The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1890-05-17
The Governor And His Great Issue.

Oregonian.
The stock in trade of tie Pennover
campaign is the Portland water I'LL.
The governor is on his travels Throughout
the state, addressing the people mainly
on this topic. He describes the PROPOSE
tion to pass the Portland water bill, in
terms that made the bonds exempt from
taxation, as wrong in principle, scheme
of money sharks, grossly unjust to the
people of the state, and vioatiye of the
| constitutional requirement that all taxa.
tion shall be equal.
The Oregonian does not care at this
time to argue the subject afresh. II
might show, as it has done over and over,
that the constitution gives the legislature
power to exempt from taxation property
employed for municipal purposes, aud
that the means employed by city for
supplying itself with water would fall
within this definition. 1t might also
show that the ouly consequence OF attempt
ing to tax the bonds would be to drive
them out of the state. and hence that the
question of taxing them was in no wav
practical one, but merely theory, fruit
less abstraction, Il ''barren ldeality,"
subject pursued only by lobbyists. or
demagogues. But it Is not the present
purpose to 60 into these things. They
have been sufficiently discussed hereto
fore.
To be plain about it, our present pur-
pose is simply to put his excellency, the
governor, Unto hole" He has been
playing the sophist and demagogue on
this subject quite long enough. We
don't want to be rude or unkind either;
but is allowable to show how dema
gogue may invent and employ expcdients
that turn to plague him. 1t has hitherto
escaped public attention, we think, that |
Governor Pennoyer has given approval 10
acts OF the legislature that exempted
bonds from taxation-just such
bonds as those proposed for Portland
What will the people of Oregon say when
they see the proofs of this statement?
Here is governor making his canvass
for re- election ON what he calls great
principe. He goes about proclaiming
the attempt to exempt Portland's water
bonds from taxation an unparalleled out
rage, and his supporters veclferously
declare that if it had not been for his
courage and fidelity great wrong would
bave been consummated; that but for his
and devotion to popular
lights, an erroneous principle, grossly
oppressive and unjust precedent, would
,ave been established and he and they
lsk his reelection on these claims or
grounds.
We find in the session laws of 1887 two
nstances-there may be more-in which
Governor Pennoyer approved acts that
xempt municipal bonds from. taxation
)ne OF these acts was passed for the CITY
# The Dalles. "For the purpose of
arrying this act into effective quote
rom the session laws of 1SS7-"the COM [
nissioners are authorized to issue and dis
'ose of the bonds of the city of the {
enomination of from 800 to $1,000 as
be purchaser may desire, with interest :
oupons attached thereto: :
rovlded further that the bonds herein r
efore provided for shall be non-tarable
'r state, county and municipal purposes.
nd shall not be disposed or for less than
heir par value.' This was approved by !,
GOVERNOR Pennoyer February 10. 1887. q
ee laws of 1887, pages 273 and 274.
Again, there is an act on the stature !