The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-11-17
NEEDED LEGISLATION,

interested since the June election, and,
| although the Republicans of the state
feel joyful over the victory the old
party has achieved at the ballot box,
| the fight was far distant and it did
not receive that attention as if 1t had
been at home. But next January the
biennial session of the legislature will
convene, and there are matters to
which the people should attach the
greatest Importance that should re-
ceive the attention of the lsw-making
power. There is a good working ma
jority of Republicans in both the
upper and lower house, and the gov
ernor will be Of the same political
predictions During the past few
years many evils have crept into legis-
lation in this state that should be
remedled, and it is time that the atten-
tion of the members of the legislature
were ca lied to them.
The administration of the public af
fairs of the state have not been on as
economical basis as they might have
been, and Republicans should see that
there are no unnecessary expenses in
Cured. Taxes have been very high
during the last two years. aud the
values of property have perceptibly
decreased since the Democratic
"change" was decreed. This makes
the burden heavier upon property
owners, and they very justly demand
retrenchment. In this line the first
that should feel the effects of the legis.
lative pruning knife should be the
railroad and other useless commissions,
the members of which receive good
salaries for doing little or nothing that
is of benefit to the people. The
railroad commission draws from the
state treasury about $1,000 annually,
and the producers would receive as
good treatment from the corporations
if the commission never had an exist
ence. There are other offices that
could be abolished without the least
injury to the people, and which are
constant drains upon the treasury.
The Republican majority in Salem
next January will not do its duty
to the party or to its constituency
without it lop of every unnecessary
expense now connected with the ad-
ministration Of the state government.
1t is an inherent right in the people
who pay the taxes to demand the
strictest accounting of the public
funds, and that no sinecural offices he
created or continued in existence for
the benefit of professional politicians.
At the last session certain officers
were changed from the fee to the salary
system, and this has caused a saving
Of several thousand dollars annually
to the people; but these salaries are
not properly adjusted, and the act
should receive careful revision. In
some counties officials receive too
much, and in others not enough.
Then, there is not proper, parity
maintained in the pay of different
officials, and the salary should be
'ated according to the amount of labor
performed. Those who devote their
ime to public affairs should be liber-
lily paid; but this should be como mem
urate with the work done.
The last two or three legislatures
lave attempted to do something with
he assess ment law; but their labors
AVE been about as fruitful of discon
ent as those of the Democratic party
N the tariff Our assessment law is
lot the best of any state in the union,
nd might easilv be improved. Per-
APPS, greater fault than the defect ,
We law itself is the fact that the
eople generally elect to the Office of
ssessor some person who has had
ut little experience in business, or the
pproximation or depreciation of values T
different articles. He who places
alue upon tenement property, real 7,
state, merchandise, etc., should be a
IAN of great practical experience and :
discriminating judgment. If this f.
lie we're Followed, the law as it now v
ands might be good enough for all n
ractical purposes. II
There is work enough to keep the q
ext Oregon legislature busy for the
rty days of it's existence, and it can a
cry pro6tabiy devote this time-or a o
large portion of ito remedial acts \
I'd repeating old laws. The state is 1
,ung, and is possessed of unlimited "
sources; but the greatest stimulant n
growth and development will be b
gislation in the proper channels D
,ls. There is good opportunity for Il
q Republican party to make history
r itself; tut, if the time is loltered
vay without anything being done In "
e lines that the public desires, it d
Ill do lasting injury to itself, ann tt
the state. /"
Local complications in California de :,
tied the Republican candidate for gov r
,or, but the state and congressior sl m
kets were elected by overwhelming ra