Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-11-18
,OME REASONs FUR TAX Reform IN
OREGON.

Oregon is state with comparatively
, small revenue. The amount of iuI-
ShO.e area of the state. Owing to the
| ,reat distances from eastern to western
.nd from southern to northern Oregon
ne exp nses of government for mileage
.iil always De large With one third a.
many counties as Iowa, Oregon has
vice as many square miles in area,
pay mileage Of officials, criminals
ant crazy people over. Apply this
JriUcIp.e 10 al the witnesses and jurors,
~ the Legislators, guards, sherlffs, tAA
collectors aud vaIiIus agents of the
people who cJliect mileage, aud it will
,e seen that at best o egon will levy
vice the state tax Iowa does. With
,ne siNth or oue-seventh the people
Iowa has, the expenses of state and
county government must necessarily be
larger per capita, and extremely heavy
upon the owners of improved property.
With naturally IA small revenue and q
large territory the battle of good gov
erument in Oregon is the battle of the
TAX payer in keeping down taxes.
The second thing to consider in tax
reform is the fee system. No state So
bid as Oregon but has abolished it. Our
slate officers should receive an exact
inGfnah nf
emoluments. Our county and city Of
ticers should all be on a salary. The
fees should all go into the general fund
To lessen direct levies upon property.
The public moneys should not be
placed at the will of the official but
should be placed by law,and where the
interest on idle funds shall accrue 10
the state instead of the Off ,ial or the
favored banks. The fee system makes
economical government, justice in
court and pure politics impossible.
There was law enacted by the last
legislature, placing most county officers
upon salary. 1t will never go into
effect unless the people are aroused and
demand it. The recipients of fees will
control the next legislature. The or
der for the change must come from the
people. The legislature which itself re-
ceives great benefit from the system
will not refuse it.
Unless the people Of Oregon order
this change at the next election it will
not soon take place. II. new set Of
state officers are chosen under the old
fee system that will fix II for four, or
six, or eight years. The county officers
overpower the legislature and have
their own way. The courts and law,
yers are another bulwark of the fee
system. If the people want this expen-
sive aud perDicious system destroyed
ny which their county and state gov.
costs them twice or three
times as much as il houId, they must
place none but persons not already cor
rupted thereby guard.
Win the possible exceptions of the
code Tor sherlffs aud Justices,
,ud civil services where the litigants or
larties served pay all c,'sts, there is not
al olfice IA Oregon that cannot bt |
'lanned uu "a saary or per diem cnm |
'ensation, somewhere near that paid IT,
,usiuess men, or the Income of the he
rr class of farmers. IL would b
nighly small II IL were limited to tht
alters incpn = this Year, aud probably |
~ srNrtai SeaIs to c'nie.
Gruhilug taxes under the guise OF
gal fees aud manipulating the taxes
a booile hanks, as has been done Ia
everal counties Of this state, Is the
lost Il ,grant governmental wrong oi
he age. The man who covets your
oods breaks one of the ten command
Ients. The man VINO steals your
Orse Is criminal. The mau who
eals your taxes by getting fat fee
iiice, rules politics, makes your laws
nj manages your government.
The manipulation Of offices great and
nall for all there is in them Is a dis
edit 10 peoples government. II Il
ally done because the people tolerate
They cannot afford TO tolerate Il
ueh longer aud rvmain race Of free
,lders.
The necessity for tax reform la Ore