Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-04-06
TAX REV|SERS
WOULD SCRAP
old SYSTEM
Proposed Measure Seeks
To Relieve Burden On
Farm Land by Taxing
Business Enterprises

Complete reorganization of the
state tax system to life the bur-
den from the shoulders of the far
mer and shift the larger share OF
it onto the industries and other
commercial enterprises is the pur-
pose of an initiative measure now
being drafted for submission to
the voters of Oregon at the Mo-
vember election by sub-commit-
tee of the state tax reducNon
clubs. q
The measure is the outgrowth
of the meeting Of the committee
of seven Of the tax clubs, here yes
terday, and will provide, among
other things for:
Three Changes Advocated
1. Classification of farm lands
for taxation purposes into three
or four classes with assessed val
uations to be fixed on basis OF
rental values.
Q. Increase of the assessed val
Iuation of the state from $1,000
600, 0,000 to $3,000,000,000 by in
, creasing the assessed valuations
of manufacturing and industrial
plants, commercial stocks, water
and electric power enterprises,
with the exception Of public util-
tiles.
| 8. Reduction of the millage tax
of 1.2 mills for the support OF
state institutions OF higher learn
ing to z Of a mill.
II These are but the fundamental
provisions Of the proposed meas
ure, which is yet in its embryo
r stage. The details are yet to be
e worked out and written into form
! for submission to the committee
of seven, to be called to meet in
K Portland some time next week.
: Bill a Compromise
= With some notifications, the
nature OF which are not definitely
known, the proposed measure is
the one laid before the committee
of seven yesterday by Chris Schue-
bel, and accepted only after a
= compromise agreement on some OF
+ its provisions had been reached
by the committee, which delegat-
= ed the task of rounding the pro-
posal into final form to sub
p committee consisting Of ]. d.
Brown, Mr. Schuebel and A,
~ Slaughter.
Whatever may be. It's reception
by the voters, the suggested meas
ure marks the first constructive
effort on the part of the tax reduc'
tion clubs to solve the tax prob
: lem. Heretofore their proposals
have all been destructive in natur'
= and directed toward complet'
I elimination of the millage tax fo
. the support of the higher educa
> tional institutions, and the in
- discriminate reduction Of stat
office salaries.
- The proposal that the millag
y tax be simply reduced, and tha
u the assessed valuation OF the stat
- be trebled, indicates a complet
reversal in the attitude of the ia
d reducers toward the state uni
OF versity and agricultural colleg'
Should the proposal be approve
On by the voters 1t would increas
OF rather than reduce the amount {
OF money available for the colleg
as and university. Observers see !
Ill the millage bill rider to the meai
nd ure an attempt to enlist the sui
port of the friends Of higher edi
p- cation for the tax revision NOV
ms ment, and proponents of the mea
lal ure admit they will seek the el
est dorsement of the entire measul
re- by the university and college SUI
n porters.
'm Proposals Defended.
Defense of the tax revision pr
posals to be included in the mea
ure were voiced yesterday In arg