The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1922-04-14
PIERCE HOLDS VETO
POWERS IS FOR USE
NOT FOR ORNAMENT
Democratic Candidate For Gov
ernor Would Put a Crimp In
Taxes But Not Schools

Walter M. Pierce, in filing his Of
ficial declaration as candidate for
the Democratic nomination for COVER
nor, issued the following statement,
or platform, outlining the principles
upon which he seeks the nomination.
/ hold that governor is given the
veto power for the use and not for
ornamental purposes. The conditions
under which the governor is clothed
with the veto place on him one third
of the responsibility for legislation,
good or bad. As governor, would
consider myself bound by official
oath to meet that responsibility by
vetoing all appropriations and bills
that seemed out of harmony with
sound economy and good state policy.
The growing cost of government is
partly due to the increasing insist
ence that we be more and more
governed. We have created salaried
officials for this and salaried officials
for that, until the official class has
become a minority so powerful that
it largely dictates policies and con-
trolls government. Some official is al
most constantly at the citizens elbow.
The cost of government can be made
less by wedding out the superfluous
functionaries and turning out time
servers and inefficients. As govern
or, would do all in my power to rid
the public payrolls of parasites and
political henchmen.
Serious as is the tax situation in
Oregon, there is way to remedy it.
1t is true that high taxes are caus-
ing many people to lose their homes,
are robbing farm and many other
realty owners Of the fruits Of their
labor and are a heavy handicap to
business and industry. That the pow
er to tax is the power to destroy is
a truth that should be realized by
those placed in control Of state, coun-
ty and municipal government in this
state, otherwise the state tax roll
which has increased 521 per. cent in
10 years threatens to extinguish pro-
perty rights.
Even at the present depressed val
ues there is at least $2,OOO,000, 900
worth Of property in Oregon. Our
total assessment roll is only $1,020,-
100000, leaving at least $1,000, ,000,-
900 worth of property in Oregon pay
ing little or no share in the burden
of state government. This untaxed
wealth is mostly invested in foreign
securities, non-taxable bonds and 9TH
er income yielding enterprises.
No state has ever found any form
of assessment that can reach this
class Of property. except through the
form of an income tax. No state
. reaches it today by direct taxation.
We cannot experiment in the face Of
the present serious situation. We
must act---if homes are to be saved.
Therefore, I favor an income tax that
will definitely make net incomes, both
/. personal and corporate, bear one half
Of the burdens of state government
Such an income tax should bear more
heavily on unearned incomes than up
on earned incomes.
The revenues from such tax would
lift good part of the tax burden of
farms and other real sproperty, and
cause it to be carried by intangible
wealth that now pays little or no tax.
es. In no case should this new reve-
nue. be used in making new expendi.
lures.
I introduced in the Oregon state