The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-01-15
THE MESSAGE TO
THE LEGISLATURE
Governor Geer'S Biennial
Message Delivered.
A Business Summary of the
Affairs of the Webfoot
Commonwealth.
Gov. Geers Message


y This biennial message which was de-
{ liyered today by Ills Excellency Gov.
e Geer to the joint Legislature assembly is
! triIle larger than the average OF such
I documents, lie opens mp by calling at
2 tenton 10 that most cheerful subject,
a "uniiorm aud equal rate OF assessment
3 and taxation,' by showing that such
| thingdoes not exist in our state, uotwith.
standing the demands Of the constitu-
ton. lie shows how 'purposeful under
| valuations" have been INDUCED in Tor
local reasons. Gov Geer then reviews
theassessment laws for thirty years back,
giving the views Of different officials,
and classes by recommending the
creation OF board OF equalization. He
also suggests that there should he some
penalty imposed upon county assessors |
for the non-lufllmont OF their duties.
Referring to the inequality Of the tax
due from the respective counties TO the
state, and the present system Of reducing |
valuations 10 avoid such tax, the !
Governor says:
"In my judgment you should adopt
one OF two theories. The best one, il II
can be hld, will be to devise come
system by which the state can assess
certain amount against each county, for
state purposes, in proportion TO its
wealth or population, providing that the
drst taxes collected shall Ee paid ON the
state tax. This would at once and
destroy the incentive to un.
deryaluation; would result in a benefit
TO the state and county would remove
the annoyance and ex pense OF delinquent
state taxes, and dispense with the
necessity for a State Board OF Equaliza'
ton. II seems ieasabie and certainly
has more elements of fairness in II than
any system yet proposed. am disposed
to specifically recommend this method
OF raising the states revenue as appeal.
ing most strongly to my Judgment as
the best and simplest one yet presented,
just 30 far as the system finally adopted
differs from the central idea Of this one,
just that far will il fail b accord with
the constitutional ideal OF uniformity
and equality.
"The only other practical system is the
one somewhat similar 20 our present
method, compelling prompt returns by
the county assessors, with State Board
of Equalization OF some kind clothed
with power TO enforce It's findings un.
questioned and unquestionabie, For this
purpose. unless the state officers are
commissioned with that task, under a
law conforming with their other duties,
n board Of three members should be
created. IL is believed that number
would accomplish the purpose better
than larger one and would bee less ex.
pensiyo. II should be either elected by
the people or appointed by the Goyer-
nor. The latter method has two features
In It's iayor--a responsibility ior lis per.
sonnet, definitely fixed, aud, therefore,
more care insured in its selection, aud
It's removal from the wransles OF party
conventions aud politics in general"
The Governor also recommends the
assessment of corporations on their own
property, and where they have little
property he suggests that the business
itself be taxed.
In reviewing the land department the
Governor shows that a great increase of
sales has been brought about hy the law
allowing a citizen Of any state TO pur.
chase $40 acres upon filing certain atR.
davits, lie gives credence 10 the mum.
erOus complsints that many OF these
purchases are based upon fraud, hut saws
the land boarl has no means OF knowing
this, nor OF investigating H., In fact, he
thinks tIs difficult 60 prevent perjury,
bat suggests a remedy in doubling the
price Of these lands. tie depiores the
fact OF a growing irreiucible school fund
when il cannot he loaned, there nov be.
ing over $4,000 Of these funds. The
Governor message is we'll calculated 20
give the average person comprehen.
siye idea OF the subject.
Referring 10 the subject OF convict road
work, the Governor points out that of
the $500 appropriated for that purpose
800 remains uuexpended. he states
that this work has been hampered by
lack OF teams, and suggests thar this
defect be remeiied.
The Governor pleads the causs NJ ,h.