East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-12-23

TIME view of the Capital-Journal of Salem regarding the
legislative session is provided in the following clear cut
editorial by George Putnam, owner of that publication:
"The truth is that no sentiment existed outside OF Portland
for a special session. On the contrary, there was and is vide
spread opposition both to the calling of the session and to the
purpose for which it was called-the voting OF a tax to pay for
an exposition. The fact that this opposition was unorganized
has not in the least prevented its effectiveness,
portland has long considered herself Oregon and figured
she had but to demand and the state would comply. Her eX-
position promoters figured that they had but to command and
the legislature would obey-illusions now in Il way to be dis
PEELED.
"Since the state surrendered to Portland leadership, the av-
erage levy rate for state taxes has increased from 1.5G mills in
1912 to 9.39 mills, the levy rate for 1922 taxes.
"This is an increase of over 500 per cent, without figuring
anything for a Portland exposition.
"In 1907 state taxes totalled $625,000. In 1912 they had
grown to 81, 385,616. In 1921 they had jumped to $~9,493,l05
while in 1922 the people must pungle up ~$9,5S7,255 to pay for
the dance of the taXeaters.
"These figures alone convince the taxpayers of the state
that the time has arrived to call a halt and clamp the lid down
that another million a year for three years must not be eX-.
acted for an exposition or any other cause lest taxation spell
confiscation.
ut is as unfair to the auto owner as it is to the property
owner to make him pay for Portlands merry-goround, Tn
motorist is already paying for the paved ROADS and their mainte-
nance and further mulcting by means OF a gasoline sale tax is
penalizing.
Nor is it possible, in the limited time of the session to pre-
pare a satisfactory income tax bill to finance the fair, An in
come tax is not the need Of Oregon-it will merely dig up more
money to further initiate the cost of government.
"As a matter of fact, no tax can be conjured for an EXPOSE
ton that will not be discriminating and unfair, because it iSspe-
cial legislation in behalf of special interests and a special local
lty at public expense.
IF we are to have an exposition, it should be financed as all
other expostionS have been, privately and by its benefcarieS.
Other cities have had no difficulty in raising money, but Port
land made no effort to so finance her proposed exposition or to
enlist the support of the state in such tinancng-because it was
easier to soak the taXpayer-or the fair boomers thought it
was
What Portland does not realize is that most sections of the
state consider it immaterial whether a fair is held in Portland
or not. Some portions would reap benefits from travel to the fair
but most of the state would actually lose in dollars and cents be-
cause Of the vast amount of hard earned coin that would flow
from the various regions into Portland.
~.~S*-S--~~~.
Reports show that the paper manufacturers are now appeal
ing to the senate finance committee for protection against inn
ports from Germany and scandinavian countries. They assert
the paper business is being ruined. However. the cost of news
print in America at this time is about double the pre- war price
so 1t will be hard for any publisher to agree with the alarm eX-i
pressed by the manufacturers.
But why should the United States get into a bad strategic
position with reference to Japan when by the simple process of
joining the League of Nations we could place the Japs whore we
want them?
Meanwhile if the legislators want to get home for Christmas
they'll have to hurry.