The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-03-05
THE DAILY JOURNAL
THE LOCAL RUr VIZ ARE in,


THE LOCAL RUT WE ARE IN,
This school district and the county o
Marion are IN an awful disagreeable and
unbusinesslike rut 80 far as their gov
eminent is concerned. They are ex.
actly year behind in their current ex.
penses. They need to get onto cash
basis. They are doing business on the
same plan a. the old style merchant
who carried his customers on credit
from one end Of the year 10 the other.
The farmer was always In debt to the
merchant. The whole family bought all
they wanted and the poor man had little
or no control Of his expenses. lie never
could reduce expenses and he never got
out Of debt. The merchant could charge
what profit he liked and the balance was
always In his favor on the ledger.
The modern business system Is buy
and sell for cash. That applies 10 cities
and school districts and counties 40 we'll
as 70 individuals. The credit system
enriches the capitalist and impoyerlsbes
the people, whether II be In merchandise
Ing or government This county and
school district must get on a cash basis
~ soon 40 possible. The community has
more credit and more power 20 do this
than The individual. II can borrow
money cheaper and can curb expendi-
ture and say II will create no more debt.
But TO do this the people must express
themselves. The county nor the school
district viii not got out Of the rut Of
their own accord. Tbs private citizen
win look after hls own affairs aud the
public business must be looked after by
the people constantly. Their officials
will only look after public matters Il
they think the peopleare watching them
and making demands upon them. II Is
not fair TO leave all tho flrhi on the
hands Of few Newspaper workers who
also have their private matters TO attend
70 and receive no salary for looking after
public Affairs.
The management Of the Salem school
district presents some Of the same
problems that the city Of Salem pro.
senied. There ls bonded and aoat
log debt. The city could issue war.
rants Tor current expenses but by fool
ish provision Of the school law the
school district canno. do this and hence
iho school baard must borrow money
ior eurrcnt expenses and A. this is the
ease most Of the Iime, the district being
a year behind In i,s revenues, large
hare Of the school tar must be eHpend.
cd ior interest. The same principles ,
must b. applied 10 The school district az
we're applied 10 the city, No mor debt
must be created. The interos, on the
existing debt must be reduced 10 tho
loves. llmls Csay per cent like the
cllyl and the dis,rie, pa, on cash basis. /
All legislation In the past seems 10 have /
besn eoniriyea ~ expedite running In q
debt and paylng in,ercft Even thc !
bonding Ian is drawn Ia The interest Of /
The bond b,yers. Bonds mus, Do 10.
sued Cor Ten lotwenly years. Each year b
= lsyy uss b. made 10 pay the bonds
bat Il niaeI lle idle a. a sinking fund 4
nntil all she Ooais aFc due. was ever a
Iosh,eot enacted into solonic wisdom n
Iorshe Amencau peosle9 We lear there &
hss been gFvst deal el a. nut he h
school Doaro ean "a i,s eall notes male
J popular ioan ~ I per cent and wipe /,
,ut ths deb, aHd thus avoid anosher l.. 4,
iDs q bonds sna mors taxes This com. a
nunily can ssana no more ,ssss and :
iourleh. a is nou = question ol sound 4.
inaneine sisld oocoouy AMI using the y
neans ~ hand 10 -. oui ola VA rae. a
Ihe people want that shsll b. dooe and 9
glll BE- satisfied with nothing less n
The citlrers Il ms distric, shossd r
pme opi 70 she snnual school mcO,lns \
8 tbe city haR ionlghl ana Aplold thsir G.
chool board IN an ms F..a work 1, has n
lone The psss year There has beep d
'rosEsss mede loaara solvent oondi. NJ
lep q AiAlrs ln this dis1slc, ana a~ay .,
rom ehronle lnsolssnsy yoa ellison :
70 reea shis ecn,e cat % she mseslns ..
"a ~ you nans moss psugrew toward "a
.eds'n baslpess usiheAs. and that sou is