The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-10-26
PIERCE PRESENTS
TAX EVIL REMEDY
Having Been Smoked Out" Demo-
cratic Candidate Tells How Desired
Results VIII Follow His Election
As Governor.


Having stumped practically the en-
tire state, Walter NJ. Pierce, candid
ate on the Democratic ticket for gov.
ernor, has stated that he would eat
taxes in half, II elected, and also
dealt in many high sounding phrases
and meaningless generalities, but has
never said just what he would do to
bring about the result that everyone
would be pleased to see. He now, at
this late date, comes forth with the
following.
By WALTER M. PIERCE
Democratic Candidate for Governor
When l am governor | promise to
advocate and demand economy in
every department of state government
SO that taxes will be reduced to the
lowest possible point consistent with
good government. To this end ! will
use the veto unsparingly.
One great difficulty today is that
one half the property of Oregon is ex-
empt from taxation, the timber In the
forest reserves being a conspicuous
example. The only income from the
reserves is the rentals from stockmen
for grazing, Of which 65 percent goes
into the federal treasury. hold that
since no tax Is derived from this vast
body Of timber all the rentals from
grazing should go into the treasury Of
Oregon to compensate for the vast
body of taxable property held by the
federal government out Of taxation.
As governor would use the prestige
of the Office in a movement with other
governors and delegations in congress
to bring this about. This change
would produce about $3.50, 900 year
new revenue, thereby lessening to
that amount the burden on property
now taxed.
FOR SEVERANCE TAX
Practically one third Of the stand
ing timber in the state Of Oregon is
In the forest reserves and pays no
tax. Under the persent law. this tim
ber will be cut off. leaving blaekened
stumps of untaxable property, and be
shipped out Of Oregon without pay
only is Oregon being made poorer by
only Oregon being made poorer by
the removal OF this timber, but the
natural beauty and scenery of the
state is being marred. A severance
tax collected as this timber Is cut
and shipped would be large source
of revenue. A big body of such tim
ber is now contracted by the federal
government to people from distant
states. and ii will be removed with
out paying any tax unless severance
tax is at once imposed. As governor
would do all In my power to levy
such tax on all timber taken from
the forest reserves.
While one half of the property of
Oregon is exempt from taxation
much Of the other half is paying
little or no tax because it is invested
in shares of stock, bonds and pro-
perty hidden away from the assessor.
This leaves but part Of the taxable
property to bear the entire cost Of
government This property which
bears the terrific burden consists Of
farms, cattle, horses, city buildings
and homes.
DIRECT TAX HIGH
In 1921 there was raised by direct
taxation in this state SO ,493, Jos, an
average of almost 9h mills on the
taxed. This is the highest d.
rect property tax levied in the United
States for state purposes. 1t consti-
tutes nearly one half Of most Of the
farmers taxes and in the city it often
means fourth of the entire tax.
In Minnesota in 1920, the direct
property tax for state purposes was
81 ,667,4 7,42S, which Is about one sixth of
what Oregon property owners were
called upon to pay for state purposes,
and yet the assessed value Of taxable
property in Minnesota is two and
half times that Of Oregon. Minnesota
raised the balance of her state reve-
nue. from indirect sources, viz: A 8
per cent gross earnings tax from pub
lie service corporations and 25 cents
per ton tax upon iron ore mined in
the state.
California in 1921 raised s33,768,-
1884 for state purposes. This money
was all raised from indirect sources,
viz: From fees and from gross
earnins tax upon public service cor
porations. Farmers and property
owners in California were not called
upon to pay direct any Of this $780,
768,8S4.
Wisconsin, in 1921, raised by direct
taxation only s7,9S1 asa for state pur-
poses, and yet the assessed value OF
taxable property in Wisconsin Is four
times that Of Oregon. The balance Of
her state expenses was raised by fees
and by taxes on net incomes.
In Oregon we can relieve the prop
erty owners by collecting large part
of the cost Of state government from
similar sources, viz: (l) tax on net
incomes; (2) severance tax; (3) a
tax on gross earnings Of public SER
vice corporations | favor such a pro-
gram in this state and under the
guarantee that any tax derived from
new sources shall not be used for
, 1,,,A Ia tain