50,000 a year in
etato officers' salaries will receive no at
tontion.
' '
The SUytoa, Marlon rm...u ....-..
Jhe b",om Journal i'a at'lll t ,,
""'t t,0n. ,or 8tato mcll.nd thl
prOSBOf tllO BtatO. reannlln.. -.'lM
proaaot tho stato, regardless of t;'
. . , "ii uie plan. v.
hope ho newspaper chops will keen.
it and forco tho salary plank Into J2
party platforms. Do a good L
state once without u,IR7jllvr
booat somo party. ,0
AD-ri0B a W County. Herald. Rep.
Tho Salem Capital Journal ha, pub.
llshed an article advocating tho pladl
of all t.to offlceia on aalary, and turn.
Ing tho (oo, of tho varioua office. Into
tho Bta o Troaaury. By this mothdd tb.
Journal thlnke thoro will bo a aavioBLl
at least $50,000 to tho stato, and Edit?
Hofor has compiled Btntistlcs to sho.
that ho Is right.
Woodburn, Mirloa County, lidcpenJtnl, Re
Tho Oaplthl Journal is ia tlio right
but, llko Govornor Van ant of Mtnne
sota, is standing up boforo giants. Tlij
Journal clearly shows how the state
would savo $50,000 a yeai by having the
officora on a reasonable salary. Our con
tomporory aBka that "tho proper salary
figures bo put into tho stato platforms.',
Tho party that doesn't expect to win
win uouotioBS aot upon tue suggestion.
Aurora Borealls, Msrtoa County, Rtp,;
Tho Salem Journal, publiahea official
flguroa Bhowlng that, if atate ofllcera
woro placod upon aalaries, tho state
would oavo $50,000 a year. Our con
temporary alms to havo propor salary
figuros put into tho stato platforms with
promisos that all foes above a fixed
salary be turnod Into tho stato treasury,
If Colonol Hofor succoods In this he will
havo accomplished ono of tho moit
stupendous political undertakings orsr
attomptodln Orogon. And he is on the
right track.
Mt. Aaiel, Marlon County'St. Joitth's
Cermin, Ind.
Blttt,
Unsorworthor Kollogo votn Capital
Journal in Salem macht Anstrsugungen,
alio Beamtou dos Staatos mit olnem
fixon Gohalt bezhalt za sohon, wodurch
dor Staat jaehrllch otwa $50,000 apaaren
koennte. Dor Vorachlog iat eehr gut,
wir f ueroht m abor, daz erciohtdarch
drlngt, well dlo Politlkor oa so aui
gozoichnot voratohon ihr Bchaelichea
euerat in'a Trockno tsu bringon, oho ita
fuor andoro eorgen. Das Journal hit
durch aoino unabhaonglge, geeunds
Volkswirlhechaft vortrotonde Politic
dem Staato schon sohr vlel gonuatx,
Horr Hofor lobe hoch.
Florence. Lane County. West. Rep,
Tho Salem Capital Journal has taken
up tho quostlonof putting the state offi
cers on a rogular salary and cattfag off
tho foos which thoy roceivo for perform
ing tho v.rlouB dutlos connected with
thoir officos. Tho papor gives statistics
showing tho amount drawn by each (or
salary, clork hiro, etc., and urgoa that l(
each one woro paid a regular salary as
high aa thoao officers In adjoining states
recolvo, $60,000 por yoar would ha saved
to tbo tax payors of Orogon.
lllllsboro. Washlnjloa County, Indepesdent
Uep.
Tho Capital Journal, Hon. E. Holer,
editor, iu hia campaign commenced tbli
week, looking to placing tho atato offi
ciate on a salary iuatend ol paying them
by feoa, gave out that tho annual cost ot
conducting offico ol Btate Bupt. of schools
ia $12,087.00. To thla Bupt. Ackormin
! takes oxcoptlona and quotee figures to
show that It costs no more than $5U.w
to defray tho oxpenaeaof hla department
which added to $2500, the personal sal
ary of tho Superintendent, make
$7011.10. In tho aamo Issue in which
Mr. Ackerman aetB hia critic right, Mr.
Hofor explalua that by mletake hla tig
urea wero mado to bo tho cost ol oas
year wheraaa in fact they represent the
appropriations for two years. On the
samo boala Mr. Ackerman'a figures lead
$14022 30. ,
Tho legislative appropriation, asw
from tho ealary, for the above office..
$5,320.81.J-Kd. J.
WUERETHERE IS RECKLES WASTE,
Corvat'ls, Beaton County SW.Uj"j
In a timely article, tho Balem Journa
points out how money can be i saved w
peoplo of Oregon by providing tat
ialarloa for Btato officers. A Prtl r
itom ot reckless waste is In the w
printer' ufflco. -The conBiau u -i-i
o( public funds through tha-offic.
' ...i .. Ii I. nrofl 28.6. F
...! .-.!. II1ILI1
is as unwarranted as it s i.--
is as unwarrau.uu -. - -
four year, ending wlih the fiscal er of
1001-02, not IncluUing me '0'"T,
uclttha'tlho next legislature ,wj
called upon to make up, the ataepni
er'a office la to coat the enormous
$.02,010 IS or $10,752 jJ'V
thla huge cost is under tha i ". ,8
tlonof a atato printer ob0oml.
claimed that ho la unusually econ
ca'' i -imllv Indefeni
'rim unnecessary and wnouy '" .
throogh
iblo expenditure ol state inowy
thla channel ts eo nuiu. --- - ,
. ..,nrminV
----SU?
thata reform In thooffic;Mrg(ba
Governor Gcer'a flr-t
legislature. Attempta h'
to correct the abuse but a ,pl.
ud ever P"VnJrV'1
tal has invariably baffied ever'
refoim diseaia 'or
The only cure for the
tho people to take U In hantu
be mado an Iasue In next J ,,;
P4lgn. It Bhould "'JSi.ioiafc-
understand or evade. ,,, r'
alrould beaupported on tue
less ol party rJBlUttoni. A
requires horolctrea."