Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-09-06
aOUsE-CLEASlSG AND REFORM.

new deal at the state house and In
the management Of the state institu-
tions when the new state officials go
into Office? Will the people realize
any practical improvement in their
state government as a result Of slate
smashing and infusion Of new flood
last spring in the Republican state
convention? These are frequent in
quiries and they concern not the Re-
pubIicans alone but all the people Of
state. It Is natural that the Repubii-
cans who have been browsing on short
commons should want pull ut the Of
fees. But there are other reasons ly-
ing more deeply than the desire for
spoils and the appetite for political
pIunder, why there should be q thor
ough renovation and house-cleaning
in the Republican party of Oregon.
The greatest Of these ia that without
such an overhauling reform is impos-
sibIe.
It is not to be said that all Of Ore
gon's government is extravagant.
There are departments and institutions
that do not fall under this criticism. 1t
is probable that the asylum and state
pFison and some Of the schools will
show q very low per capita of expense.
These facts are well known to all close
readers and close students of our state
affairs. They need not be pointed out
in detail. The departments and in
stitutions and offices that are costing
the people too much are also well
known. They have been repeatedly
pointed out and will be again. ALI the
past Ia not bad. All the future will
not be perfect.
Oregon has entered upon new era
of political influences. The people
have decreed change from the trav-
agance and costly political machinery
Of the past to an administration of af-
fairs that shall be less of burden ON
the taxpayer and the abolition Of what
the OregonIan calls "selfperpetuating
high-priced officialism." This cannot
be done If all the men who have built
from political activity are TO re-
main in the public service. 1t will be
impossible TO abolish any commissions
and keep all the men IN Office who
created those commissions and fatten
off them, and In turn are helped by
them. It will be impossible to deal
with the school-book trust without dis
pensing with .ts principal agents, some
OF whom have been long Ia the public
service Of the state. 1t will be impossi-
BILE TO tax foreign insurance companies
from other states, now doing business
here free gratis while those states tax
Oregon companies heavily, without
first taking the representatives Of the
insurance trust off the pay rolls OF the
state.
1t may be said that the new men put
In will do the same. That is true only
in part. They do not know the ropes
and machinery. 1t will take them
years to become adopts at working the
political machine. In the meantime
some reforms may be possible and the
people may get some relief. With the
old crew Of political experts the people
OF Oregon could not cope and win any
reforms. The specific reforms prom
ised the people In the Republican state
platform cannot be- brought about II all
at whose perqulsites those reforms are
aimed are allowed to remain In the posi-
tions where they enjoy those perquisites.
With their salaries, fees, railroad passes
leisure, prestige. honor, influence and
acquaintance, they can organize and
dominate any legislature that the peo-
pie can elect, may II be pledged to
never 30. many reforms In their be-
half.
There is q disposition to expect too
much Of the Legislature. IL Is COM
posed mostly OF new and inexperienced
men. They sit but forty days, must
organize. elect senator. visit state In
stitutlons, examine in detail the state
departments, and pass special charter
bill for every city and village aspiring
60 30 city In the state. All this, be-
sides considering hundreds OF bills ln-
troduced IN each house. For this they
get $l2Oapiece and no more unless they
sell their vote and their services which
they have already given 10 the people.
The legislature with all these tasks
before II cannot accomplish much 10
the way Of reform II the state govern
meat ls against reform. The state Of
llclaIs who conduct the state govern
ment and who stay In oliiee four years
we're elected on the same platform
pledges 70 carry out the same reforms
ipon which was elected lhe legislature
which sits but lorty days. The state 4
'flicere elected upon the Oregon Re- .
'ubIlcsn platforra could carry Qua great 4
$4,000 .ulfho1ff fIa InofaIalflfa aNar :