The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-10-19
HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, OCT. 10, 1922
.CLAIMOF MR.. PIERCE
PLEA
II Elected Governor II Would Be I'M
possible for Him to Make Good On
Promises Of Reducing Taxes 50
Per Cent.

Walter Pierce, democratic candi-
date for Governor, has succeeded in
creating the impression that If elect
ed governor he can cut taxes in two.
The claim that he can reduce taxes so
per cent Is simply vote-eatchirg ex-
trsyagance upon which to ride into
office. Let US see how much a gov
error has to do with Morrow county
taxes.
The total amount levied on Morrow
county property this year is S456,377.
OF this 76h per cent was levied by
county and local authorities for pub
lie schools, roads, city and town pur-
poses, including the irrigation dis
trict tax of s29,073. How could any
governor cut this local part of the
tax bill in two? Reduction of these
local taxes is up to the voters in the
local districts
When cornred, Mr.. Pierce admits
his so per cent tax cut promise is in
tended to apply to state taxes only.
Let US see how this works out In
Morrow county.
Only 23h per cent of all Morrow
county taxes this year were state
taxes--for soldiers bonus 2h percent,
for market roads 2h percent, for
state aid to elementary schools per-
cent and for state higher educational
purposes 7 percent, the latter includ-
ing the educational aid to the soldiers
and sailors, as well as all the millage
bills and appropriations for Oregon
Agricultural College and University
Of Oregon.
Senator Pierce introduced several
Of these tax measures and supported
all Of them Which ones will he cut
out?
The balance Of the state tax, 6A
percent of the total Morrow tax bill,
goes mainly to support institutions
caring for the insane and other afiiict-
ed, besides paying expenses of state
government. Even if Mr.. Pierce cuts
this amount in two he would reduce
Morrow county's tax bills only per-
cent; yet even this amount could not
be cut in two without turning insane,
feeble minded, orphans and other de-
pendents, out upon the public for
charity.
The claim that taxes can be reduced
so percent or any other substantial
amount, by governor or through his
influence, is so preposterous that 1t is
obviously intended only for campaign
purposes.
The problem of taxation is mainly
local one, up to the people Of the
various taxing districts.
OF the total tax bill Of Oregon this
year, s4o,473,906, only % percent OF
ss.S73,375s, was levied as state taxes.
This amount included soldiers bonus
millage necessary for soldiers loan
bond redemption, market road mill
age, millage for state aid to elemen-
tary schools and all the millage and
appropriations for state educational
institutions, including the soldiers
educational aid.
Only s2,5l4,0S0, or 8 percent of all
taxes paid in Oregon this year, were
for general state purposes outside of
roads and education, while 81 percent
were taxes voted by the people Of the
state. or of local taxing districts, or
for purely local expenses under con-
troll of the people of each county and
locality
As State Senator, Mr.. Pierce in
troduced more bills than any other
member Of the kind that increases
taxes. He voted for practically every
appropriation and millage bill that
came up and has caused high taxes by
his bills and votes more than any
other member of the legislature in
the state Of Oregon in 20 years.