Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-03-27
Careful Appointments

Careful Appointments
my appointments to public Of
flee will continue to be based up
on merit alone, regardless of
personal favor. Few executive
prerogatives are of as vital i'm
portance as the appointive power.
I have exercised it solely for the
welfare of the people and the ad-
vancement of good government. /
pledge for the future the same ex-
ercise of careful Judgment.
Reduction of governmental
costs will be my continued aim. l
have deep confidence in the work
Of the tax investigating commit
tee appointed by this office and
created at my suggestion. This
committee is making systematic,
thorough and state wide investi-
cation Of plans for the establish
ment of more equitable distribu-
tion of tax burdens, and the per-
sonnel of the committee is such
as to warrant confidence in its
findings. l look forward to it's re-
port, knowing something of it's
prospective content, as the initia-
tiOn of a movement which will
point the way to a material re-
duction in tax burdens. l have
called the committees attention
to proposal for a more just as
sessment Of all property, which
in itself will, If enacted into law,
bring about a distinct lessening
of tax burdens in every munich
pality, county or political sub
division, as well as in the state
at large.
Under my direction this COM
mittee will report upon those
mandatory provisions of the laws
which compel tax levies in the
counties and other political sub
divisions A definite plan of re-
duction in this connection will be
submitted to the end that con-
crete and substan tial retrench-
ment may result.
Would Cut Expenses
Under no consideration will /
permit of raising additional rev.
enue for the purpose of securing
additional funds to spend. The
tendency must continue to be
downward In governmental costs
and If nominated and elected l
pledge every effort in me toward
that end.
II have pride in what has been
accomplished in the state institu-
tions during my connection with
their administration. Adequate,
thoughtful care of helpless wards
of the state should be our first
and foremost consideration.
"The penitentiary has been
converted virtually into a new in
stitution. The cry of a few years
ago that new penitentiary was
indispensable to the states well
fare has subsided, because under
the present administration the
old institution has been made fair
ly habitable. Had this result not
been attained unquestionably an
expenditure of half a million dol
lars would have been required for
a new prison. / respectfully call
attention to the further fact that
during my administration the
number of escapes from the peni-
tentiary has been the lowest for
many years, a most desirable con-
dition, particularly during an era
of crime and violence.
"The state board of concilia-
tion, appointees of this office,
started to function during this
administration. am proud of the
record it has made in preventing
number Of major strikes and a
greater number of lesser strikes.
Relations between employers and
employees in Oregon are of the
best. l will oppose any tampering
with the present Cancellation act,
which, l am satisfied, is working
justice to employer and employe
alike, and has done its full share
toward preservation of industrial
peace.
Through the effort and initia-
tive of the present executive,
funds were secured, without in
creasing the taxpayers burden a
single dollar, for the construction
of an entirely new boys training
school to replace the present dis
graceful institution. The new in
stitution, to be constructed and
directed under modern methods,
will effect a reclamation of boys
with a consequent diminution of
penitentiary population which
will mean a permanent annual
saving of many thousands of dol
lars.
"A written pledge has been Sc
cured by me from the state fish
commission that the commercial
interests will ask of the
state no further financial assist
ance for their hatchery work
This places commercial fish prop
agation upon a self sustaining
basis and will reduce appropria-
tions many thousands of dollars