Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-02-18
TAX is $50 A HEAD.

RA HERE is old saying that 1--WE our cake and
have it, and this applies to state and municipal affairs
well as to those of private life We have good
roads and all kinds of public improvements without hav-
ing orrespondingy big bills to now taxes are DUE
only realize this but kick about it. Every one of us
wonders why in the Of decency high WE'LL
each and everyone of putt down that full part
of the why The county court and commissioners do not make
the expense they only the bills that created
Give almost any unlimited credit and fear of set
ement day. and naturally would become extravagan and
this exactly what happens to us in capacity of citizens The
payment Of bills does not push directly and hence gen.
in making them When amatter up requiring the
expenditure of public money only say We it is only
$4,000 $00O00 and sign petition for the improve
men vote for it. and forget all about until taxpayng te
and then put out of the problem and wonder why
high We make the bills and can't lay the blame our
wives for the extravaganza.
That the cost of running the state by we mean all Of
its branches county and city, far great conceded and
is to apply the remedy But few years ago the cost of
running the state government alone about $00O0OO but
now owing to several things is O00OOO Irrigation pro-
ects and deficits left from last year account for ST.
100000 of this The total state this year. and this
cudes cost of city and county busnes he total of all
taxes collected for all purposes is 1000 and $685.
100000
few years ago the total costof running I'll e as we have
sad about $OOOOOO This year the cost of running Marion
county including the countys portion of the tax $685.
$780, or lacking only $4,000 of million dollars or the sum
needed to run the state a few years ago
This is collected from assessed valuation of S43699 988
and amounts to 23mil tax Of course that high in the
country as the tax is about 35 mills in Salem
Oregon is in country and hence has an expense
that older states have already met and paid and that Incl
dental to development In spite of this it evident that we are
paying too much for being governed We ought controlled
and managed for considerably less than we are paving
which at the rate Of $50 head for every person in the state
each The county courts doing their part keep taxes
down. but you and all Of the guilty parties who keep them
up.
We sign petitions for this and vote for that cheeruv oby
ious Of the job of paying that passing up the county
courts and city officials AS result Of this kind of actions the
city of Salem paying each year $4,000 in interest Part of
this necessary and part not However that is dead
horse and all we do to pay for it, not buy another
We have each boards and commissions more and
useless and than useless officers we have game and
fish commissions costing quarter of million dollars yearly
We have high salaries for all officials and we have spe
ca consabu for the protection pheasants We have too
many working for salaries that should be working for wages We
have thousand small leaks that the aggregate drain the
treasures of state city and county How long will continue
and will get better ?Tha for the people to saw for
they make the bills and they also have pay them is their
pie and they cut it in many pieces they please
The damage case based charges of assault brought bv
woman against the blind senator Thomas Gore of Oklahoma
is doubt the outcome of conspiracy force the senator do
the bidding of certain politicians Enough evidence has been
submitted indicate that such the case and Cores complete
vndcation by the jury seems practically certain An depend
ent legislator Gore has won the nmty of strong
coere of corrupt politicians in the turbulent young state and
they have apparently determined his ruin proceeding that
IA Ig Eatg