Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-11-28
Moral Obligations

GoVeInor OcOLt is morally obligated by the voters
Portland to call special session of the Legislature to submit
the fair tax bill to the people Of the state The legislature
under the moral obligation the bill and subi
it to the voters says the Oregon Voter BY the same logic
Portland probably that the Of Oregon
morally obligated to vote taxes upon themselves to pay
the Portland exposition, inasmuch as Portland voted s.
! strongly for them to.
However continues the VOTER if the opposition orga
nzes out in the state and organizes strong enough it car
beat the tax The trouble is that the opposition TO tax
measure doesn't know enough organize and campaign
effectively there is little prospect that it will make itself
for much The ants probably vocerae considerably
WIN lew letters to the and then founder doing
nothing effective"
i No effective political campaign can be waged without
money and there is why anyone should spend to
de1eat tax money that his tax would amount
consequently large sums from those slightly benefited
Dy ne defeat OF measure are not and will be forth
coming.
AS there are who will profit directly or indirectly
y ne expenditure OF tax money for any given purpose it is
easy to finance campaign behalf Of any special tax bv
Contributions from those expecting to benefit by it, AS half
e people OF Portland expect to profit from the exposition
etner by selling property catering to transens unloading
on suckers and 80 per cent taxes at ALL easy to
ase large siush 1und TO put the exposition tax
Taxes everybodys business that is every pronerv
owners business and what everybodys business is no.
bodys business epeciay when individual amounts are small
and taxpayers broke The graft from taxation n how
ever somebody's particular business especially when the
gross amounts large and going to be looked after bv
those who expect to profit.
II there is organized campaign to beat the exposition
tne reason IS apparent for farmers and taxpayers gen
orally have no money to spare just the reason for the
and huabaoo to put the exposition over apparent for
SOMEBODY seeks to get something for nothing at
expense.
Yet in spite of the lack of organization and the lack of
ana the lack OF courage in the state to fight
the exposition tax has hard sleddng the
taxpayers are In revolt against the increasing burden
ped upon the producer by the expoer The only moral
oogaon they can see is to swat the tax and the graft
Having discharged the "mora obligation" of obipnqI
promoters by calling special session to pass ha bcL1 ~
he people, the governor under obligation TO the
people TO advocate only such program will best safeguard
public interest and the legislature also under moral ob
ston 10 enact only such legislation as will be beneficial to
taxpayers. i
The people should not be asked buy pig in poke to
put up millions for unknown to spend upon unknown
locations and unknown projects, for the enrichment Of
promoters The people should know just what they are
ouyng who is to handle the money upon what basis it is
70 be handled, and the location of the fair p
Ii the taxpayers put the money the exposition becomes
state institution and should be managed by the The
governor should name the exposition board subject to ap
rova BY the legislature which defines it's duties The
legislature should determine the site for the exposition
nat the people will know definitely who will handle the
money and where it will be spent before voting it's a.
expenditure "
Moreover both executive and legislative branches are
noay obligated to reduce rather than increase taxation
nd to keep taxation from becoming conscatory and there
repe Investment and offset any good the exposition m
light accomplish is therefore up to the governor and sci
gslature to find other of financing the exposi
on than by tax realty and th
arrying the entire load
This can be done by state and state
fots tax during the exposition years by state poll
W. Ahe income TAX would reach those who taxation
real property the profits tax would reach those
no profiteer through the exposition while the poax
oud he fairest and ,ros+ ac,,;t.hlo of ~ ~ 80 p kns
age would contribute equally to the expositionwhch it
declared Will benett everybody without imposing add-
ona burdens the overburdened property owner The
would then ba hnla
th the taxpaying 20 percent. M ner
7
TAHsR q put