The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-05-29
OREGON SHOULD
CONTINUE TOLElD
By B. L. Eddy.

the election on Jnue to keep in the
hrst rank of forward moving states.
The reconstruction measures N
the ballot are worthy of support.
Ihey mean safe guarding the future
and providing for the steady employ
menteof labor. They mean the
creation of new taxable wealth aud
not the raising of taxation.
i oregon has kept in the first. rank
OF patriotic states.
The reconstruction measures were
placed on the ballot at TIE reouest
oI the statesmen of the l.ation and
after careful consideration by the
legislature.
| The $5,OOO,OOO reconstruction
bonding bill provides:
l. $2,000,00O for reclamation Of
arid, swamp and logged off lands.
provided the Federal Government
ailots Oregon an equal amount. This
money Will be spent in development
or oregon. The expenditure Of
S4,000.000 will create at least 500
0oo'oo0 OF new taxable wealth. 1t
Will create new values to help bear
taxation instead of raising taxes.
since every dollar, principal and in
terest viii be repaid by the settlers.
Soldiers, sailors and marines will be-
given preferential rights under Sec
retary Of the Interior Lanes bill. The
purpose of the constitutional amend
ment and the accompanying measure
is. to enable Oregon to get it's share
OF the Federal appropriation if tha
Lane bill passes.
2. $647, 500 for the Land Settle
ment Commission. This money will
be spent in developing new farm
homes in all parts of the state which
VIII be sold to settlers, the primary
Idea being to provide farms for re-
turning soldiers. These will not be-
given away but will be paid for on
long time, both principal and in
| terest.
3. s2,352,O0O for much needed
public buildings throughout the
state, not to exceed the following:
ne" penltentiary $500, ,000
Reconstruction hospital $4,000
oregon Agricultural College
buildings ----------- 5000
University of Oregon build :.
lngs 100000
ota'e normal School------ 100000
state insane Hospital----- 100000
.Armorles ---------------2 207,50
ota'e ooidlers Home------ $4,000
State Institute of Feeble
Minded ------------- 10000
Ihe Governor and State Board of
Control have promised that these
buildings will not be erected when a
labor shortage exists, and that the
money will be expended only when
conditions as to unemployment ex-'
ist, making it advisable to proceed
With the work in order to give en-
ployment to labor
Thus il will be seen that $2,647.-
900 OF the proposed fund is a per-
manent investment fund to be- repaid
with principal and interest and that
The proposed building depends upon
the necessity arising for employing
surplus Oregon labor.
The six per cent Indebtedness for
permanent roads amendment will
permit Oregon counties to go ahead
with their road building programs.
1t is a local option measure. Counties
will be able to vote road building
bonds up to six per cent of their as
sessed valuations.
The Industrial and reconstruction
hospital amendment will permit the
location of the proposed reconstruc-
ton hospital at Portland.
The state bond payment of ir-
rigation end drainage interest for
the period of five years is designed
to make irrigation and drainage dis
trict bonds salable at par instead of
at runious discounts, The state will
be protected with liens on the land
benefited This measure will mean
the investment of over $20,000,O00
in oregon within the next five years.
The state assures the payment of the
interest on the settlers notes for five
years enabling them to borrow money
at better terms. The principal Is
not guaranteed, This measure means
and the creation of more
farm homes and additional taxable
property.
The Roosevelt Coast Military High
way bill provides $2,50O,0O0 for
state and national highway along
the Coast, provided the Federal
Government appropriates $2,500,00O.
This highway also means the OPEN
ing up of large territory to develop
ment and taxation. No money would
be spent unless the state appropria-
tion was matched by the Federal
The building of this
highway would be equivalent to-
building another railroad in the
state Of Oregon.
The soldiers, sailors and marines