Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1906-02-01

the matter consideration, and there
are many who fear the outcome.
1t has been asserted by one high
| in authority that unless great care
shall be exercised, serious compli-
cations are almost certain to
arise which will make special
session Of the Legislature neces-
sary to straighten out some legis.
lative tangles. 1t is feared that
because 80 many initiative meas
ures are being proposed q great
number of people will not clearly
understand the effect of their bal
lots and that two con flicting laws
may be enacted.
The two measures which most
seriously conflict in their provision
are the bills drafted by the Grange
and by the tax committee of the
Willamette Valley Development
League. Both cover in their
mair features the same general
subject but differ in detail. Under
the initiative plan, both might be
adopted at the same time and,
both becoming laws, there would
be no way to determine which
must be observed.
The fear expressed is, that with
so many measures sub mitted, the
voters, or large number of them,
will not vote against the measures
they do not want, and thereby two
propositions upon the same subject
Aight be adopted, or that some to
which full and careful attention
has not been given might become
laws.
How two measures upon the
same sucject could be adopted will
be readily apparent. There are,
in round numbers, 100000 voters
in the state. A great many do
not mark their ballots for all
officers, and when laws or amend
ments are submitted, a still larger
number fail to vote upon these
A large proportion of
those who fail to mark their bal |
lots upon a given subject are peo-
pie who are either opposed to the
measure or are not familiar with |
it's provisions and do not wish to
express an opinion. The affirma-
tive Of the question therefore is
great advantage in the balloting.
If therefore, those who favor
the Grange gross.earnings tax
measure vote for it and do not vote
against the Development league
bill, and those who favor the De-
velopment League bill vote for it
md do not vote against the Grange
dill, while a considerable number
7ote for both bills, because they
lave attractive titles, both might
,e adopted. With 100000 voters
n the state, only 10000 might
mark their ballots for these bills
md if each received an affirmative
'ote of over 10000 they would
10Th be adopted. This is also
rue of the state printer amend.
nents.
Because there are 80 many
measures presented, and expert
nee has shown that people will
lot take the time and trouble to
tudy them carefully, there is
ear that conflicting laws will be
dopted.
PENDING AMENDMENTS.
The Willamette Development
league measure to tax gross
arnlngs OF telephone, telegraph
nd express companies.
Grange bill, on the same subject
18th different provisions.
Grange bill to license tax on
eeping, dining, buffet, palace,
il and refrigerator cars.
Development League bill on
anne subject, with conflicting de-
Ills.
The Peoples Power League
ould put control of state printing o
charge of the legislature.
Amendment proposed by the =
geographical unions makes the
ate Printer a constitutional
ficer, with state printing Office
Go1ovy,