Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-11-21
Let the Taxpayer DO HAW.

IA/CI EsTO Il SIAE/CV.VOE A>N - ~
The s2OOOO0 exposition carried the special election
in Portland by of 27 Ill to 6685 approximately tt
I. nasmuch the exposition boomers declared that S0
of the voters Of Portland not taxpayers and openly
solicited their votes the ground of soaking the property
owners the election result shows that the appeal sue
cessfu and only those who not taxpayers favored the
exposition.
make it unanimous" was the slogan of the department
store managers of the exposition campaign but election
that polls practically taxpayer in the city against the
fair is long from being unanimous the $685. votes
poed show.
When the legislature asked to endorse the exposition
last winter it assured by the promoters that it would
be financed by Portland 1t not until September that
the promoters after years consideration decided to ask
the people to put up the money 1t then proposed
to ask Portland to special leves to raise $2000O00
When this amount of taxation had been assured business
men Of Portland would subscribe $100000O and thereby
secure the handling of the tax funds Then with $4,000
assured the to be asked to call special session
of the legislature to submit the people the voting of
$3,0OO000 special state taxes for the exposition.
Now that the Portland voters have readily approved
the special city levy for $200000 plans have been changed
again, and in Portland is to be asked to put up
nickel for the exposition unless the taxpayers of the state
vote the additional $3000,0O0 first In other words
$5,OO000O must be assured from taxpayers before the
promoters raise 81 by private subscription to finance the
exposition
The Portland promoters and benefciares are not rskng
cent of money-and for all that is apparent may never
put cent of money to obtain the expenditure of SIS 00
OO0 by the taxpayers of Oregon for exposition scheme de-
signed to enrich realty boomers site owners hotels and
traffic lines, while the property hold the sack
Ihere may have been raWer deals pulled ofbut never
before in the exposition line Just why the governor should
obge the boomers by forcing the expense of
special session the people in these hard tme beyond
comprehension The exposition is not emergency not
necessity and the taxpayers get along without it.
Ii special session is called the legislature will not have
the courage of it's convictions and turn down the appropra
ton should but pass the buck by putting up to the
people Then will have state wide repetition of the
hot air wind ammng hulabaloo to induce the nontax
payers to soak the property that met with such
signal success in the Portland city election
Following the bond election the Oregonian publishes al
page advertisement captioned Portland is financial cen
ter" which declares
PORTLAND is =
to
other city west of the Mississippi.
has always been known the
northwest.
has played part financing
enterprises in the Pacific northwest.
Portland s the preeminent bond and
Pacific northwest.
Portland bond houses
In ~
conservative investment pur-
outside banks in Portland and the state
100000.
How does it happen then that this wealthy city, this city
If millions of surplus wealth. this metropolis with 000
700 of invested elsewhere does not finance it's
air but wants the overburdened taxpayer to put up the
money?
There only logical reason and that is that Portland
capital and Portland business have faith the expo
on and refuse to sink their money in wildcat venture
Unable to the money from Portland capitalists the
exposition promoters have devised the scheme of having the
foot the blsand therefore the latter baks
here will he no expOSitOn n