Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-02-05
Call for Meeting.

Call for Meeting.
Dear Sir or Madam: The question
is repeatedly being asked by citizens
all over Oregon, why state legisla-
ture? Take the last Legislature, with
it's political machines, with the cor
poration and other big interest lob
bies blocking really needful and mer-
itorious legislation, yet prompting
and causing other big business and
special interest and special privilege
legislation to be passed, which is
really a detriment to the farmers,
laborers and people at large
We should have less legislation
We should have far less freak legis-
lation. Under the present system
great floods Of unnecessary measures
clog and cloud every session of our
state legislature, and the question,
why state legislature?" will not
down. What's the answer? Many
well-informed citizens say the an
swer is Commission form of govern
ment for the state" Many citizens
who believe in progress in govern
ment advocate the abolishment of
the state senate, as a first step;
others advocate going to complete
commission form for the state, abol-
ishing both houses of the state legis-
lature and substituting instead a
commission or body of nine state
commissioners elected from and
representing the various state dis
tricts to be formed), besides the gov
ernor, secretary of state and state
treasurer, thus making a legislative
body of twelve, and abolishing all
boards and commissions. The COM
mission sitting permanently, with
stated legislative meetings. Such a
plan, it has been suggested, would
give more time and study for care
fully working out proper legislation.
1t would lessen freak and special leg
islation which is rushed through un-
der the present system of you tickle
me and I'll tickle you" or trading
system" and place our state legisla-
ton on a more careful and scientific
basis.
Kansas is studying this same ques-
ton, as are also Wisconsin and other
states which believe in progress, they
deeming some such step needful to
wipe out corporation lobbying and
influence baneful legislation, both
state and national.
Some $50 cities are successfully
using commission government for
cities, with more and more added
every week, and no city which has
adopted the commission form has
gone back to the old system. Less
officials with a direct responsibility
being the cry of the hour, for city,
state and nation. This, too, will, il
possible, lessen the cost of govern
ment and thereby bring to us a lower
tax levy.
The East Side Business Mems Club
of Portland has been studying this
state commission government ques-
ton. A committee has been appoint
ed to pursue the study and take the
necessary steps to have framed and
submitted to the people Tor their ap-
proval commission form of state gov
ernment, if deemed advisable.
1t is deemed best to invite citizens
who believe in going forward" and
in progress to meet and go over the
problems in detail.
Pursuant to this a call is hereby
extended to you to be present at a
meeting to be held in the auditorium
OF the East Side library, East Blev-
enth and East Alder streets, Port
land, Ore, at p. IN. on February
10, 1914, to consider the matter of
commission form of government for
the state of Oregon, this question be-
ing deemed a matter of great impor-
tance to the entire commonwealth.
What think you of this plan?
Yours respectfully,
DAN KELLAHER, Chmn.,
c. C. HALL,
NJ. o. COLLINS,
NJ. b. McFAUL,
AZ InnINp