The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1890-05-17

book page 2S5, laws of1ss7, approved by
Governor Pennoyer February II of that
year which authorizes Baker CITY to issue
bonds "for specihed city purpose" and
this act declares that "any and all bonds
Issued by said city shall be exempt from
tdrdtion tor state, county or municipal
purposes"
Here now is the record that Governor
Pennoyer made on this subject during
the early portion of his term. He could
and did then approve without question
acts extemptlng municipal bones from
taxation. But when he began TO think
about making a record or accumulating
capital for re- election, he pounced down
on the water bonds Of Portland and de
feated them: though Portland had asked
no more than he had granted for The
Daies and Baker City.
The OregOnian has set this matter out
because 1t has grown tired of the gov
ernor's sophisucsl, unprinIcpled and
demagogical methods. 1t had hoped he
would not harp and haraugue on this
subject, stultify himself and try to mis-
lead the people by demagogic appeals.
But he is doing so; and hence The Ore
g0ntdn has published these facts, and
Will leave 1t to the people to Judge his
action and motives. The whole of his
contention against Mr. Thompson, his
opponent, is concentrated upon the
charge that Thompson voted for the Port
land water bill. Thompson diG indeed vote
for it, in obedience to the wishes of his
| constituents, though 1t is known lie didn't
10 fad tfnr hap it
to exempt the bonds from taxation, and
voted for it again when this feature was
eliminated from it, because he wanted
Portland to have pure water; but does II
lie in the mouth of Governor PennoYer,
who had approved bills that exempted
bonds OF other cities from taxation. to at
tack his opponent for the governorship
on the charge that as a member of the
legislature he had voted fer non. taxable
bonds for his own clty9 Early in his
term the governor could approve such
| bonds without question; but later IN his
| term. when IN want of IAN issue" Tor the
coming campaign, he could reverse him.
self and mount the hobby of opposition
to non taxable bonds. He is riding this
hobby merely as political or cam paign
expedient; there is nothing whatever IN
i! In reality; the question is not, nor ever
can be, practical one; since, il the
bonds are TO be taxed they will be sent
| out Of the state, and therefore never will
be taxed in any event. What's the use,
therefore, OF all this fooling over an alb.
surdity? The only consequence of in.
sisting that the bonds shall be liable to
taxation is loss to city that offers such
bonds for sale, fact of which just how
Portland finds striking proof in the bids
she receives for her city hall bonds,
which are liable to taxation, in compari.
son with those she received for her non
taxable water bonds. Not bid for these
city hall bonds was received from any
citizen of Oregon; the city loses Sis, ,OOO
in their sale, and the interest and profits
are lost to the capital or property of the
state.
But there is no occasion for further dis.
cussioD of tie subject, as the Oregonian
declared long ago. Perhaps, now, Gov
ernor Pepnoyer will also conclude tina,
there is no occasion for further discussion
of it. Certainly If he shall stick to it ht
will find 1t from this time sufficiently
troublesome hobby to tide. Will he say
he approved those acts without knowing
what was in them? Then he Is an ipcem
petent governor. Will he say he is now
trying to protect the people from unjust
taxation? Then he is a mere demagogue
His excellency would do well to make an
| effort to esLape either imputation by
abandoning the whole subject and trying
to put his campaign on basis not al
war with his own official record, or often.
| siye TO common sense.