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About The Lane County news. (Springfield, Lane County, Or.) 1914-1916 | View Entire Issue (March 11, 1915)
ot,; nUWrW.-,. , , - , f mi". COUNTY Ctlnlii Tht SjirlntfUtU News ami Um Cftty Star, Which Wer CsMMlkUt Ftbrvary It, 1914. Intend fcbfiutrjililGQTiiiftprlnftflelilj OrfKon, Moond clHi;mtttir uniHrnctof CoimroM 0 Jureli, lit. SPRINGFIELD, LANE COUNTY, OREGON, THURSDAY, MARCH 11,1915. VOL. XIV. NO, 12.' (I . ' ',.' '' "to in LANE NEvvS ' i jnxif COUNCIL ASKED 16 WITHDRAW 113 APPEAL ING0NTE8TE0 TAX CASE Some of Parties to Suit Ready to Pay and Quit Matter is Referred to Judiciary Committee A request that, in tho Intercut of town harmony, tho adminis tration withdraw Ita appeal to tho suproino court, In tho caoo of a group of taxpayers contest ing tho legality of tho 1013 levy was miulo at tho regular monthly mooting of council Monday night by J. W. Mnchou. "I renllzo that It takes money to run tho town," said Mr. Mn chen, and I also realize that oven If wc win In tho supremo court wo lose, for tho town will have to make up tho deficiency by taxation next year. For my olf I am ready to pay tho total duo on tho 1913 tax, less my court costs, If tho council will liavo tho suit withdrawn." J. J. Bryan appeared boforo tho council and, speaking for his wife and mother, made the same proposition to tho council. Tho council referred tho whole mat ter to tho judiciary committee. Mr. Machen's proposition was discussed at length by tho may or, city attorney and tho councli- mcn. Mr. ljiQWor saiu no ueuev cd the town could win Its appeal in tho supremo court. "It Isn't a question of winning In tho supremo court or any other court," declared Fonwlck. "It Is a question of whether or not the. council, .standing be tween tho taxpayers of tho city and Indebtedness, is going to al low any person to got out of pay ing his taxes. Another thing is tho peace of tho town, and while I huvo always been a flghtor, I have always been ready to lay down tho hatchet when the oth er fellow wns ready to quit. It Is not a question of whether or not wo can win, but what is best for the taxpayers." Attorney Bower again de clared tho question a legal one, Involving tho right of tho town to lovy a tax In excess of five mills on the taxable property of the town, adding that the sum involved In tho suit somo $200 is not material in itself, but that tho right of tho town to levy taxes sufficient to meet its needs is material. v Mr. Bower added that a de cision in favor ot tho town in tho spending enso would climinato (any dangor of suits nrislng over tho charter amendment of 1.014, increasing tho tax levy limit to ten mills, since that proceeding would havo been useless and of no offect if tho amendment of 100G is sustained., . Mayor Scott expressed the be- illof that to carry tho suit thru would servo to clarify tho powers of tho council and prevent the question being raised again. lie tyolnted out further that tho suit was, not of tho council's seeking, but that, since tho suit had beon brought, tho town had to present its defense. Mr. Machon stated that if tho present suit woro dropped, nei ther ho nor his associates would raiso any question as to tho va lidity of taxes levied in 1914. "But you cannot speak for any other citizens" said Mr. Bower, "TEST VALIDITY OF LAW . AT EXPENSE OF CITY," " SUGGESTS THE MAYOR "For my part,' said Mayor 0. L, Scott yesterday, "I should favor having tho city pay tho expenses in tho supromo court, win or lose, If tho parties who brought this suit want to pay up tho contested taxes. I do think It Is Important for tho city to know from tho courts if it has tho right to lovy taxes up to ton mills, as has boon tho custom for years past. I fool sure tho coun cil will, do' anything within their power to make this a friendly suit for determining the powers of tho council." In the discussion it was brought out Hint beginning in 1900, and continuing every year but ono since that time, the tax levy has been In excess of five mills for the general fund; that councils had been acting under tho amendment of 190G until thoy had forgotten Its very existence, and that as a matter of fact neither tho parties to the suit nor tho present city olilcials recalled the 100G amendment until tho records were searched after tho suit was started. Mr. Machon was councilman for two years, but was ubsent from tho meetings which levied tuxes of 5,5 and 9 mills respectively for general fund purposes. Romit Railroad Assossmont. Another matter