The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-12-12
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FRIDAY........r DECEMBEE z, 1873.


able and efficient Dcmocratic State
Administration, and at last, in despair
Of anything better, they have seized
upon the recent complications arising
out Of the action of the State Board
Of Equalization, and are attempting to
hold Governor Grover responsible
not only for the acts Of tho Board but
for tho passage of tho law by Re-
publican Legislature.
This is as fallacious as it is ilimsy
and transparent, and can scarcely fail
to elicit the contempt Of every intelli-
gent and reasoning citizen Of our
commonwealth. It only requires a
reference to the recorded facts TO
show how completely false and unten-
able are tho grounds of these charges
against Governor Grover.
In tho Governors Message to the
last Legislature ho recommended q
reformation of tho assessment law,
and stated that to cover our growing
expenses there need be no increase of
the rates of taxation if our assessment
law bo modified in the proper manner,
and a State Board of Equalization be
created. Tho subsequent action Of
the Legislature shows that they paid
no heed to the most important point
in the Governors recommendations
in this regard-that of reformation
of the existing assessment laws-but
simply proceeded to pass a law Gre.
ating a Board Of Equalization. II
this law be either detective or inoper-
ative, let the blame rest where it be-
longs-with tho Republican who in
troduced tho Bill and the Republican
Legislature which enacted the law
In the House Journal, p. 100, the fol-
lowingrecord in regard to this law ap-
pears: "Mr. Mallory introduced II. b.
No. 80, ITO provide for a State Board
of Equalization and Mr.. Glngles
moved to suspend the rules and read
the bill now tho first timo by title"
The motion prevailed
On the final passage of tho Bill tho
following is tho record (Houso Jour
nal, 976.)
"On motion. House Bill No. 80 was
put on its third reading, and the ques
lion being Shall tho bill pass 2 those
voting aye were; Mesars, Andrews,
Bilcs, BARN, Bushey, DlaEcly, Collier,
Crawford, Corwin, Crooks, Glow,
Conglo, Caples, Darst, Englc, Gingles,
Hirsch, Hodkins, johnson, Langell,
Matlock, Martin, Powers, Patton,
Riley, Riddle, Shelton, Stott, Simp-
son, Thornbury, Wright, West,
Walker, Waldon, Washburn, Viii
loughby, White and Mr.. Speaker
(Mallory)-37"
OF the foregoing, thirty.soven woro
Republicans and ten were Dome orat9.
three voted against the bill. In the
Senate but two voted against the bill
Democrat and ono Republican,
In tho face of these facts it is the
shoerest demagogcry in Republicans
TO attempt to shirk tho responsibility
Of tho passage Of this law or of its de-
fecta. They passed tho law creating
tho Board for the purpose of proyid-
ing few moro Offices for their poliLi.
cal fricnda, and their failure to go in
to joint convention and eloct these
officers left tho Governor no othor al-
tentative than to appoint, a0 tho law
required him to do.
Many persons condemn Governor
Grover for his selection Of the gentle
men comprising tho Board, and at
tempt 10 hold him responsible for the
alleged errors of the Board, We be-
love bis Excollency acted in the
utmost good faith in tho appointment
OF these gentlemen, and that they
were thoroughly competent to act as
Equalizors under q comprehensive and
directory law tits extremely doubt
full if any threo men in the State
would have done better-if they did
anything at all,
But while they growl at tho Cover
nor for tho appointment Of tho Board
and the mistakes Of the Board, they |
will certainly be sufficiently fair and
consistenC as to give him credit for the
appointment of Judge Moshor who
set the acts Of the Board aside, If
His Excellency erred in ono case
(which wo do not ooncodo,) no cor
tainly did we'll in tho other.
The Roseburg Plaiadealer, Of last
week, il closing an article on this sub.
icct, very ably defends tho Governor
against these unjust aspersions and
says tho people win not bo hood.
winkod by all this hue and cry |
against tho State Administration, but
will yiow this matter in its proper
light. aTheir memories arc not 80
short, nor their gratitude 50 small as
to allow them to forget tho valuable
services rendered by tho Governor to
the State, aud tho dignilcd, statos-
nan-liko and honorable conduct that
he has exhibited in all his official acts,
They owe him gratudo fol his prompt
action in tho Modoo war, and aftor-
wards for bis efforts TO protect tho
honor and DIGNITY OF tho State and