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County and District Roads

By C. E. Spence, Master of the Oregon State Grange

1. LOCAL ROADS. I am going to begin with the district roads, which I consider the most important. Market roads from the farmer to the business centers are what we need. Some of the outlying districts pay nineteen mills as a road tax because they consider their local roads of such importance. 2. COUNTY ROADS. The county road should be supported as at the present time, by the levying of taxes. Many mills are now levied. The seventy-thirty division is not as good as the fifty-fifty which would give more money for general county use and which we should have. This new division will probably be taken up by the Legislature. We have come to the point where we must have good road surfacing that costs more than the local communities can pay and the county should take up this work. The county should coöperate with the expenditure of the seventy-thirty expense.

The county court should use its discretion in the formation of districts so as to form them in such a way that the bulk of the people interested in a certain road should be in the district in which that road lies. If there are to be only one or two districts in a county, as has been suggested, this would practically eliminate the tax. The main traveled county roads should be built mainly by the county.

3. STATE ROADS. The State roads are of the greatest importance, except perhaps in certain localities where they are paralleled by the railroad. The State roads through which the business of the State is promoted would be the first to be developed. The development of the farming communities and of our lumber and mining industries are paramount to any other. State roads should be supported by a State tax.

The automobile should meet the expense created by the heavy travel they give the roads: first, by increasing the amount of the automobile license. A tax on gasoline would not be practicable for other machines such as engines, etc., use gasoline. By levying a tax of one-half mill and increasing the

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cost of automobile licenses in the State from $5.00 to $25.00 on pleasure machines, and by regulating the weight of trucks, we can help the matter somewhat.

There are two classes of State highways-utility roads and scenic roads. The most equitable manner of paying for a scenic highway is by the good old system of the toll gate. Let those who have the pleasure pay the price. A suggestion is also made-why not license our hotels and garages?, for tourists would steer clear of our highways if there was a toll. Let us build the roads we need first and then perhaps we will make up our minds whether to have toll roads or to license our garages and hotels.

Effort in Oregon

I. BASIS FOR UNITY OF COMMONWEALTH EFFORT IN OREGON

The proposal of tentative features of a program of development is invited by the presence of two complementary phases of faith in Oregon.

1. Faith in Oregon as a possible home for a permanently progressive and favored people.

Nature has done her part in providing here the factors essential as a basis for a civilization of the highest order, and has given Oregon a favorable setting in the world community. On the other hand, the people already here possess traits that constitute them a hopeful nucleus.

2. Faith also in the efficacy of comprehensively planned coöperation, using the largest and best fund of science and experience, to accelerate the pace of progress.

Oregon, including land and people, has possibilities worth realizing, but only wisely planned effort will insure fullest realization of them.

II. CONDITIONS TO BE FULFILLED IN ORDER THAT LIFE IN OREGON MAY BE BROUGHT TO EVER BETTER POSSIBILITIES

1. A sufficient population must be gained through the appeal that the Oregon people engaged in conscious State building will make to those who value social environment. Opportunities here for useful citizenship and complete living will include the motive of financial success for prevailing upon our future additions to seek homes with us.

2. A simplified and rationalized organization of our commonwealth establishment throughout must be realized.

3. Reliance must be placed upon enlightened, concerted effort for progress to school our present population to ever better civic efficiency, and to appeal to kindred spirits abroad to cast their lot with us.

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PROCEDURE FOR REALIZING THESE CONDITIONS

1. A population sufficient in numbers and of high enough type to maintain an ideal social order will be gained through the influence of clear demonstrations of the following:

(a) Of the soundness of the economic situation in the adapted lines of enterprise in Oregon, and their attractions as vocations for livelihood.

(b) Of the high competence of the Oregon people to handle democratically their political and social problems. Such demonstrations exhibited to the world will make Oregon shine for the eyes of those who will make most desirable citizens.

2. Simplified and rationalized political, economic and social organization will cost least in taxes and will give greatest returns in service.

Progressive adaptation of our political and other institutions to our needs will involve: (a) The shifting of our reliance for clarifying and realizing the will of the people upon the executive, and upon expert administration; and an intimate alliance of the executive, legislative and administrative agencies in coördinated and consecutive effort for Oregon's advancement.

(b) Intelligent use by a single-chambered legislature of approved principles of legislation and of an adapted legislative procedure, thus reducing bulk of laws and greatly improving quality.

(c) Effective organization for developing public opinion and for formulating and registering the public will. Through such organization Oregon affairs will be conducted by an enlightened democratic mind.

3. Active participation by all in a concerted program of development which will school the citizenship of Oregon to fitness for maintaining an ever improving social order. It will attract from without just those who will add strength to the commonwealth. It means the organization of the people of the State into essentially university functioning. Performance of the duties of every day life will be in such light of their wider relationships as to be the means of a

liberal education. Furthermore, the specific projects of economic and social betterment now in progress will be brought into a harmoniously related whole-the breath of renewed vigor being breathed into them.

III. GROUPS OF SPECIFIC PROBLEMS THAT COME UP FOR SOLUTION IF ADVANCE IS TO BE MADE ALL ALONG THE LINE IN OREGON:

1.

Problems of organization:

(a) Legislative. Provision of expert bill drafting; application of principles of organization and procedure for securing best deliberation on projects of legislation; application of the principles of legislation for best effectiveness of statutory enactments. (b) Administrative reorganization for efficiency and economy: State, county, city, school district. (c) Scientific budgetary procedure. (d) Revision of judicial procedure.

2. Improvement of the public service. (a) Short ballot system for elective officials. (b) Civil service merit system for permanent appointive officials. (c) Accounting system for gauging efficiency, under central control to insure uniformity, thus making them of highest service.

3. Reduction of costs of public works investments and increase of their utilities in interests uppermost in public consciousness in Oregon. (a) (a) Highway investments, planning them and administering them as carefully as the most efficient large scale private enterprise is conducted. (b) Capital investments-Realizing lowest interest outlays and highest income returns. (c) Labor-Regularity of employment increased and unemployment reduced to lowest minimum and largest feasible participating control gained for labor as a factor in industry. (d) Minimum middleman cost and minimum transportation costs from primary markets.

4. Conservation. (a) Of resources from exhaustion, from destruction. (b) Of human life-racial improvement mainly through ideals and sentiments inculcated; laws for commitment of feeble-minded; proper organization of accident prevention; dissemination of knowledge of sanitary hygiene; making work of schools effective to last degree against unemployment, inefficiency and poverty.

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