The Nespelem tribune. [volume] (Nespelem, Wash.) 1934-1936, 1936-02-13
MARTIN LAUDS
SALES TAX PLAN
ON COUNTY TRIP
Governor Says Tokens Have Aided
Schools, Relief And
Pensions
Many Hear Speech
Banker Tells Of Future Of State
As Result OF Reclamation
Program

The part played by improved
highways in knitting together the
interests Of scattered areas In the
state, the work accomplished toward
unemployment and old age relief,
and financial problems of the state
were discussed by Governor Clar-
ence D. Martin in the chief address
OF the evening at the joint meeting
of the Okanogan and Omak COM
mercial clubs held at the Cariboo
Inn in Okanogan Friday night.
E. F. Banker, director of conser-
walton for the state, spoke on the
program for development and con-
Servation of resources now being
undertaken by state agencies and Of
the plans for expansion of the pro-
gram.
Many Speakers
Other speakers during the even
ing were Lacey Murrow, director Of
highways, who spoke on the opera
tons of the highway department.
Murrow explained the methods en-
ployed by his department. in build
Ing and maintaining the network
OF state highways.
H. A. Davis. prosecuting attorney
for Okanogan county, spoke on the
scout movement in the county and
gave a resume Of the IS years Of
scout activity in observance of the
quarter century anniversary now in
progress. DAVIS introduced the
members of the Okanogan scout
troops who acted as doorkeepers at
the banquet.
Senator Horace E. Smith and
Representative John Jones spoke
on the amicable relations that
maintain between the legislators at
Olympia and the executive depart
ment.
Welcome Governor
.l Mayor Otto Wagner of Qkanogan
delivered the address of welcome to
the governor. Harley Health, pres
ident Of the Okanogan Commercial
club, presided as POSTMASTER for the
occasion and introduced the speak
erS.
Stressing the need for enlarge
ment OF the states responsibility In
caring for the aged and unemploy-
able, Governor Martin explained
the function of the state sales tax
in providing funds for pensions,
schools, unemployment relief and
maintainence of state institutions.
The governor pointed out that the
state has taken over the care of the
INDECENT aged only since July /,
1885 and that the sales tax has en-
abled the state to pay pensions av-
eraging $40 per month to $4,000 old
people already.
The state Is not seeking to CEN
tralize the functions of government
at Olympia, he said, but it has been
necessary for the state to step in
and take over many of the activities
formerly accomplished by the coun-
ties simply because the counties in
numerous instances have been UNI
able to finance themselves through
the avenues of taxation open to
them.
Helping Counties
With the 10 mill limitation,
part of which necessarily went to
schools, there have been many
cases where counties have been
totally unable to give proper care
to indigents, to hospitalize public
charges, to supply their share Of re-
lief, or in some instances even to
maintain the operating costs OF the
county governments.
The governor 1auded the state of
washington for having been the
first to foster the old age pension
movement, citing the founding of
the Eagles lodge in Seattle as the
first step toward plan for caring
for aged persons. He stated that
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