The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-01-14

E" IlainlS'
At,isIo,u conv n,, YOU Of ita valne.
paonle as TO the fee system which Is
applied to the payment oil cerUali
pubIic salaries During the past year
the question was given degree ol
prominence which secured for II
Mace i'm every platform demanding
! its abolition. It is not a partisan
question at all. and since It was one
of the few questions upon when al
partjes pledged affirmative action Dy
their representatives in the legisla
turs. II may be well taken Tor granted
that YOU will not let the session pass
with the promise untitled. | wish 70
especially impress upon the members
of the dominant party the necessity
for prompt and decisive action OH
this question
Northwestern Stove Foundry
Under the reorganized contract with
the Ioyenberg & Going Co. the pay
merits for convict labor contiue TO De
nromptly made each month when due
From the beginning OF operations
under the now contract entered INTO
four years ago, all the obligations OF
the company have been paid without
trouble or delay. 1t has, for the last
two years employed alr the conyicts
that could be spared from the regular
prison work, and has frequently MADE
application for more. The receipts
for convict labor have amounted ap-
proxlmately to $4,000 during the past
two years. or an average Of $1,000 per
month In addition to this the state
receives the sum OF $4,000 per annum
for the rent of the foundry plant.
Protection Against Forest Fires
The devastating forest fires which
DESTROYED so many liycs and so much
property during tho past autumn IN
Oregon suggests the necessity OF
amending our present law on the sub
iect of starting fires during certain
months of the year without sug
geg, ing any special provision ! desire
10 call your attention TO the subject
as one that should not be overlooked.
Thousands of acres Of valuable tim
Der were swept out OF existence with
I'm week. an utter extinction OF
wealth that had been hundred OF
years i'm reaching It's perfected stage.
Strict penalties should be provided
for starting fires under any circum-
stances during certain months OF the
year We are inviting investors from
an over the United States TO buy our
timber lands, and we owe this guar
ant-e to them as we'll as TO our own
citizens. While FIRE, when under con-
troll Is an Invaluable servant, II Is a
most relenting master
The Soldiers Home.
There Is, perhaps, no soldiers home
in the United States that is better
managed than the Oregon home, al
Roseburg. a fact that Is a strong ar
gument against the trustee system OF
management. Prior 10 the abolition
of that system four years ago, there
was constant turmoil and trouble he
tween the members of that board the
officers. and even the inmates OF the
home This disappeared at once with
the placing of the management Of
the affairs of the home under the
control Of the governor and the ut.
most harmony has since existed II
Is the only home In the United States
not managed by a board OF trustees,
numbering yariously from three 20
twenty-One members.
Insurance Of Public Buildings.
Il is my judgment. concurred in by
o'her members OF the different
boards, that the state should carry
no Insurance on its public buildings.
During the past forty years ! believe
there has been no fire In any public
building save the recent fire AT the
reform school This fact shows that
the chances for loss of property from
fire are too small TO justify incurring
the expense OF insurance. The most
valuable of our state buildings. the
capitol is not insured for a dollar and
never has been.
Conclusion.
Gentlemen OF the legislative assem-.
bly, ! am about 20 lay down the great
rust confded TO my keeping four
years ago by the people Of Oregon.
They have been four years Of con.
slant attention 10 the details OF the
duties devolved upon the
'hief executive under our constitution
md the laws. Being subject to the |
limitations OF human imperfectlons. |
lave doubtless made some mistakes. !
'ut al this moment | am conscious of |
Iaying at all times been guided By an
Indeviating desire TO enhance the
Welfare OF my beloved native state.
nd the splendid condition OF our
nancial and other interests AZ this
.me hespeaks the degree OF success
hat has been achieved.
/ can not close without coneratu.
'ting my colleames In the state gov
rnment upon their reelection. and
his congraulation should and does
Ntend 20 the Deople Associated