Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-01-22
Grange Bills to be Initiated for
Partial Reform
State Press Association Stands for Pub
IiCity of Tax ROIIS---PIutOCrats Op-
pose all Initiative Measures

All true friends Of indirect taxation
are urged to pull of their coats and
put in one solid week for the bills TO
be initiated for establishing indirect
taxation and wipe out the present high
state tax levies that are the greatest
obstacle to the development Of the
state.
Grange Supports the Principle.
The State Grange endorsed the prin-
ciplc Of indirect taxation and is cir.
culating petitions for tho initiative
Of two bills along the samo lines as
the bill called by the Statesman a pop.
uligtic measure Tho grange bills do
not 80 20 far as the farmers and ship.
pers' bills, but do attempt to tar gross
earnings Of certain corporations and
tho tank line cars, tho refrigerator
cars and tho Pullman cars The grange
bills should bo supported by everyone
who stands FOR the principle Of indi
roct taxation, and this great reform
viii havo 20 bo won inch by inch. II
both tho grange bills and the farmers
congress bills are initiated thoy viii
almost wipe out the direct state tax
n enacted and all citizens who favor
taxation reform should strike these
blows In tho direction and not End
fault with technical defects or differ
eheos Tho Journal urges all 10 sign
tho grange petitions and 20 vote for
tho bills II initiated.
Publish tho Tax Rolls.
Tho bill initiated at woodburn
should be supported for containing the
great principle Of publicity In taxa
tion reform Right IN this eonheetion
wo wish 20 say that school land frauds
are not tho only rotten things IN ore.
gon. The whole assessment system as
now conducted by county assessors Is
unjust. Personal property nearly all
escapes tho tax collector. Land is as
sessed AZ many values One man has
twenty acres near Salem that Is a..
seasod al twice what 200 acres are a.
sessed that lie alongside OF him. Rich
men have been dodging taxes all their
lives and then eyade tho inheritance
tax law as now drawn before they die.
They naturally fight the faTmeFs' and
shippers congress bill. But publicity
viii some day be shed on the present
rotten svstem that Fobs the small prop
erty owrsr 10 protect the millionaire
and tho corporations that are shielded
here and hereafte.
Citizens, pay no attention 10 the crit
lea We have one week 70 initiate the
indirect taxation bills. Sign tho petit
tions and let a more just system be es-
tablished. Let all true Americans help
strike down the privileges that make
the rich richer aud tho poor poorer.
Against All Initiative.
(Salem Statesman editoTiall
There is a growing "no" sentiment
In this state and very likely ii will
make itself manifest BY THE DE
PEAT OF ABOUT ALL THE "nI-
TIATTvE" LBdIsIlATIoH AT THE
POLLS NEXT JUNR That some good
measures are apt 70 bs initiated may
be true, but there is too much Of the
+" one man initiative" in evidence on
every thing 50 far suggested In the line
OF general legislation.
What with Claekamas eOunty's
U 'Rsn, initiating a lot Of amendments
20 the constitution along those lines
which have already "balled up" our
statutes, and Marion cOunty's "great
initiator" INITIATING A GENERAL
PoPULIsrIO TAX LAW, and Yam
hill county initiating the referendum
on the general appropriation bin, aud
Linn county initiating "buneo" Pur-
chase Of the Willamette valley wagon
road gold brick, il begins 70 appear
to the people in general that emo"
is going to be a popular and "neees-
sary" word in the June election.
Comment on the Above.
In reply 20 the stateman's refer
euee 10 A GENERAL PoPULIsfIc
TAX LAW" We wiz say that there is
not a new feature Of the proposed tax
bin that has not been before RePubli'
can legislatures one or more times and
nearly every feature passed the lower
house one or more times. The Davey
BIN 20 tax gross earnings was defeat,
ca. The Harris bin 70 tax franchises
vas defeated. The sonneman bill Wasii