Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-01-23
CONCERNING TIGHT WADS


Under the caption Tight Wad Committee" the
Oregon Voter INDUCES in a light vein in some comments
on the individual characteristics Of the make up Of the
Ways and Means committees of the senate and house
As example Of persiage and badinage it is as is most
of the Voters comments IN that line both instructive ana
amusing. However, injustice is done Marion coun-
tvs hard headed senator Alec LaFolete After discuss
ing that senator's ideas Of economy it says of him that
"n fact he objects to paying any taxes at ALL AS mat
ter of fact LaFoette is Of the heaviest taxpayers IN
the county, and he looks upon the paying OF taxes just as
he does money ne spends in his private business II
is not the paying Of taxes that Alec objects to- but the
paying of unnecessary taxes lie wants the people to get
real equivalent for the money they pay in the shape Of
taxes just he wants value received for money he eX
pends himself.
Anyone who will take a look at the splendid peach
orchards the well kept barns and buildings on the Lato
ette farms will realize that he spends his money freely
to get the best and to produce the best At the same
time he does not waste dollar.
When he spends dollar he wants 100 cents IN return
He has the same old fashioned ideas about public business
He wants the state to get value received for every dollar
it expends especially il it eXpends it on his advice and
with his help.
AS to this trait the state would be better off if there
were more legislators as careful about state expenditures
as is Alec LaFoette 1t is possible the other members OF
the senate committee on Ways and Means are as tight
Wads" as LaFoette but the picture OF the committee
with: "medals for stnginess adjoining their chests
trophies of defunct institutions ornamentng their
triumphs scalps of asSassnated salaries dangng from
their belts and the blood OF slaughtered approplatons
about the statement that he dead Slightly eXag-
gerated" 1t may be correct picture Of what will be at
the end of the session. but at present 1t premature 30
far there are no scaps and sign of blood while the
dead institutions and slaughtered appropriations are not
in evidence Instead the institutions are not only alVe
but camoros the salaries far have not been touched
and the appropriations going to take every cent the
law allows the legislature to make even with the SIX per
cent increase over last year The truth Of the matter is
that the Ways and Means committees of the two houses
are up against the real thing They have the job Of par
ing cutting down and perhaps doing some assassinang
on the side, that they not hankerng after They
have the Job of cutting somewhere and no matter where
it il the institution board commission or even useless
craft that feels the knife gets the axe will become
yocferous in condemnation and soul narrowing in it's
uuations Whatever the committees do they will be the
arge for all the dead cats and rotten eggs to speak,
Of the English language The committees are up against
it and matter what they do they will be in the condi
ton described in the old rhyme
you shall and you shant,
You must and you can't,
You will and you won't
You'll be damned if you do
And be damned of you don't"