requiring con siderable discussion was a bill of $152 sent tho Southern Pacific company for the Improvement of Tlurd street southward from Main. Ttondmastor F. V. Schultz presented objections tu tho mil, saying there had been an agreement that tho railroad was to provide one-third of the cost of tho Improvement, and tho property owners on either side of tho street each one-third. He stated that tho railroad did Its own work, buying crushed rock fronv thtf city, and putting on a crow of 35 men to do the work. Inasmuch as tho railroad had provided and had done Its one-third of tho work, the city council voted to strike from tho records the charge of $152. An other bill for work south of tho alloy was not objected to by Mr Schultz, and will be recommend ed by him for payment. Chief Engineer McCulloch of tho Oregon Power company told tho council that tho valve In the firo whistle Is so worn that it Is Impossible to give distinct calls with tho whistle. IIo was auth orized to purchaso a now valve for the city. He agreed to have tho valve installed free, of cost to tho city. Tho request of Row J. T. Moore for crushed rock for the alley south of tho parsonngo was referred to tho street com mittee with power to act. Tho church peoplo havo just remov ed a quantity of earth from tho sldowalk space, cutting It down to grade, and havo a claim against tho city for approxim ately the value of the rock. Tho space had previously been filled on ordors of tho city engineer, and later it was found that the grado had been given in error. Tho application of C. R, Mead for a pool room licenso for two tables wns granted. Tho ordinance forbidding dogs running at large was amended to allow dogs or tran sients passing through, and of sheep and cattlo herders to go through town not In leash. Tho matter of hiring counsel to nsslst Attornoy Bower in tho tax appeal case was referred to tho judiciary commlttoo.jnto which had previously beerifVe forred the mattor of compromis ing tho appeal. Attorjioy Bower reported that tho caso of Springfield vs. Klov dahl, to recover an 'assessment for tho sldowalk on west Main street, will bo tho first of the equity cases taken up at this term of court. Mr. Bower also submitted a deed signed by all but two of tho property owners on Main street between Tenth and tho city lim its, deeding a right of way for a street GO feet wide- Sidewalks will now bo put In tho full length of tho streot. Mayor Scott reported that a deed had beon found whereby tho Springfield Mfg. & Inv. Co. conveys certain land needed for making tho jog in tho street at Tonth, Tho deed was ordered recorded. Tho mayor also stated that County Attorney Dcvers, thru Chief of Polico Stanlgcr is ask ing that tho town pass an ordi nance requiring second hand dealers to keen a record of all goods purchased or offered for purchase, so that the police may nave assistance in tracing stolen articles. Tho 'recorder was directed to notify tho Pacific Telephone & Telegraph company to remove cortahi of its poles which aro in the lino of the sidewalk planned for East Main street. Tho council adjourned with out dntc. PLOWING MATCH TO BE HELD IN LANE COUNTY Arrangements havo been made by County Agriculturist It. B. Coglon with the' officers of the grange at Donna to hold a plowing match in the nenr fut ure. As far as can be discovered no such contest has ever been held in Lane County. Plowing matches are frequently held in many sections of the Middle West and arouso great Interest in the localities, large numbers of people turning out. Valuable prlzeB are often given by the merchants and implement com panies. PAY TAXES THROUGH THE LOCAL BANKS The Commercial state bank on Monday was designated a de- W. Taylor, county treasurer, and arrangements made for the payment of taxes through the bank. The same designation was also accorded the First Na tional bank. Upon presentation of the tax statement and cash, the bank is sues a, receipt.