The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1914-10-16
INFORMATION FOR VOTERS

ASiue iIoll TIE several INITIATIVE
measures that will be mentioned In
another issue there are two referen-
dunn bills and proposed amendment
to the constitution that will go on the
ballot and be voted for or against at
the November election.
Referendum bill No. 1 is the teach
ers' retirement fund bill, or old age
pension plan, which provides for pen
sioning superanuated teachers. No
one has more respect for teachers
singly or collectively, than the writ
er, but this is only an entering wedge
for the introduction of state paternal-
ism. If this bill carries the Sd of
November two years hence bills
will be presented for the pensioning
of bald headed editors, or superanuat-
ed hod carriers, or knocked out car
penters, or rundown bootblacks, or
shelf worn humans of every occupa-
ton. And why not? Is not one class
of wage earners Just as much entitled
charity to open the doors to horde
OF pensioners, but 1t is hardly wise.
However, the measure is put fairly
before the voters Tor their verdict,
and the vote of the majority will de-
eide the question.
Referendum bill No. is the Quincy
irrigation bond measure, providing for
the issuance of $4O,OOO,OOO of bonds
with the state standing godfather for
the payment of the bonds. No doubt
vast acreage could be reclaimed by
the expenditure of forty million dol
lars, indeed vast acreage should be
reclaimed for that amount Of money,
if every dollar was religiously applied
to that purpose. Still it is asking d
good deal for the state to stand spon-
ser for the issue. No doubt a great
many we'll meaning people feel that
this is proper measure to support,
but it would be heavy burden If
through some unforeseen accident the
bonds and interest, for interest on
$40,000,0O0 represents a mighty COB
of hard cash. A voter will have to
have a great deal f sympathy for
the land owners under the proposed
system when he goes into the booth
al the polling place on the Sd day of
November to induce him to vote for
referendum No. g. Still the fate Of the
measure is up to the voters, and they
will have to decide it at the polls.
The proposed constitutional amend
ment relates to alien land ownership.
Read what the amendment means,
and then vote upon it as your con-
science dictates. And it is your con-
science that will move you as you
vote upon any and all of the measures
that are presented for your endorse
ment or rejection, if you vote at all,
and you are not doing your duty as
a citizen if you fail to vote one way or
the other The following are the pro-
"The ownership of land by aliens
other than those who in good faith
have declared their intention of be-
coming citizens of the United States, is
prohibited in this state, except where
acquired by inheritance, under mort
gage or in good faith in the ordinary
course of justice in the collection of
debts; and all conveyances of lands
hereafter made to any alien, directly,
or in trust for such alien, shall be
void.
Provided, that the provisions of
this section shall not apply to lands
containing valuable deposits of min
eral, metals, iron or fireclay, and the
necessary land for Mills and machin-
cry to be used in the development
thereof, and the manufacture of the
products thereof, and the manufacture
OF the porducts therefrom. Every cor
poration, the majority of the capital
stock of which is owned by aliens,
shall be considered an alien for the
purpose of this prohibition.
provided, however, that this Sec
ton shall not apply to conveyance of
lands lying wholly within the limits of
municipal corporations when made to
resident aliens. In the event a resi-
dent alien becomes a nonresident for
| the term of five years, his interest in
lands in the state of Washington shall
be vested in the common school fund"