Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-11-20
REMgDIgS FOR THE RELIEF OF THE
TAXPAYER IN ORElON.

certain remedies WefeSure W Oe OneIcu'
Several if not all the political parties in
their state conventions will deplore aud
denouuce the extravagauce of the last
legislature, and call for reform aud re-
duction ia our state expenses aud to
have all county officials put on salary.
That has been done before and will b.
done again. Bat as the result of thos"
empty declarations expenses, have
grown greater year by year. Even our
reform governor has been unable to
keep within his constitutional compen-
sation and receives $3.50 a year in addi-
ton to his lawful salary of $500 year.
He devotes three days of the week to
the state and three to his private busi-
ness. If he wished TO be "a shining ex-
ample of economy he could take $3.50
a year for his services, or $l4.43 for
three days each week. If he put in
any over time there would be still
money left to draw. But he like all
other officials takes all he can get. So
that state platform declarations are no
relief Next remedy offered is to put
q new party in power-the Populists.
A number have suggested that. In
deed the Populists offer themselves as
great standing remedy for all the evils
OF the age. They have not so proven
in Kansas. Their greed for spoils is all
the greedier for that it is new and
keen and has never been gratified.
Nathan Pierce when chosen elector was
on hand at once for the job to go as
messenger to Washington with the
electoral vote of Oregon and his son to
. be clerK. With his example and Gov
ernor Pennoyer's leadership does any
anyone imagine Populism means get
ting our state taxes reduced Populism
is no remedy. Populist politicians are
like any others. They are after the
Almighty dollar of the taxpayer. They
make no scruples about 1t. Weaver,
R1rk, Mrs. Lease, Jerry simpson, Sen
ator PETER, all hinge their services of
the dear people upon the contingency
of adequate compensation. The tax
payer surely will not employ such
mercenary counsel and expect relief.
The rain of blood and the stinking
frogs were bad enough plaques upon
Egypt, but oh, Lord, do not send the
Populist lice to swarm over thy chill
dren in Oregon. They would depopu-
late Oregon as they have nearly depop-
ulated Kansas. They have driven cap
ital and people out of bleeding Kansas
and after short rule of two years, the
people of that state have fired Mrs.
Lease, Populism, and ell. They will
fire 1t In other states as soon as they
learn that the Populist politician is but
q different stripe Of the same breed.
There Is no remedy in talk" in state
platforms. There il no remedy In
stalk" OF reform governors who do not
reform. There is only one relief pOssi-
BILE, and that is direct action by the
taxpayer In his own behalf. If the
new state officers to be elected next
June and the new legislature elected
then understood what is wanted of them
there Is some hope of relief from thirty
TO fifty mill taxation in Oregon. The
taxpayer must not only speak but act.
How can he act? He must not wait
for state conventions to act for him.
He must get tn his county convention
and make his demands. When the
precinct assessor bill was before the last |
egislature the county assessors met and
resolved that they did not wish their !
office abolished and at once sent dele
cation to lobby at Salem against the
precinct assessor bill, and those at home
wrote letters to their member and had
Others write against the bill, and the
bin was beaten.
But several Legislators who voted for
the bill explained that they felt obliged
10 do so as their county convention
INSTRUCTED THEM TO so VOTE,
and they so VOTED. II seems men
la politics are not yet lost 10 all sense of
political honor and some do respect the ,
wishes OF their constituents IL that ,
wish be made known. So we urge for /
)ne means OF relief that taxpayers in
very county organize and make their
demands upon the county conventions
4 the dominant party. All the parties
10 prepared TO promise all things 10
ucceed, but under our form Of govern
lent majoritles rule. aud the domluant \
arty will only be too glad TO bind its
,ndldates to certain measures OF need. :,
legislation, aud reductions In county
I'd state government. Honest men
m respect such pledges. The tax h
yers Of each county should organize "
d make their wishes known.
Jounty conventions can set the figure +,
lob county officials shall serve at, a,
i eau be placed on salary. County "a
lventlons can set the igure which
lF Representatives shall vote 10 pay ]
o oliicIaIs, They can say whether ST