- rax-statements are issued upon request when a description of the property on which tax is to be paid is sent in. Build Addition to Methobist Church Trustees of the .Methodist church last evening decided to enlarge the church by extending tho main auditorium eastward for a spneo of 20 feet. Pouring of concrete for the foundation was begun this morning, and it is expected that tho addition will bo enclosed by the last of next weok. The addition will be 20 by 27 feet in size and will add mater ially to tho seating capacity of tho church. Doors will be pro vided so it may be cut off as a Sunday school room,. The building committee is composed of Messrs. D. S. Jor dan, J. T. Mooro and M. M. Male. A dozen men of tho church were on hand Monday with teams, busy cutting down tho parking so that n cement side walk can be laid on grade. The concrete work will bo in charge of J. E. Stnniger. Trades for Newport Property . C. E. Hill this week traded his West D street property to John Fitzgerald for property at New port. The Hill family has mov ed Into the Gossler house on A street to give Mr. Fitzgerald pos session. Mr, Fitzgerald is a re tired sheep raiser of Lakeview, Mr. Fitzgerald is a brother of Mrs. William Spencer, who lives on Mill streot. Edwards & Brattaln made tho deal. WENDLING SAWYER IS. BELIEVED TO BE LOST Lou Kibby, gang sawyer in tho Booth-Kelly sawmill at Wendling, is believed to bo lost in tho mountains above that town, and JJ3. C. Hills, deputy gamo warden of this city, Is now In that locality looking for him. Hills, Kibby and Georgo Crist started from Wendling. last Sat urday for a point 15 miles from Wendling. There thoy separat ed and Hills and Crist met at tho appointed place Monday but Kibby failed to arrive. Waiting for somo time, Hills and Crist proceeded to Wendling and Hills Anniversary Bargain Offer Read of the offer in tho Monday is sue. It is worth your while if . you want tp save. came out to his home in Eugene. Kibby obtained a leave of ab sence from his work until Tues day morning- When he failed to appear at'that time the super intendent of the plant began to inquire of his whereabouts. Dep uty Game Warden Hills was no tified yesterday and he proceed ed to Wendling on the afternoon train. Kibby Is a good woodsman and is said to be thoroughly ac quainted with the country in which the three men were trav eling afoot. It is feared that he has met with an accident or has become lost. Register. TEN THOUSAND PRUNE BOXES ARE ORDERED The box department ofHhe Springfield Planing mill today received from the Eugene Fruit Growers' association an order for 10,000 prune boxes. The boxes ore for the small 5 and 8 pound sizes, a market for which is being developed. This order isj&Tdd.ltio tdl 1500: prune trays, nearly all of which have been manufactured and delivered.. Japanese Consul Visits Big Mill K. Kumasaki, Japanese consul at Portland, visited the Booth Kolly mill and the Oregon Power plants here yesterday in com pany with Manager A. C. Dixon of the Booth-Kelly company, S. II. Friendly, Dr. Smith, secretary to President Campbell: and M. J Duryea, promotion manager of the Eugene Commercial club. The consul was much im pressed by the completeness of the mill, and he predicted that Japan will some of these days be buying large quantities of lum ber from Oregon. CITY TREASURER IN A NEW OFFICE LOCATION Miss Lillian Gorrle, treasurer of the town of Springfield, mov iiu iier office yesterday from tho office of the Elite hotel, where she had been with Miss Bennett for tho past year and a half, to E. E. Morrison's office on Fourth street next to the post office Miss Gorrio will conduct a public stenographic office in connec tion with her duties as treasurer. PROF. AYER TO TALK AT BROTHERHOOD BANQUET "Wnat Knowledge Is of tho Most Worth" will bo the subject of an address by Prof. F. C. Ayer, of the department of education of the University of Oregon be fore tho Methodist Brotherhood at its meeting next Monday eve ning. The business meeting will be held at G:30; and tho banquet will bo served at 6:45. Grange Holds Meeting Ono of tho largest and most enthusiastic grange meetings held this year In Lano county was hold Saturday at Lowell. An Installation of officers was held as follows: Walter Ross, mastor; Mrs. Grace Walker, lecturer; Mrs. E. E. Smith, secretary and Curtis Neat, overseer. Seventy five norsons were in attendance, Earl Kilpatrick, of the University of Oregon and u, B. coglon, werq speakers of tho day. KRUTTSGHN1TT SAYS WiCKERSHAM ; COERCED WOADS IN BIG Sf Hearing Begun in the Government's At tempt to Unmerge Southern Pacifc and Central Pacific San Franscisco, Mar- 10. Testifying today in the suit of the federal government to un merge the Central and Southern Pacific railroads, Julius Krutt- schnltt, chairman of the execu tive board of the Southern Pa cific company charged that George W. Wickersham, former United States attorney general, coerced and Compelled the Southern Pacific Into an. agree ment to sell the Central Pacific to the Union Pacific railroad for $104,000,000. "The Southern Pallfic com pany signed the agreement with the