Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-11-15
THE INITIATIVE.

The results of the recent election
point Enthusiastically to the fact tha'
as a lawmaking prerogative, the in
itiatiye has failed in it's mission. But
very few Of the proposed measures
sought to be initiated have been sue
cessful and, while the voters nave
wisely reIegated some of the misht
pieces Of legislation to the scrap
heap. some very good and meritorious
measures have gone along with them.
Special reference Is made regard
ing the proposed Millage bill for the
support of the Oregon State Uniyer-
slty and the Oregon Agricultural col
lege. First, and foremost, the people
of Oregon are supposed to be in ia
yor of education They are believed
to be willing to support educational
institutions, yet it appears that ma
jority of them are unwilling to fur
nish funds for such support and TINS
attitude cannot but result in injury
to the states resources in this re-
gard.
The millage bill was a meritorius
measure. 1t was formulated by
non-partisan commission appointed
by the governor, composed of proml-
nent educators of the state, and men
familiar with conditions and the ur-
gent need to furnish the educational
institutions with the money to carry
on their work. These men were not
partisans of either institution. They
took up the work with an eye single
to what would be best, in their judg-
ment, for the University and the Ag-
ricultural college. They recognized,
first, the necessity of divorcing them
from the bane Of politics, and of re-
moving them from all taint connect
ed with the frequent charges of log
rolling" antics in connection with
past legislative appropriations. This
commission was interested in state
educational matters and they sought
to formulate a practice that would,
in the one instance, rebound to the
benefit of the two institutions and,
in the other, lessen the burden of tax
alton upon the people. The millage
bill defeated at the recent election,
was evolved and placed on the initia-
tive ballot with certain confidence
that the people would be quick to
recognize its merit and give 1t the |
endorsement of their ballots.
That they would have approved it |
is probable had there been time in |
which to discuss 1t, or had the ballot |
not been overbalanced and unwieldy F..
with other measures. But the great .
majority went to the polls wholly un
informed upon the merits of the pro-
posed bill, or what it planned to do. /
They only saw measure which con-
templated a tax and that was
enough-they voted mo" without
thought of the consequence of such
vote. They employed the safe tactis
as taught by many of the opponents
of the initiative and voted against all |
propositions they did not fully under
stand.
The bill creating the Office of leu
tenant-governor was another measure
that met defeat, and yet no serious
objection against this plan can be
urged by anyone. But there was no
active campaign for it. 1t didn't
amount to much anyway Its friends
probably imagined that there would
he no serious opposition To it, There
was no open opposition but when the
voters had their inning they swatted
that plan also. The most of them
knew nothing about il. They had not .
studied 1t. When the title Of the bill
met their eyes--"A Bill for an Act to
Create the Office Of Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor"-that settled IL. Here was a
bill creating a new office. and sup
posedly additional salaries, and the
great majority never got any further
than the first line of the title. The
merits Of the bill were not investi-
gated--they just killed Il; voted no"
once more because they didn't un-
derstand II. Yet the passage Of this
bill would not have added one cent
TO the expenses of the state and IL
would have placed the state with all
others. and given Il a well-dehned /
and sensible succession in the gov
ernors Office. The present plan of
requiring the Secretary Of State to
perform the duties OF the Office of
governor during his absence from
the state. or the death or removal of
that executive. is uuwieldy. Il isn't
fair The Secretary Of State already
has his hands fun to administer the
affairs Of his own office. and to add
to them by asking him 10 assume also
the responsibilities OF the chief exec
AAAhNH - " NNAAlNA nun 70 SUI NhAli
jobs
The defeat OF the latter measure is
% no great consequence. hut the kill
ing Of the millage bin will greatly
hamper the work of the Eugene and |
the Corvallis Institutions. why do
We have them. anyway Of what
moment Is Il 20 us whether they exc
ist or not7 Why not close them up
and permit our youth 20 take their |
higher courses In education in some
% the neighboring states that have
been broad enough % recognize the
urgent necessity Of cquippinr aud
their universities and /
their colleges with sufficient funds 20
enable them 10 operate inieiligeutly
and helpfully. 90 the constantly in
areasinE number 90 studcntsg
But we do not believe that the peo-
PIE q Oregon would have rejected
Ihe miilage bul had they been fully
Informed Is 90 its merits And here
IN lE found one OF the greatest nhiec-
lions o. the Initiative No aI the peo-
pc who vote would Thoroughly TN
orm themselves upon every measure.
49, Al - =