The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1921-02-24
The Key to the Tax Problem

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and over again in Oregon and Wash
ington. The advice is more applica-
bic in Oregon than in our sister
state.
Mr., Moultons point is that the
remedy for tax burdens in the north
west is to delevop our resources,
such as irrigation and hydro electric
power, thereby charging the amount
of asSeSsable property.
Speaker Louis E. Bean Of the
Oregon house Of representatives,
made the same point at the meeting
held in Pendleton on February 5.
The East OregoHilH has on many &C
casions made the same argument in
slightly different words BY urging
that Ola Man Oregon should get to
work and reduce the tax rate by in
c~reasing the states wealth. If we
cannot reduce the divisor let us in
crease the dividend has been this
newspapers slogan and it brought
from a Portland paper the charge Of
being a champion of high taxes,
which charge is not true.
To solve any problem il is first
necessary to properly analyze the
fundamental conditions involved.
This the ultra conservatives who de-
vote their time to mere futile CON-
plant about taxes fail to do. They
assume that the state is e~xtravagant
and cities and counties likewise.
They are in error, Government in
Oregon is on a parsimouiouS basis
and there is abundant evidence TO
prove il. We should frankly accept
the fact and turn TO the one true
remedy for high taxes which is more
development and more production.
The Umatilla rapids project will
illustrate the point. The estimated
cost Of developing power at the rap,
ids is S20,500,000 though the cost
at this time would doubtless be larg-
er. But it is estimated that land thai
may be watered through use of pow
er for pumping purposes will pro-
duce $50, 900 in crops annually
a sum equal to more than half the
total assessed wealth of Umatilla
county. 1t is idle to predict what the
irrigable land would be worth when
reclaimed but il would add colossal
wealth to the tax rolls Of Oregon and
Washington. That is a certainty, On
top of that would be the continuous
hydro electric power that would be
developed and which would be avail.
able for industrial purposes. 1t may
be safely asserted that the continu.
Gus horse power, measured in terms
of coal at less than present prices.
would be worth from 100000 tC
S25, 100000 annually. There is en-,
cheering authority for this state
ment.
To develop the Umatilla rapids
project would mean to lower living
costs, lower industrial costs, includ-
ing the cost Of farming; ii would re.
duce railroad expenses and freight
rates proportionately; it would light.
en- the taxpayers burden not by re-
ducing gross expenditures but by re.
ducing miIlage taxation through in.
Creasing assessable wealth. This /.
the true and only remedy for the tax
problem in an undeveloped region
This state, and in a lesser degree the
state Of Washington is in the same
category, is situated much like a far.
mer who has but one-third Of his
land under cultivation. Finding him.
self hard pressed he must either cut
expenses or increase his gross in
come He cannot reduce operating
expenses because those expense;
are based on conditions beyond his
control. Naturally his course is &c
bring the remaining two-thirds of his
land under cultivation. He must
look to development rather thar
economy,
Oregon is in exactly the plight OIL
such a farmer. We are making use
Of less than one-third the potentia'
wealth Of the state. We must draw
on our unused resources and make
them produce just as must the far.
mel Just referred to. There woulC
he no sympathy for a complaining
farmer who failed to farm two-third;
Of his land Why should a slothfuI
state be entitled to different consid.
Grafton?
Development must be the slogan
for the northwest. We should take
the constructive, affirmative course
not a policy of negation. The rem.
edy for the tax problem is at hand il
We want to use it. We had cleal
counsel from Speaker Bean on Feb.
ruary s and from Representative
Moulton at Walla Walla last Satur
day, If that idea can be presset
home throughout Oregon and Wash
ington we will arouse a sentimen
that will assure development no
only Of the Umatilla rapids projec
but Of other enterprises that will
bring this region into its own.-Pen
dlcton East OfegoHian.