The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1910-04-08

produce very little. or he could assess
it SO high that tha school tax would
be entirely beyond the need Of school
| requirements. at once began an
agitation which resulted in law
| that provided for levy high enough
in each county to produce fixed sum
| for each child of school age.
II have been, and am now, an ad-
/ vocate OF popular government as pro-.
| vided for under the present initiative
and referendum laws of this state.
TO sum up: found the railroads
| OF the state assessed at $5,858. 101. so.
! They are now assessed at $40. 199, ,322. =
90. The milage has increased only
1889 miles to 2213 miles. Not only
this. hut before this agitation began
the transportation companies we're
masters of the people, fixing charges
and extending or restricting service
to the public at will. The railroads
have. therefore. been required to pay
their share of taxes on the one hand
and have, on the other. been denied
authority to reooup themselves by ad-
vancing freight charges. The tax
laws have been modernized. and the
| public schools have been given defin-
ite support.
'These reforms have been worth
many thousands of dollars to the com
mon people Of Oregon. Ny connection
with the y is we'll known history and
can De established beyond question. /
set out to benefit the people generally.
/ have worked out the lead which
began on SO far as can do SO through
the assessors Office. The old system
has been corrected and tho assessment
of railroad property has heen COM
mitted to the care Of the tax commits
sion.
n But new condition has arisen
which threatens to consume the full
substance of all taxable property, both
cooperative and private. The tax
budget of this county, including city
and school levies. has risen, during
/ the past seven years. from $195, 600
/ to $441, 900. If this increase has been
duplicated in other counties. and I
think it has, it presents an alarming
state of affairs.
ut ia not unusual to find taxing
districts where the annual tax con-
sumes from % per cent to so per cent
of the income from money loaned out,
and from other income producing
property.
"As see it. the most important re-
form now needed is economy in pub
lic affairs. Somebody ought to check
the already enormous and ever increas-
ing public expenditures. feel that
If | am to render anv further official
service to the people of this county
and state. could be more useful to
them In an executive Office where I
could suppress public extravaganza
AS. to my ability to get results along
this line, will mention that | have
managed to make the assessors office
of this county cost, on an average,
$500 per annum Less during the rast
seven years than for the seven years
next proceeding my tenure In office.
There has been. of course, a good deal
more work to 10 during the last seven
years than during the preceding seven
years, owing to the growth of the
county. have also classified the
decided land of the county into 40 acre
units at An expense of about $4,000,
and have renewed large portion Of
the ownership records of the county.
| learned economy in the school Of ex-
perience. having worked my way up
from penniless boy to position of
moderate comfort during the past 28
years. | began life in Oregon as a
farm hand 23 years ago.
"By economy In puElio affairs,
mean that when money is appropriat-
ed. each dollar of ii should be made
to return the public a dollars worth
Of service, or of supplies. further
mean that appropriations for enter
prises that are local or personal In
character or OF doubtful value should
be defeated.
"Another matter OF still greater i'm.
portance than economy Is the defense
of our system of direct legislation. An
executive is needed who can be de-
pended on to defend with his veto
power our splendid system of popular
government against the onooming as
sault upon ii by interests.
''If the people Of Oregon can use
me for such purpose, am willing to
undertake the great responsibility. At |
the same time, / can say 10 all sin
cerity that have reached point in
lite where my attitude toward politi.
cal honoIs Is passive ] simply offer
my services 20 the people. If they ac-
oept them. will do my utmost to
make good. II they do not, will |
find niche some place in private life
where will ft In comfortably"
The Alumni of the State Normal
at Monmouth ask your support for