Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-03-26
FALSE ECONOMY.

People complain that taxes ar
high and seek for a remedy. Th
Observer admits that the expense o
sustaining government appears t
have reached a higher figure thai
ever before in this state, but we be
lieve that they are destined to g,
higher still. With all this complaint
1t is nevertheless fact that taxes ar,
much lower in Oregon than in any o
the adjoining states where develop
ment has been rapid and immigra
tion extensive. Take Washington, fol
instance. Probably no state in the
Union ever experienced a more rapid
growth during the past decade. Mil.
lions of dollars of Eastern capita
have been invested in Washington
farms and Washington industries and
the communities whose growth has
been the most pronounced, have the
highest rates of taxation People
complain of the taxes and predict all
sorts of dire calamitles, yet the city
with the high tax rate continues to
OF its people because of the new peo-
pie, the new capital and Industries,
which seek homes in them. Taxes
are the penalty of progress, and
while the assessments in Oregon may
be higher than they were 20 years
ago, where is the citizen who would
exchange his present convenlences
for the conditions that prevailed
then?
The Observer is not in favor of
extravaganza in the management of
state, county and municipal affairs. 1t
believes that the money of the people
should be wisely and judiciously ex-
pended. The people are entitled to
the best possible return for the money
invested, and where may we expect
better returns than in the manage
ment of our school system? People
who preach economy and clamOr for
a reduction in taxes are striking at
the wrong bogy when they insist
that pairing should first begin in the
public school II is fact that, up to |
few years ago Oregon's educational
system was about 20 years behind
that of its neighboring states of |
Washington and California. Even to-
day the teachers in the common |
schools are receiving lower salaries
than those in either state. North or
South. But an advanced era has /
come for oregon. Competent educat-
ors have taken hold of our school sys-
tenn and are bringing it up to the
plane II should occupy.
Among the more advanced ideas
adopted for the benefit of the school
system OF this state. is the law provid-
ing for a school supervisor. i'm addi-
tion to the county school superintend-
ent. The county supervisor law was
adopted by the last Legislature and no
county has power TO eliminate or dis
pense with the services OF such an
official while that law shall remain on
the statute books. For anyone to at
tempt TO manufacture political bun
combe out OF this provision. and to
infer that county superintendents are
for the supervisor. is no
more tenahle than TO charge the su-
oerintendent with being responsible +,
or the existence of the County Clerk. /,
" the County Treasurer. or any other /
'Ounty officer. The law makes Il the Z
luty of the County Superintendent to {
appoint an educational board OF five s
members who serve without nav I
md this board In turn selects q
supervisor, one, In the smaller e
ounties. and two In the larger ones. {
inder the law. Polk county Is entitled v
o two supervisors, who may receive 4
salary OF sl2O0 per annum each. in Z
ddition to travelling expenses The
acts are that Polk county has but one
apervisor. who receives $1,000 per v
ear and pays his own travelling eN- c
enses There is surely no graft ap- $
aren't In this transaction. Here the q
,xpayers are getting OF lightly c
rowing that the supervisor law. and n
.anagement OF the schools has been a
,nefcial. Il is only necessary to state N
Iat the schools OF Polk county are A
cond 90 none In the state: IN fact. NJ
aik county q known as the banner b
hool county of the entire common "
aalth. These are facts The OBJ n
rver Is but printing an established Z
attn IN this utterance. Polk county n
ters should consider these things W
As a general proposition. we be- h.
We that pairing in the school system pi
false economy. especially as Il Is 81
ndicd in this county. when Il is re- ~
.mhered that we are paving les for hs
: supervisor than other counties ca
4. az the same time. hare taken pU
nd position al the head o. all the be