Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-01-20
BILL WOULD ABOLISH
TAX Commission
Would Turn It Over to Public
Service COMMISSION
Afternoon Business

A tangible beginning in the difficult
problem of working out an effective
consolidation program was. made Friday
by the senate committees on consolida-
tion of state offices and departments.
Through Senator Dimiek, its chair
man, the committee introduced in the
senate as q substitute for senate bill
| Is, by Barrett, bill to abolish the
state tax commission and confer its
powers and duties ON the public service
commission.
On Senator Dmick IS motion the SEN
ate unanimously suspended the rules
\ and passed the bill to third reading.
This brings it on the calendar Monday
for final passage,
! Passage Of this measure Monday will
give the senate running start on
the house in the way of consolida
tion program The alacrity with
which the senators suspended the rules
to get the bill on the calendar indicated
pretty clearly that they had exactly
this point in mind.
There is still considerable resent
ment among the senators at the re-
fusal of the house to accept the SEN
ate plan for joint senate and house
committee to frame the consolidation
measures and its insistence on sep
arate committee Of its own.
| So far neither house has made any
overtures looking toward joint action
| by the separate commiatees.
| The new Dimick bill, which will
bring the consolidation issue squarely
before the legislature, abolishes the
state tax commission and confers its
powers, duties, authority and fune-
tions on the public service commits
sion. 1t provides that any proceed
ings in which the state tax commits
sion may be engaged at the time it
takes effect shall be completed by the
public service commission, which is
authorized to employ such clerical as
sistance as it may need.
On its face, the proposed consolida-
tion would effect saving of close to
/ 100000 in the coming biennium.
By abolishing the state tax commits
sion, the 100000 appropriation asked in
| the budget for its maintenance in the
next two years would automatically be
/ eliminated. On the other hand, the
public service commission would be at
some additional expense for clerical as
sstance to carry out its new duties.
Members of the senate committee ex-
pressed the belief, however, that only
one or possibly two such assistants
would be needed, at a total cost of not
more than $4,000 or $4,000. for the bien.
mum, as against the $4,000 required
by the state tax commission.
!. 'The consolidation of the tax com
mission with the public service com
mission would seem to be logical
step,' commented Senator Dick to
night. "fThe tax commission valuate,
the property Of corporations anC
equalizes assessents in the counties.
"The public service commission alst
makes physical valuations Of publi
service corporations, a needless dupli
cation at present, SO that this part o
the tax commission work will not en-
tail any additional work on the publ
service commission. 1t will be a small
matter for it to take over the furthe
duty of equalizing assessments.
Afternoon Bills in Senate
S. B. No. liz, by Baldwin. Proyidin
for examination and audit Of count
records.
S. b. No l13 by banking committed
Defining the trust business and proyiC
ing for the Incorporation, organization
liquidation and supervision of trust con
panies and the regulation of banks al
thorized by charter or articles to do
trust business.
s. b. No. ia, by Pierce. Making
unlawful to increase interest rate on
promissory note, mortgage, etc, aft
maturity.
$. b. No lis, by Lewis. Regulatin
Continued on Pare seyen.l