Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-12-11
TnE CITIZENS TAX RRFORM MOVE
MRNT IN OREGON.

county is the last resort to save govern
ment by the people from corruption
and extravagance when it reaches the
point where it destroys property values.
Thecitizens and taxpayers-that Is men
who are eboth--oTganize general COM
mittee for the whole county, with an
executive committee, and sub-commit-
tees to investigate and report Oh what
they find aud recommend reforms.
The same movement alone will save
the other counties Of the state from be-
ing swallowed in the whirlpool Of
fraud and maladimistration following
an era of speculation aud Initiation.
Among other duties assigned to the
various sub committees is the following:
The committees ON taxation and pub
lie expenses was instructed to inquire
into the practicability of reducing the
taxes of this city under the present
assessment to mills on the dollar, in
stead nf s, and as to the practicability
of changing the law under which. 2
mills on the dollar is now collected
Within the city for road taxes, and to
discover whether other cities collect
road taxes; also, to inquire into and
recommend what expenses can be cut
down and what offices can be abolished.
This is exactly in line with what this
writer has been recommending. 1t is
carrying out what has been advocated
In these columns, that the taxpayer
must organize and protect himself
against the raids of the taxeater, be-
cause those in Office will not reform
the conditions and protect the people,
because the legislature cannot, and the
courts do not, The remedy is with the
taxpayer only.
There should be organized in each
county Taxpayers committee of one
hundred, or Of twenty five or fifty, ac-
cording to the size of the county, witn
sub committees to investigate and report
on abuses. 1t will be noticed that
among the first acts of the Portland
committee which is unearthing 80 much
fraud was the following:
1t was resolved that the finance COM
mittee be instructed to raise the sum of
$500 for the use of the committee.
Mr.. Muir was requested to interview
the county judge and request him to
have the statements of the county
clerk aud treasurer published, or else to
furnish this committee certified copies
Of such statements.
That is exactly what has been con-
tended for Ia Marion county-the pub
lication of the public business as re-
quired by law.It has not been complied
with in half the counties OF the state.
The monthly proceedings of the county
court are also not made public as re-
quIred by law.
The Taxpayers committees should be
appointed and got to work this month.
They should report to the people in
time to reform the abuses now existing
before the next election. A state con-
ventiOn OF tax payers should be called
to consider the condition of our state
affairs and report before county and
state conventions are held, and demand
specific reforms In our state govern
ment. No reform is possible through
any party Ia the old way. Reform
within the party" Is chestnut with
the thoughtful taxpayer.
II taxpayers will consider moment
how county aud state conventions are
made up they will see the imposslbillty
OF ofgetting results. In the first place
the delegations In county convention
are selected by persons seeking profit
able place. They are made up by the
friends of the taxeater who say "the
taxpayer be ID" The county con.
ventlon is mostly made up 10 the main
by those In office In the county and in.
terested In keeping themselves there
and keeping their profits at high |
mark, They are only human,and the
taxpayer must not expect them TO cut
down their own fees or salaries.
Our state conventions are made up
sven worse. The Portland machine
selects few aspirants already In office.
They fx their own counties usually re-
mote constituencies, akin to the rotten
system long since abolished
In Eugland-and as Multnomah holds
ofthe delegates In the state
convention only one-slxth of the state
outside ID needed TO be fixed 10 make
he slate for all the state ticket Of any
DaFty. The convention meets and goes
hr0ngh the motions of selecting a
Ioket The bosses do the rest. II Is
Iupendnns farce.
Asiin the counties, 90 Ia the state,
" lendenoy is for those.in power TO
speculate themselves, and the abuses
ld,expepsee that have grown up with
|em. tits only natural aud just that
the taxpayers wish reforms and re.
'clions Ia taxes aud expenses Of gov
nmenl Ia county and state they must
& They must not only say what q
~ want bat must demaDd IL and In
lupOn Il that theyiRetit. The ex. q
lDlo Of Multn0mah county should be <