The new era., 1911-01-19
INAUGURAL
ADDRESS
GOV. JOHN F. SHAT ROTH TO THE
EIGHTEENTH GENER-
AL ASSEMBLY,.
TUESDAY JANUARY 10
MAKES SEVERAL RECOMMENDA.
TloNs FOR NEW LAWS AND
OTHER CHANGES.
Extracts.

Extracts.
The majority of the members OF this
General Assembly were elected ny ths
people upon a platform, which rear
firmed the pledges of two years ago.
All of these platform pledges were
not enacted into law by the Seven
teenth General Assembly, although
there were passed three great reform
laws. namely, the initiative and refer
endum, the direct primary and the
Oregon provisions for electing united
States senators. There still remain
Of those promises unredeemed-tlrst
The headless ballot law; second: the
bank guaranty law and, third: an eff
fective railroad, or public service law.
The Headless Ballot
The sentiment has been growing Tor
years, in nearly every state in the
Union, in favor of compelling the vot-
ers at elections to vote upon each can
didate for office. This can only be ac-
complished by adopting what is called
the Pure Australian Ballot or
"Headless Ballot" which prevents the
voting of straight party ticket Peo-
pie are generally recognizing that the
administration of state and county
governments is merely the conduct.
ing of great business enterprises, ana
that the men best qualified for that
! purpose should be selected. 1t is for
this reason that candidates are often
elected to office in state and county
governments, irrespective OF their pc
liefs upon national questions. me
headless ballot has tendency TO pre-
vent the nomination of men for Office,
who are not qualified for the posi-
tions, or whose regulations are not
good. Officials under such system
know that they must stand on their
own records and cannot conceal their
misconduct under their party name.
Many states in the Union have had
the headless ballot in operation for
years. l have not been able to find
that a single state which once adopt
ed the name has ever repealed It..
| That very fact is a most excellent
endorsement of the wise policy OF such
law.
Bank Guaranty Law.
At various times there has been IN
this country financial panics, caused
very largely by banks being unable 10
meet the demands for payment OF de
posits. 1t seems, therefore, that nov
la the most appropriate time to enact
a law. which will secure the payment
of deposits, or which, in Its direct Ell
feet. will cause the depositors, in thelf
own interest, not to demand from the
banks the payment of their deposits.
The Supreme Court of the United
States a few days ago upheld the con
stitutionality Of the bank guaranty
laws. of Oklahoma, Kansas and Ne
braska, each of which require lhe
banks to contribute to the guaranty
to me 10
be wise to enact bank guaranty law
in this state. 1t is not only wlse' but
also a solemn obligation.
Railroad Law.
Another pledge to the people maze
by our political party was that the
Railroad Commission should be en-
dowed with like powers and duties OF
the Public Service Commission OF
New York, so far as the same are
applicable to our state
The power to fix rates by railroad
commission seems to be opposed very
strenuously by the railroad companies
of the state. When we consider tha'
If a railroad commission makes an un
reasonable rate against the railway
companies, the decision can be re
viewed by the courts of the lana, ana
the reasonableness Of the rate deter
mined, upon judicial investigation ana
hearing, the vesting of such power III
commission cannot be CONSIDERED d;
dangerous.
II commission were to fix such uh
fair rates the courts would not per
NIT them To be enforced. 1t seems
therefore, that the provision of giving
mower to a railroad commission to flS
rates is simply power given to them
to prevent excessive rates against the
people. There should be no objectlor
to a power being vested in the RAJ.
way commission to fix rates. Tha rail-
road commissions Of majority OF
the states of the Union are possessed
of that power.
Registration Law.
The passage of good resistratlot
bill is Indispensable to the successiu
operation of the direct primary eiec
tion law passed at the last session o.
the General Assembly.
Board Of Control for Penal Institutions
feel that if all the penal institu
tions were under the control OF cen
trail board, consisting OF three per
sons, to be paid fair salaries, ana te
be required to devote all OF their 'ilht
to the duties of their office, that say
ing of at least 100000 per annun
could be made.
-Four Years Term for State Officers
believe that it is to be best inter
est of the state of Colorado that th'
constitution should be amended so a
to make the term of all of the exc
cutive officers four instead OF tw'
years. 1900, -,
suggest that bill be passed re
ouiring that all contributions for pc
litical purposes should be made to TN
chairmen of the respective State an'
County Central Committees.
Inasmuch as the protection OF Goa
mines and the prevention OF expo