Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-06-30
sATURDAY, JUNE 80, 1894.
CARRY OUT THE PLATFORM.

lfnus. II the recent political upheaval
q Oregon meant anything 1t meant
asw deal. The Republican state con-
yention broke all the states, smashed
Ill the combinations,s sat down on every
efndIdate for denomination, turned
down all old aspirsnts and put up
clear new ticket fresh from the people.
aud there was general rejoicing among
the people and in the rank aud file o
the party. The ticket went in with
triumph. The people took the Repub
|Iicans at their word. They had conf
a sncc 10 the men ON the tickets and had
every reason to have. They had
confidence In the party aud In the
pl 4tform, that 1t would do just what II
aaid-in the state government, abolish
excessive fees, put all men 10 official
positions on fair salary, abolish
enormous official incomes, and carry
f
out program of economic refoi M.
That was the real meaning Of the con-
vention, the platform and the ticket.
That was the way the people UNDER
stood Il, and that was the way the
press Interpreted 1t, and the way the
campaign speakers discussed 1t. 1t
meant new deal first last and through
out.
On Monday, July End, will be pre-
sented the first opportunity to carry
out the Instructions of the people. The
new judge Of the supreme court, Mr..
Wolverton, will take his seat. Judge
Lord. elected governor upon the same
ticket with Judge Wolverton, steps
down and out. The new court as con-
stituted will be composed OF Justices
: Bean, Moore.and Wolverton. The new
court must elect its officers, clerk,
balIin. reporter, stenographer, etc.
The expenses Of the courts of Oregon
have increased about as much as any
department In our state government
about W hich complaint. has been made
and In which reforms are necessary I.
The biennial appropriation In 1891 for
the judicial fund was 100000; for 1893,
100000. There are other items Of ex-
pense. that iare properly chargeable to
the judicial machinery of the state, law
books, state librarian, etc. or course
the above includes all the circuit court
Judges salaries and district attorneys.
The supreme judges get $500 a year.
The circuit judges receive So 900 year.
The office of clerk OF the supreme court
is said by good judges to be at least
worth S5. 900 a year.
1t is a fee Office. II was one of the
offices that was referred to In the dis
cussions prior to the state convention,
and Is one OF the offices that Is referred
60 In the state platform that might
properly be placed on salary.
In these years of depression and hard
times there is no reason for paying any
man exhorbltant fees: Work well done
and valuable services. actually per-
formed should be well paid, and there
10 no disposition TO demand cheap SER
vice or a cheap man In any position.
But merely clerical positions and sine
cures that involve no great professional
or technical qualifications, positions
where a maD's services are not abso-
lutely indispensable, should be reduced
10 the lowest limit compatible with
good service. Not'a dollar that can be
saved TO the people should DO thrown
away out Of too tender regard for any
mans feelings or anytman's Interests.
No one who is informed can doubt
bat that the supreme court judges work
as hard as any officials In the state.
No doubt but that they earn their sal
aries fully and well. All we wish TO
now,..is that in the judicial
department., as in all other departments
II our state government the knife Of
must be applied n the
'laiform Is 10 be obeyed and faith is TO
e kept with the people. That Is what
he people expect and have right TO
zpecl. The sehoolboy's definition Of
,e constitution, a. the chapter in the
.ck part Of the book which no one
-. ~ ..I.a 4 ,