Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1903-12-08

pillaged by them, and decisions were
rendered in their favor, and no such
complete and extensive plan Of fraud
land public spoilation was ever devised
in any country, yet publicity brought
about the downfall OF this powerful
ring 1t was through the columns of
the New York press that this vast
system of fraud and corruption was
exposed and broken up, and Boss
Tweed, who war more powerful than
any king, to languish and die in a fell.
on's cell. The newspapers are the
moulders of public opinion. 1t is
through the columns of the newspa.
pers that public and private abuses
are disclosed, frauds unearthed and
great reforms are brought about. 1t
was Napoleon who said, -Four hostile
newspapers are more to be feared
than ten thousand bayonets."
We would, therefore recommend
complete publicity as a certain rene.
dy against the practice of "tax-dodg.
ing" The assessment Of each person
liable to assessment in a county
should be published as is done in sew
eral other states, before the county
beard Of equalization meets, in the
leading newspapers published in the
county. The state of Illinois now has
such a law, and its effect is magical.
Each person is made aware Of his
neighbours list of property given in to
the assessor, and II such neighbor
omits any of his property subject tc
assessment he Is compelled to hasten
its correction. This law has brought
about a revolution in that state with
regard to equal and just taxation, and
1t is almost impossible for one to es.
cape his just proportion of the taxes.
Our state has a law requiring pub
licity in the allowance of bills against
counties. This law was enacted in
1891, and requires that all bills pre-
sented to or allowed by a county, ex-
cepting where the charges are fixed
by law, to be published in a leading
newspaper of such county. We have
observed the practical effect Of this
law with considerable interest. This
law v every year many thousands
dollars to each county of this state.
bills, such bills as political
plums for favorites, and bills for 9th
er questionable private motives are
scarcely ever presented or al
The people keep posted upon
the business Of the county, and II
they discover a bill allowed against
the county which they deem I o be
wrong they institute proceedings to
it's payment. County courts are
made more careful in examining and
bills. A person is made more
cautious about the presentation OF
or questionable bills, be
cause he does not like to have 1t APP
pear in print that he has attempted to
defraud the county. But 1t appears to
us that this law does not go far
enough, and that It would be more Of
ncient IL 1t required the publication
Of all bills allowed by a county. The
should know everything for
which their money is expended. The
exception in this law, that bills in
which the items are based upon
charges fixed by law need not be pub.
would seem to include all bills
presented under fee-bills. The fee
bill system in the past has been re.
garded as a source of the greatest
drain upon the public treasures.
Without the publication Of such bills
II allows the officers construction OF
the law and the amount OF his bill to
go unquestioned by the people who
pay the taxes to meet their payment.
every county court OF this
state now points with pride to the re
duction OF public expenses. Our coun.
ty courts are almost without exception
composed OF very competent men, but
we cannot say that they are in any
way o competent than their prede-
ce5sors in Office. We are therefore
to the conclusion that the pub
required by this law In the pre-
sentatlon and allowance OF bills has
been the great factor that has brought
about the present economy in pub
&c anairs.
In conclusion we will say that the
newspapers Of our State have always
shown a public spirit, and gladly fur.
the news TO their readers. The
legislature can place proper safe
upon this law which we pro
pose against the evasion of the as.
sessment laws. by prescribing prices
publication, SO that but little ex-
pense will be entailed in its opera.