Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1907-03-05

than six per cent. So l submit
that this is no excuse Whatever
as the lesseue1 rate to the far ner
and builder of the road acting as
further induce ment to them to
take the initiative much more
than offsets the tax which might
nave accrued t. the counties, but
which must have been paid in
the end by the people in addi-
tional interest paid upon til ir
certificates. And fourth, while
it is true this legislature did
make many large appropriations,
still 1 submit that this is no good
excuse tor the indiscriminate
WELD Of, the AK upon bills of
such vital importance TO the very
life aud upbuilding of our farm
homes throughout our. state aud
the upbuilding of our state as
well, especially so when there
has been such an extraordinary
demand for some legisla:ian look
ing to the systematic and perna-
nent improvement of our miser-
able roads and further when we
have been holding road couven-
tions all over our state during
the past few years trying to edu-
cate our people up to full reali-
cation of the need and advisable
ity of toward step along these
lines. And too, wneu all who
have been taking he lead in this
effort had approved this bill OF
mine and further it had the quail
fed approval of the entire press
of the state and cf the people
wherever they were made faml-
liar with its provisions. Hence
why the veto? Aud if it was
to be vetoed why did he not
return it prior to final adjourn
mept with his veto message as it
was on his desk two full DAYS be-
fore adjournment, aud thus have
permitted its further consider
alton.
Was there any kick on the
part of the tax payer against this
provision for the extension Of
state aid? If so, most surely this
would have been reflected
through the columns of the
press of the state, but no such
kick ca~e. The truth is that all
objections on his Honor's part
are but subtertuges, for I happen
% know. And in fact have it
from his own lips that there was
and is another, and the all pre-
vailing reason to-wlt:
That the bill provides for the
appointment of the state engi-
neer at small salary, to have
general supervision of the work
and its systematic alton. Also
commission to help in this sys-
telnatizing and proper distribu-
ton of such state aid, said COM
mission to serve without pay,
however, by the State Board,
consisting of the Governor, Sec
retary of State and State Treas
urer, and the threat of veto OF
nv bill came to me even before
the final passage, hence, before
the governor could have known
of the good or the bad features of
the bill, except that he did know
that it did not provide for these
appointments by His Honor sole
ly. Aud l may add further that
my standing up and being count
ed in the republican column
throughout the session proved
very distasteful to his excellency
which he was not at all slow to
express through those close to
him, and in two instances direct
ly.
l am very sorry a good mea'
sure of state wide Importance and
one for which l worked very ear
nestly had to thus meet its fate
at the hands of the governor tor
this small and purely political
reason mingled no doubt with
more or less personal spite
against its author. However, it
is a sense OF satisfaction to feel
that I did my best in the prom
ises and am satisfied with the re-
cord we will let time answer
} as to the wisdom of the Govern
or's action.
Respectfully.
A. J. JOHNSON.
Senator for Benton Co