Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1904-01-08
'OREGON'S ANNUAL BUDGET
Amount to be Raised for Ordinary
Expenses Is Much Less Than
Average State Revenue.

The official estimate Of the ex
penses of the State Of Oregon foI
the year 1904 shows total O
81 ,408,310.1O. OF this sum 1913,
310.10 will be raised by indirect
taxes and miscellaneous receipts
leaving 81 ,225,000 to be raised by
a direct tax upon real and personal
property. While this is the largest
sum ever raised in Oregon for state
purposes, it is not SO large in pro-
portion to population and in,
| dustrial wealth as was the levy oi
1898, when the revenue was
$1,121, 900. The expenses this year
will be unusually large, however,
as they were in 1898, and the esti-
mates just made public do not in
dlcate the ordinary cost of the state
government. Four extraordinary
appropriations are provided for :
$250,000 for the Lewis and Clark
Centennial, 100000 for the Indian
War veterans, $165,000 for the
portage railway and 100000 for a
right Of way for the canal from
The Dalles to Cello. These items
of expenses aggregate $615, 900, and
by deducting this sum it is found
that the amount to be raised for
the ordinary expenses for 1904 is
but 100000. This is $4,000 less
than the average state revenue for
the last sixteen years.
A glance over the items in the
estimate of expenses will show that
Oregon's state government is not
an extravagant one. Salaries paid
to public officers are reasonable,
but not excessive. There are no
useless and expensive commissions,
the state institutions seem to be
economically conducted, and the
appropriations for new buildings
are moderate in amount. Concern
ing the extraordinary appropria-
tions there has been but little
difference OF opinion. Of the Lewis
and Clark Fair appropriation,
almost every dollar will be spent
here in Oregon for labor and
materials required to make the
Fair a success. This investment
will bring to the state several
millions Of dollars appropriated BY
the Government and by other
states, or spent here gg resideAt Is of
other partg 81 tl aant WHO
come to visit The Fair By advsr-
tising our resources, The Fair will
bring to this state thousands Of
Eastern people who willinvest their
money in Oregon property and
build up Oregon enterprises. The
appropriations for the portage rail
way and the right Of way for the
Cello Canal will cut down the
freight bill of Eastern Oregon ship
pers and will be the means Of in
ducing the Federal Government to
spend some $4,000000 constructing
the canal. Though the state re-
ceives no financial benefit from the
Indian War veterans appropria-
ton, nearly all the money will be
put into circulation here in Oregon,
and a moral obligation Of the state
will be fulfilled.
Property-owners always view
with critical eye every increase in
taxes. 1t is well that they should,
and that they should know whence
the revenue comes and whittier it
goes. The estimate made by the
state officers gives in detail the
items Of expense, and the source Of
revenue other than that produced
by direct taxes. Oregon taxpayers
have before them the information |
upon which they can exercise dis
cerning judgment, and they will
thus form their opinions Of the ex-
penditures authorized by the Leg
islature in its last regular and spe.
cial sessions. 1t is quite certain
they will learn with approval that
the corporation tax law has reduced |
the property tax by about 100000 |
a year, and that the insurance tax
has produced a revenue of over
$4,000. Progressive business men
are in the habit of making heavy |
in advertising. and /
when viewed only in that light the
Lewis and Clark appropriation is
considered a wise expenditure of
money. The opening of the Co
lumbia River by the removal of
obstacles between The Dalles and
Cello is as judicious an act as the
Improvement of road over which
q farmer hauls his crop to market.
The taxpayers of Oregon were never
in better condition financially to
the enterprises that have
iwelled the tax levy of 1904, and |
lew complaints will be heard. con-
,erning the tax burden. Incident
lily it may be remarked that
Multnomah County pays 81 per
,ent, or nearly one-third of the
tate tax.-Oregonian.
DR.. L. Pfandhoefer, of Falls City,
,,o- . DolToo ,,;e;fo, T7,,n-1o