The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-08-02
EDITORIAL Page Of the Capital 3ournal
nEPE
AN INDEPENDENT PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

proven by The Journal figures and
can not be successfully disputed.
Every item in those figures was
backed up by section Of law, by date Of
act, by page OF statute book. The
tabulation Of all acts giving fees and
salaries and perquisites was official
and absolutely correct. The work was
performed by a recognized authority
on annexation Of laws
The FIRST step to get taxes down Is
to quit paying about four or Ave sal
aries 10 several state officials. II is a
social. moral and business injustice 10
pay any man $4,000 10 $4,000 for a
term Of four years It corrupts and
demoralizes the whole state govern.
ment
The fiat salary law should be passe
al special session. That will lay
the foundation right That will put
| the state housekeeping on an honest
basis Of respecting oaths and obeying
the constitution.
At the regular session the next step
should be taken. and that is an equally
imperative Mountaineering indi-
rect taxes and relieving the property
tax. Al present 98 per cent Of all
taxes are directly against property.
Ways must be found to raise at least
5000 900 Of revenues from taxes other
than on real estate and personal prop.
erty. Other states do this and ore.
gon can do IT, Oregon people are as
smart az the people Of other states
and some Of her politicians are too
smart for the people.
The present two per cent tax on the
gross earnings oi insurance companies
now yields nearly forty thousand dol
lars per annum other corporations
enjoy franchises and business priyi
legos In Oregon that are now taxed
little or not at ALL tax on the gross
earnings OF such will easily yield
100000 to $500 600 per annum and In
crease annually
Such laws could be- framed by a
committee created at the special ses
sion and be ready for action at the
regular session. The secretary oI
state could assist the committee as he
has recommended such laws and
knows Just what other states are do
ing In this line. Such law Is an i'm
perativo necessity It state taxes are Z,
be- reduced.
The opportunity is given Governor
Geer To convene the Legislature r
special session and take the first step,
toward putting a better order Of stat,
government before the people Tn,
facts are so plain, the need is so great
that this duty is incumbent upon m,
. governor
He has the ability 10 place the facts
before the legislature In a trenchan
manner and write a state paper tina
} will mark the Inauguration Of a new
era 20 the taxpayer
Hon Tilmon Ford Of Salem has sai,
In public speech that with Hat sal
aries, all fees going into the treasury
and direct legislation put into opera
, tion. state taxes would be- reduced one
. half In four years.
r What greater legacy could Goyerno
I Geer leave to the people ON retirin
from ONCE than To tighten the hurdo
b of government atty per ccnt'
A special committee 10 devise IN
D needed revenue laws could have IN
k bills all ready for passage at the req
n ular session. That is the only wa
10 have such important matters pr,
q porly looked after That is the wa
the important revision of the scho,
laws was brought about
e n HAT salaries aud new rcycnu
!. system are not provided In this maj
!. ner four years of the present uniu,
i and unhusinosslikc system viii he coI
tinued and the Republican party will d
held responsible Docs II desire {
a face this rocord9 ls IL just to itself ,
a TO Republicans
n The charge of selfseebug cauu,