The Portland daily press., 1901-01-04
GOVERNOR nIGL,s nNAueuRAL.


Governor Hills inaugural address,
while containing few specific reoommen-
dations, Is suggestive In the right direc-
tion throughout, The finances OF the
State, and the closely related question of
taxation, very properly, as the subjects
uppsrmost In the minds OF the psople,
are given the first place in the address.
On the thirty first of December there
was a cash balance In the treasury Of
Slgs, S7s. OF, but 1t is barely sufficient To
meet obligations Immediately payable.
There have been disburssd during the
past two years $S,75i, 1915. The figures
which the governor presents relative to
the proportion of the state tax paid by
the cities ana by the towns are interest
ing. 1t sppsars that the net State tax In
the twenty cities was 81 80 3-5 on each
Sl001 of valuation, while in the country
towns and organizsd plantations 1t was
only 66 l-2 cents on $1,000 Of valuation.
Distributed on the basis of population.
the cities paid "a 05 IL on each poll, while
the towns paid only 81 3-4 cents on each
poll. This large inequality is brought
about ny the operation OF the school mill
tax law. This IL one of the inequalities
that the agricultural population do not
talk abont very much. A comparison OF
the amounts paid for taxes by various
quasi-p ublie corporations suggests that
there are Inequalities in this direction
which need correcting The railroads
contribute 1898, O52 SO to the expenses OF
the government, while the telegraph and
telephone companies get off with $780,
SSS. As, which is almost 800, 200 less than
was paid by the insurance companies,
and $40, 600 less than the State derived
from the collateral Inheritance tax. If
the tax were based on income, the tele-
phone and telegraph taxes would be pretty
nsar the head of the list instead of near
the foot Here IL something for the tax
alton committee to LOOK into.
The governors remarks about taxa
ton, while conservative, clearly suggest
that in his opinion there is at present an
unequal distribution OF public burdens
to be rsmedied. DE tells the legislature
that this subject Is the most important
one they will have to deal with, and
warns them that the psople will accept
no excuses for failure to keep the pledges
that have been male In party platforms
He points out that an increase in the
Stats tax is out of the question. Visible
propsrty is already too heavily taxed,
but ether forms of property now either
escaping altogether or bearing less than
their share of the public burdens, must
be compelled to contribute their fair pso-
portion. He urges upon the legislators
the need of economy in appropriations,
and expresses confidence thai they will
always exercise their judgment, fearlessly
and conscientiously. In the expenditure
OF the peoples money. 1t Ia to be hoped
that his conn dencs will he Justified by
the event, but there is room for appre-
hsnsion that opportunities may prevail
sometimes over conscience and judgment.
Public education Is treated by the gov
ernor at considerable length, and his sug-
gestions are generally judicious. Especially
SO is that In which he urges greater care In
appropriating money for the academies.
Whether it would be wise or not to make
appropriations for such academies as are
found to be worthy, permanent, as he
suggests, instead Of from legislature to
legislature. is by no means clear. 1t
would seem that such g plan might be
an attempt to bind future legislatures,
which would make 10 very OBJ
jsctionable. The only real cure for this
business Is, we believe, constitutional
amendment that will forbid sppropria-
tion to institutions not under tina control
of the State, altogether. But that can
not be brought about Immediately, If ~
all, 80 that resort must be had to pallia-
tives, some Of which are suggested by the
governor. The address contains much
commentator Of the state university,
and the NELSON'S information that 1t has
decided mot 10 ash the State 10 pay for