Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-10-28
We NEED GOVERNOR
WHO WILL FIRMLY
CURB LEGISLATURE
By G. P. Strain, Assessor of Umatilla
County.

By @. p. Strain, Assessor of Umatilla
County.
That each succeeding legislature
spends public money more lavishly
than any one before it, is not mere
accident nor is it due to the wanton
extravaganza of the individual mem.
bersnip.
The fault inheres in the system.
Each of the 80 members has measures
of his own, which too often, are
of local interest only and detrimental
to the state generally, and for these
schemes he can find support in no way
except logrolling with his fellow mem.
bers. Thus it is that waste of public
money originates, and 20 it will al
ways continue in spite of criticism and
protest until some rational remedy
shall be adopted to stop it.
When Dr. c. j. Smith declared in
favor of the single item veto and of
the free use Of the veto power, he pro.
posed such remedy. The single item
veto would give the governor author.
ity to pick an appropriation bill to
pieces and to veto any single vicious
item. Now, the governor must either
accept or reject the legislative budget
as a whole. Treasury grabs of var.
ious kinds are so intermingled by log
rolling committees with the necessary
appropriations that the governor must
accept the whole conglomerate waste.
fulness or by his veto risk tieing up
all rhe state institutions. In view of
past experience and considering that
Legislature is responsible only to a
small district, while the governor s
responsibility is statewide the wis
dom of the single item veto is so oh.
vious and the necessity for free use
OF the veto powers so apparent that it
is amazing that this reform was not
adopted years ago What is still more
astonishing, we are informed that Dr..
Smith S opponent disapproves of this
much needed check on legislative
waste
When the public comes to under.
stand the value of the single item veto
they will not be long in securing il.
The legislature itself cannot resist the
logic of this demand and can be cx.
pected TO propose this amendment at
the coming session.
A single item veto law would be of
value beyond measure in the hands of
an executive with vision enough to
distinguish between measures purely
local, and those Of sufficient scope to
merit state support But such law
would he worthless in the hands Of a
governor who advocates harmony and
eo-oneration with legislature which
! by reason Of its organization is bound
J to subordinate the larger interests of
the rtate to matters Of local and per.
sonal Importance.
Having had opportunity to study Dr.
Smith at close range, ! do not hesitate
to state that beneath his congeniality
and suavity there abides determine.
tion which assures steadfast adherence
to his policies. His extraordinary
common sense, enhanced by study
travel and wide experience give him
Judgment and vision. Being man
of the people, honest and independent,
yet magnetic and tactful, he possesses
qualifications for leadership which
constitute n rare equipment for gov.
ernor. With such a candidate running
on such a splendid platform the pepo.
pie of the state have reason To con.
gratuate themselves on the present
opportunity TO abolish the half cen.
tuy reign Of legislative msrule in this
state.