Oregon Tax Payer from Albany, Oregon • 1

D3 A MONTHLY REVIEW OnEGOIJ PROBLEMS BY HECTOR MACPHERSON VOLU1ZS It Yzr ALJLirr, orjxjon, hay, x3 manship, he will suffer a terrible tax pr.it:irj STILL PUZZLSJG V0IIE1D K3 mCIZLATIVE GLL G.TK33 A LARG3 GOBT dlsllluslcnment by actual contact with the inside workings of the legislative mill. hcriteo, hcsr5, end in-tibhi 'xut these have dl cd f'iert cf cspseta-ticrj tVt the cte property tax wa rfrin The cpeeial of the lerr- The general progress of the Tax Burden Heavy and Delinquency state, or the greatest good to the greatest number of her citizens, iskturo wa3 in the ho-e that came wayto'avoid the gen- mere js notmng prceent property tax might be de-Oregon financial situation which yfcad. Tho attempt was a total are seiaom aecisive ractors determining the fate of a bill. They are appealed to as a matter of course. But it is freauent- r.laay Feelers Determine Character of Output During the last session of the Oregon legislature there came before the niembers for consideration 955 bills.

Of these, 598 were introduced in the-house, and 357 in the senate. In addition there were 50 house and senate resolutions. 55 house and ly the most vicious legislation that inspires the most impassioned pleas and appeals to state 1 A A pnue anu imencan pamotism. Legislative Fcctcrs and Forces Many and Conflicting. Among the multitude of in- snouia 03 pcyuna me corapre- f-jiurc, and on went the tax.

iiension of the average citizen of M. voting age. It is our contention Tcs Ptejci After every intelligent voter should additional nine week of reg-make a conscientious effort to war cion, marked by con-undetfctand at least come such a pnt dieepon pf the tax prob-brief summary aa is here pre- the lejfchtoe finally set-sented. tied upon tax' as a tem- a. porary two-year fcnergency mea- 1.

Ths Jas Durden. In round cur0f cnd referred it to the voters numbers, $40,000,000 will be re- for their approval or rejection quired in 1933, and about the July 21. same amount in 1934 for the cup- iu por of education and the Erin- The rctr3 prcrnDea are 2 per tenance -or the other functions cf cn rctaU calce, three-tenths of state and local government 2. Tax Dcliru7. At the cmnticas of CSO msnth in calcs.

iiuences wmcn snape ine late senate joint resolutions, 30 house and senate joint memorials, 14 house and senate concurrent resolutions, and 1 senate resolution. Adding, we get a total of 1105 separate and distinct printed legislative documents. They embodied proposals for legislative action, good, indifferent and badsome of them very good and many of them very bad. Now if anyone imagines that of any bill, we mayote a few of the most important View Measures From Different Anales. First of all we turn to the members themselves.

Among them, we find the greatest div- end of 1932, oyer S3 per cent of brides calea to thi government, ergence-of viewpoint. Occupa tne taxes were cuii unpaid, in farm prcduets cola to dealers, IS 'counties thb delfncucncy ex- rcalea. tesuranee premiums cceded 50 percent. This means and salaries ar.d'weca. the legislative milling process ll I I ll A 1 I mat nutnose counties, teacners i tv n.

tion, location, local resources, personal affiliations all play their part in determining the attitude of the member upon legislative problems. 2. The Pcplilar Will Is Always Powerful. consists of separating the good from the bad, the chaff from the wheat, over the sieves of civic could not be paid and the unc- Umj Tksci Tex It is uon oi governmeni were eenou climated that tlr.cales tax will ly crippled. I ca tiz) justice and constructive states- For the year 1933, the indications are that the average delin SRKIQ -CSS SWE G5SS UP; SIIOVS it is seldom tnat tne rank and file of the voters show much interest in any legislative prob quency will be considerably higher.

It may average 50 per lem. But when they become cent. aroused as they are today on the The plight of the schools and As we go to prcsa, it is rumor issue of economy and tax-reduc believed to be reasonable and right, is' a greater virtue than ex ed that Govcrndr lleier is going counties will be much worce this! year. Last year there wa3 no tion, their influence is not to be withstood. Every important pediency.

to take the air 6r the calc3 tax. T4 in onM 4linf 'lo Yteta ka Aft state tax to pay. In 1933, the We know that the governor legislative cnange must avvait the slow process of public edu- MMJ 1 and his advisers came early to the conclusion that a temporary calcs tax promised about the state draws a round $3,000,000 "TOffiTplft which have from the firct fruits of the coun- SSTtS rrWlS ni, besn hurled at in tne cam- and by the false and mis- Sif ling references to the effect will draw all that come3 in. uruwAa nm only adequate source of relief for 3. Special Interests Are a Most Active Fcrce.

Special interests exercise an our shrinking state and local Even a vealthv countv like I revenues. Linn has les3 "than one-third of When he called the legislature influence upon legislative action out of all proportion to their numbers or importance. This is in special session, it was with the conviction that a sales tax should be adopted. its taxes paid in on June 30. The wai cometning amount received was $260,733 has etirred Uie governor to.

ac-out of the total tax roll of 5920,: tion. Not that wcr believe his 408. Normally about wtive participation in the cam- due to several causes. In the But having called the special first place, they make a real business of going after what they want. They spare neither cession, ne let it drag out a iruit- would have been paid in.

Of the Wi- amount collected, about or have much effect was sent the state in satisfaction the result one way or an- lcs3 existence for lack of leader ship. It looked as if the opposi- muiiey nur pains in preparing wotibAitkl vncit VIOwCi lit tut; tion to tne saies tax naa ssm mm skurrying to discrete cover. of the first half of the 3-mill levy. opzr. But some counties have ro- The people have already be-ceived hardly enouth to meet the coma too thoroutlify saturated second place, they usually have no one Ee who Is honest and informed believes claim of the state, and aro al- bythenisreprcsentationof those ready faced with empty trcasur- who hope to build their own pol- that the governor can be any ies.

ttieal fences by helping to ae- thing but a loser from the spon corinrr of a sales tax. 3. Attri to Meet thb fc-t the measure. powerful mends among the members of every legislative assembly. Many of them are liberal employers of legal talent, and lawyers usually play an important role in our legislative sessions.

To be sure, every member is to EQme extent a representative of special interests. This is (Contlnusd ca pxs four) To take up the cudgels for an Pr ir-w: nurin? tha vzi). Eut Cur interest in the en 12 1 unpopular a especially when it means tne probable los3 year, the governor and his cdvi- trar.ee oi uovernor neier into sera have foreseen the Do csrrarjn based on pnn-fiitn ihhA hn h-1 cfb. ara lust old-fashion- of business and profits, takc3 guts. Wo are glad to give hon cJ enevrh to feel that courage, that ctate cuoDort mhkt or where It Is due.

crseially on behalf of a cause alizo from the income of tho fa.