Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-01-12
lMembers OF the LegisIature:

uutyJ hS IL ID my pressure, 10 duufeSS
to you upon this occasion a message Of
greeting, and, some measure, of sugges-
tiOn relative to the welfare of the state.
"At this time, with the recent cleo
tion still fresh in mind, desire to ex-
press to the people CT Oregon, through
you, their representatives, my sincere
and gratitude for their ac-
tion in selecting me as their chief ex-
ecutive. The realization of the support
and loyalty of my friends, demOnstrat-
ed at the polls, will always be among
the happiest reeollections of my life.
"But, while appreeiating to the ut.
most degree the honor conferred upon
me, l am equally aware of the respon-
sibilities that accompany it, and the
besetting the position which
| have been called to fill And, there.
fore, it is with noGhing of the pride Of
attainment, but rather with real hui
mility, that | face you at this time Vt
realizing fully the diff
culties that confront me, and desiring
only that strength and wisdom may be
Forthcoming so that the people of Ore
gon shall have just cause for satisfac-
tion at the record Of their governor.
To prove worthy of the confidence re.
posed in me is my sole desire.
"lt is your duty to provide new leg
islation and amend existing laws for
the well-being of the people who have
sent yon here. In all your deliberations
| would urge upon you one paramount
consideration, namely, that you con
stantly remember you are building not
solely for today, but for the future. Let
the record of this session be one of for.
ward-looking legislature. Oregon is but
in ner infancy, AMI more than all else
she leeds sound assistance in the de-
velopment Of the resources Nature has
given her. All that will tend to in.
crease the productivity Of her fields, her
forests, her streams, and her factories,
now and in the future, deserves your
enthusiastic attention; and all that is
bound around with petty trafficking or
sectional antagonism merits naught
from you but disapproval.
cat the outset, desire you to un-
derstand that 1 appear here today seek.
ing no personal favOrs, and with no in.
clination to exceed the proper limita.
tions of my office. In short, have no
pet measures and have no intention
of exerting such power as my position
may give to influence you unduly.
There exists, then, no desire on my part
to interfere with Nthe legitimate func.
tions Of this Legislature. On the other
hand, it seems to me the unqualified
duty of the governor to take full adj
vantage of his position to express dis
approval of legislative action, should
necessity demand, using his prcrogative
not as weapon Of dictatiol, but solely
to safeguard the public interest.
'ln this connection, venture to
point out the dangers Of postponing leg.
islation until the closing hours Of the
session, when colfusion must result
from its haphazard consideration. It
occurs 70 me further that convenience
to the legislature aud ultimate profit
to the taxpayers would result from the
adoption Of a rule providing that all
appropriation bills be presented not
later, say, than the twentieth day Of
the session.
"While Oregon in a great measure
has been dissipating ner governmental
authority among an increasing number
of officials, the trend Of scientific leg
islation elsewhere has been in the oppo.
site direction. Capitalization of admin.
istration and responsibility is becoming
more and more universal; and, appar.
emily, with success.
"Unless initiated too drastically, or
carried beyond the bounds Of good .udg-
mcnt, steps toward reasonable central.
ization in no wise merit classification
as impractical, The tendency has prov.
ed its wCth in actual operation. There.
fore, deem il wise to express the opin.
ion chat Oregon 3 legislation in the fu.
ture should be guided by the general
rule that Capitalization is desirable in
the administration Of state government.
Z" In this connection / think II highly
fitting that in several instances offices
which are now elective should becom,
appnntivG. The virtues of such n
change are Capitalization Of responsible.
ty and n shorter ballot, which, under
our system, are practically desirable.
" Economy probably is the keynote Of
this Twenty.eighth legislative session;
1t was the dominant factor in pre.elee.
tion pledges, and II now devolves upol
us to see that these promises are put
into practice. All that concerns expcn.
dituro merits your most painstaking nt'
tentiOn. The principle upon watch We
should act when state money is concern,
ed is the same as If that money were
our own; we sholld insist upon receiv.
ing one hundred cents Of value for ev.
cry dollar expended Doubtless such
advice is haclSneyed, and PERHAPS il
sav1rs of pedantry-but, nevertheless
II Is disregard of just such a principle
that too often discredits public admin
istration. So | respectfully submit the
thought, assuring you that SO far as ]
am concerned IL will be my sole guide
in whatever connection may have with
the governmental expenditures.
Annual, or continuing, approprla
tions have come to be regarded widely
as unbusinosslike. | heartily approve
the suggestion that the policy Of max
ing appropriations continuous cease
with the exception Of the state 5 edu
catlolal institutions, whose interest,
can be served best where stated an
nual income is assured and constructive
plans adapted to the amount dofinitel,
available Further, our educational in
stitutions should be relieved Of the ne
cessity Of biennial campaigns for fund,