The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-01-13
FLAT SALARY BILL.

One of the most important bills in
troduced in the legislature is the fiat
salary bill. 1t puts all of the sta;e
officers on fiat salary, the salary
provided being commuserate with the
duties Of the office. Oregon has been
suffering from political legalized graft
for many years. There are two offices
that make the incumbents wealthy
after four years of service, and in
many instances they hold the Offices
for eight years. The Office of secretary
of state pays over s25,0Oo annually. and
the Office Of state printer equally as
much. If these officers were placed on
a salary and the fees turned into the
state treasury, the business OF the state
would be self-sustaining. There are
hundreds of competent men in Ore
gon who are willing to take the Office
of secretary of state on a salary of $5,-
900 a year.
The salary Of the state treasurer is
only $500 year, but the perquisites
attached to the Office bring the emoIu-
ments up to about $4,000 a year. Some
of the emoluments are questionable.
The funds of the state are loaned out
at a certain rate of interest, but the
state deos not receive the interest.
Article 13 of the constitution of the
state of oregon, provides as follows:
The governor snal receive an annual
salary of $500. The secretary Of state
shall receive an annual salary Of $500.
The treasurer of the state shall receive
an annual salary of $500 dollars. They
shall receive no fees or perquisites
whatever for the performance Of any
duty connected with their respective
oflces."
The provisions of the constitution are
violated by the very officers VINO are
sworn to obey It. There is no legal
construction to be placed upon It
whereby the secretary of state and state
printer can rake down s25,0OO annually,
but they do. II poor man was in
prison and constitutional question
was raised as to the legality Of his i'm
prisonment, the constitution is strictly
construed. II politician is elected
to an Office, the constitution Is LIBERAL
ly construed, not only construed but
warped all out of shape so no one
would know that it was part Of the
constitution of the state. Laws are
not made for poor people. They are
made for politicians and are worked
for every dollar they will stand. By
creating commissions and appointing
the governor secretary Of state and
treasurer as commissioners, salaries
are provided. The commissions are
worthless, but being of political origin
and for the purpose of perpetuating
the graft, they are tolerated by an over
burdened tax-paying community. AS
long as politicians make the laws just
so long will the people be robbed by
their progenies.
When a man first starts in on his
political career and is a candidate for
some local office. he has smile and
hand shake for every man in the COM
munity. After he is elevated to an
Office out Of the graft of which he be-
comes wealthy, his blood becomes like
a cold storage plant, and his acquaint-
ances are only numbered among the
Goldfish aristocracy and political ma
bobs. Men who assisted in elevating
him to the position are forgotten and
he has no further use for them. Poll .
ties Is not only science, but II is a