Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-01-12


that has been followed for years with
great benefit to Illinois would also be
Of like benefit TO Oregon.
It Is true that this law would In.
crease the duties Of the assessor and
be Of some annoyance 10 him which
may account In part for his objection
TO the measure.
Thirds The levy for school purposes
Section ~ Of the proposed law reads
az follows; "The county courts Of the
several counties Of this state arc here
by required 70 levy AZ the same time
they levy other taxes, a tax upon all
tho taxable property In their counties
for school purposes Of AZ least Eve
mills on tho dollar, which shall be
collected az tho same time, IN tho same
manner, and by the samo officers that
other taxes are collected"
Under tho present Law this tax is
axed AZ 90 per scholar aud 90 raise
this amount on tho present basis Of
assessment Il requires approximately
0 mills
Mr.. Kecney's objection 70 this moa
uarc is that ho contomplates 20 assess
all property Al its FUN cash value, aud
tho ave mills would raise more money
than would DO needed for school pur-
posca Admitting that he is right In
this matter, would say that II such
a condition should ever como 10 pas
that tho ave min nte would also ba
reduced AZ any meeting Of tho legisla,
ture.
Having answered Mr. Keeney's Oh.
ieeiions 20 this bin, shall now On.
deavor 10 show some Of tho good mea.
sures in tho bin and tell Why Il should
become Law.
Tho main object Of this bin is 10 col,
leet the larger part OF tho state taxes
from Indirect taxation Of tho intangible
properties and gross earnings Of cor
4 porations and from inheritance taxes
etc, In fact, from intangible sources
which tho assessor hitherto has not
levied upon, The committee who
drafted this bin arc confident that the
effect Of this bill win be 10 reduce
state tax levies moro than 90 per cent
the first year under tho operation Of
this bin II Il becomes law, there will
be increasing revenues until no direct
taxation for state purposes shall be
required.
Al present Lane eounty's state tax
is 6-20 on the thousand. This bin is
supposed 20 reduce il one-half or
more the first year, and in a very few
years 20 wipe il out entirely.
The estimated revenues under the
provision Of this tax bill follows;
Increase from insurance tax. $50, 900
Increase from railroad assessment
''s. o.. .s,. .. .-t.,.... $4,000
Increase from ears not owned By
railroads. .... ........, $4,000
Increase from inheritance tax 100000
Increase from publicity Of tax rolls
.,... ,, o., .... .............s .s2a, 900
Increase from express telegraph and
telephone companies. ,.,...$5O, 900
Total increase under bill. 90. s255, 900
The total revenues to be derived BY
increased taxation after tho adoption
Of this bin during the first year Of its
operation win amount to the sum Of
s46O,OOO
II is quite apparent from the fOFego-
ing summary, showing the estimated
increase Of revenues and the source Of
the same, that an organized opposition
to the bin may be expected from the
railroad companies, the express, tele-
graph and telephone companies Such
objections TO the proposed law as are
made by Mr.. Keeney are trivial when
compared TO the benefits to be derived
by the people Of the state, and It is
greatly to be hoped that such eriti-
eisms as have been made win not de-
feat the chief object sought to be at
tained, which Is to compel the great
corporations 70 bear their Just pro
portion Of taxation.
G. ". GRIFFIN.