Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-01-12

eney board has permitted the issu-
ance of certificates of Indebtedness in
the rura of slo,00O.00, that law en-
torement worK may be further car
ried on by the executive office. Also
an authorization of 100000 was
made for the Grain Department OF
the Public Service Commission. If
nat appropriations were made in
these amounts interest payments like
wise could be avoided on certificates
or Indebtedness in such sums.
In making the appropriations men
toned it is necessary for YOU to know
that funds will be available so that
you will not infringe upon the pro-
VISIONS of the per cent tax limita-
ION amendment AT the time of pre-
pairing this message it was impossible
OF ascertain just the amount that
would be available for your dlsposi-
ion owing to the fact that figures
were not obtainable from all sources.
II is the intention of the secretary
or states office, however, to have as
nearly exact figures as possible for
| y
committee at an early date this week
From pure estimates made at the
time of the preparation of this mes
sage it seemed likely there would be
from $300,000.00 to $500, 100000 ac-
cessible from various sources during
the current year, which could be
drawn upon by legislative appropria-
tion without violating either the
spirit or the letter of the per cent
limitation amendment
State Guarantee of Irrigation Bond
Interest
Article Nib of the constitution
was adopted at the special election
held on June 4, 1919, and provides
for the payment by the state of inter-
est on irrigation and drainage district
bonds for any one or more of the
; first five years after their issuance
The Irrigation Securities Commission,
composed of the attorney general,
superintendent of banks, and the
state engineer have encountered many
, obstacles in the operation Of the pro-
. visions of the amendment, and while
a number of changes could be made
to advantage, it being constitutional
amendment, it can not be changed
by statute. However, it can be sup
plementei by legislation to advantage.
In order to pay the interest on uls-
trict bonds, the state is authorized to
issue state bonds and it seems to
have been the intent of the constitu-
tional amendment that irrigation and
drainage districts should advance to
the state each year sufficient funds
to meet the interest on the state
bonds, in order that the state may
! stand in a position or guarantor of
interest on the district bonds with
out expense to it. However, no defi-
mite provision covering this feature
was included in the amendment.
The constitutional amendment also
requires the district to deposit with
the state treasurer certificates of in
debtedness, which bear interest at 6
per cent per annum, both principa
: and interest payable after the irriga-
ton or drainage district bonds have
been paid off
A statute should therefore be en-.
acted authorizing the irrigation ant
drainage districts to enter into ar
agreement with the state to advance
to the state semi-annually the inter
est on state bonds, the proceeds OF
which are used to pay interest on dis
trict bonds, and should also provide
that the funds so advanced may bt
credited on the interest accruing OF
: the districts certificate of indebted
4
. Theh Irrigation Securities Commits
sion should also be fully authorized
to enter into such a contract in order
! that any question as to the legality
= Of such proceedings be eliminated.
L It may be desirable to frame
: new constitutional amendment, SO al
I to eliminate the Objectionable feature
of the present amendment. Th'
only result of a failure to adopt suel
! an amendment would be TO leave th'
u present amendment in effect.
! Capital Punishment
Since the adjournment of the reg
ular session in 1919 wave Of Grim
has swept over the country. Oregon
has suffered from this crimina
blight and during the past fey
q months the commission of numbe
of cold blooded and fiendish homi
cides has aroused our people to
demand for greater and more Ger
tain protection. OF all our asset
that demand protection and conser
walton. none is greater in value thar
, human life. The first object of ou
! laws should be for its protection ant
: for that reason l am submitting L
= you at this time some recommends
tions relative 10 our criminal am
penal codes which i trust will hav
most careful consideration.
Because of a series of dastardt
, homicids1 offenses a distinct publ
sentiment has developed that III
people OF the state should once NOR
be given an opportunity TO pass upo
the question of the restore ion o
capital punishment and that ther
should be no unnecessary delay q
u bringing this questions before tn
!. electorate.
Because of this urgency / am tax
ing the liberty Of suggesting that tn
matter of repeating the present con
!, stitutional inhibition on capital pun
ishment and enacting such amend
ments to our organic law in that re
d gard as may be deemed proper b
submitted TO a vote Of all the peopl
, Of the state at a special election b
= held in connection with the regula
!, primary elections on Friday, May 81
Of this year.
At my request the attorney genera
c has examined into the legality %
9 holding such special election on p