Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-01-10
GOVERNOR
WEST SENDS
MESSAGE
1T is QUITE LENGTHY AND DEALS
FULLY WITH MANY MATTERS
JOURNAL CAN ONLY GIVE EX.
CRRPTS.

Governor Vests message to the
Legislature is a rather lengthy docu-
ment, and it goes into about all the
matters Of importance now before the
public, and in which the state is in
terested.
The governor takes advanced
ground and wherever fault is found
with existing conditions, a remedy is
suggested. The message is too long
to be printed in full in the Journal!
but excerpts give the more important
matters dealt with as follows
Taxation,
Taxation was undoubtedly fairly
equal in early days in this state, for
at that time most of our wealth con-
sisted of lands and live stock, which
were easily listed and valued, but
with the rapid growth and develop
ment of the country, the coming Of
big business" with its public service
corporations and their franchises
and Intangible values" conditions
have changed and call for new meth
DDS of distributing the burdens of
taxation.
He adds to this comments on the
recent amendment giving counties
power of regulating taxes, and thinks
1t opens the way for tax reform. He
also advocates the state raising its
entire revenues from license fees in
heritance tax and public service cor
porations.
Banks and Insurance.
Stating that "Our state banking law
is a failure in that it protects the
crooked banker from the public but
not the public from the crooked bank
er, !" he points out such remedies as
he thinks would be beneficial.
Concerning insurance he commends
the act of the last legislature prevent,
ing combinations and the opening of
the field to competition which has re-
suited in 20 per cent reduction on
rates, and recommends the appoint
ment of commission to investigate
insurance and report as to measures
needed to regulate it.
Three-fourths of state lands sold,
on unbusiness-like methods, but new
law will make remaining fourth yield
more than all the balance has done,
and department is now ably conduct
ed.
Flat Salary for State Printer.
He recommends purchase of print
ing plant and placing of state printer
on a fiat salary, as a means of saving
the states money. He also recon-
mends that all supplies, for state in
sututions should be purchased under
the direction of one board. The gov
ernor, secretary of state and state
secretary, with one clerk to act as
such board.
To Abolish Capital Punishment.
He points out that under the pres
ent system the secretary of state ex-
pends large sums for the state, and
that under the present system of au-
diting bills, the secretary also audits
and allows his own bills-which is
unfair both to him and the taxpayers
and causes much confusion. He
suggests some changes in the EN-
ployment of convicts in the peniten-
uary and also recommends the abol-
ishment of capital punishment, and
the limiting of the pardoning mower
IN cases of life imprisonment-bold-
ing that sentence for life imprison-
ment for murder should mean what
1t says.
The message deals at some length
with the matter of the insane. but
proposes no radical changes. The
message has the following concern
ing the state capitol:
State Capitol Crowded,
Something must be done at an ear
ly date to relieve the congested con-
dition of the capitol building. Every
available foot of space has been used
and conditions in some of the depart-
ments are becoming almost unbeara-
BILE If arrangements could be ma6s
Tor the removal of the printing and
heating plants from the building !,
would go far towards solving tho
problem" ~
Wants Pure Water.
VI the states water supply he saws, !
The time has come, in my opinion
when the state should take some az
''oh TO secure an abundant supply Of
pure water for the state institutions |
AZ = present the supply is being drawn
from wells or from the Salem wator
system and both sources are open to
objection. 'N" W
The city of Salem has recently,
laKea steps to assume the ownership
ana control of the supply system now
IN use and the plan of piping pure
mountain water to the city is under
discussion. In my opinion this Is the
'n'y sate solution of the water supplv
t"esuon' !, Municipal projects move
~. ',oN,y' ~. however and the need of bet
.er water for the state institnt,on :,