Union Pacific to sell the lat ter the Central Pacific at a price of $104,000,000 under the com pulsion and coercion of the at torney general of the (United States, who threatened me with a forced sale of the line if It was not sold to the Union" Pacific," said Mr. Kruttschnitt. "The agreement was executed when the California State Railroad commission killed it by refusing Its approval."' , , . "I went to the attorney gener al personally, continued the witness, "and protested vehem ently against his action, telling him that it would destroy the Southern Pacific. "His only reply was, 'I am go ing to apply equal compulsion to Into the record of the hearing was introduced the agreement of sale which was entered into between tho Union and Southern Pacific at the command of Wick ersham after the United States supreme court ordered the dis solution of the Union and South em Pacific railroads in 1913. The California railroad commis sion refused to its approval of the deal unless the Santa Fe and the Western Pacific were given the right to use the terminal fa cilities of the Southern Pacific company at San Francisco, a right insisted upon in the agree ment by the Union Pacific, This privilege the parties to the agreement both refused to the other roads, whereupon the sale was annulled. At the hearing before the com mission at that time, William Sproule, now president of the Southern Pacific company, testi fied that the sale would benefit the Southern Pacific company. Mr, Kruttschnitt said today that the Union Pacific demanded as "fundamentals" before the negotiations could get to any TAX COLLECTIONS FAR SHORT OF LAST YEAR'S Tax collections so far this year are far behind those of the same period last year, says Geo. M. Taylor, deputy county treas urer. Saturday there was a total of $5,077.16 collected, and tho total to date is $48,851,85- The collections each day during tho past week were as follows: Monday-Tuesday . . . .$12,225.43 Wednesday 3,925,84 Thursday 3,318.17 Friday 2,951-10 Saturday , 5,077.16 Total $24,497,70 The collections during the cor responding week last year were as follows, In comparison: Monday 7,046.04 Tuesday 7,222.88 j length at all that the Union Pa .cific should be given the right to ;the Southern Pacific tracks from Sacramento to San Francisco. "They wouldn't play with us any more unless we made that con cession," said Mr. Kruttschnitt. The railroad commission held at the time that if the Union Pa cific was given exclusive track age rights in these terminals and the Southern Pacific line from Sacramento, that there would result a vast merger of the Un ion Pacific and the Soilthern Pa cific that the Union Pacific, Central Pacific and the Southern Pacific would be units in a con tinuous road. Attorneys for the Southern Pacific elicited this evidence from Mr. Kruttschnitt. today to prove that at one time, during Wickersham's regime, the gov ernment attempted to bring about a merger, the equivalent of which it is now trying to break in its suit to dissolve the Southern and Central Pacific railroads. It was also shown that if the government's guit succeeds that northern Califor nia' linos owned by the Central and operated' in conjunction with; the Southern Pacific lines now wiir be cut off. from the roads of the rest; of the state. x Asked' whatthe dtoebiuBoirof the Central and Southern Paci fic .railroads at this time wouW cost the Southern Pacific-company, the holding corpprati the witness said: "By the terms of the loan to us by a syndicate of French bankers of $50,000,00 in 1911 any abrogation of our lease of tne Central Pacific would sub ject us to an immediate call upon the loan. If this call snould be made tomorrow, the loan would have cost us $6,000,000- To re borrow that amount of money under present conditions for 30 years upon bonds, we would have to pay a price in interest of approximately $15,500,000 malting a total cost of more than $21,000,000 should we be robbed of the Central Pacific." "Furthermore," said Mr. Kruttschnitt, "an unmerging of the two roads Would demoralize the Southern Pacific system and week upon stockholders unjust financial havoc." It is estimated by Mr. Kruttr schnitt that the value of the Southern Pacific terminals in California which would be lost to the Southern Pacific railroad if it is separated from the Cen-: tral Pacific, would reach $85, 715,000. "These are owned by the Cen tral Pacific, and would have to be reproduced," said Mr. Kriitt nitt. , Mr. Kruttschnitt was on tho stand for nearly five hours, E. W. McClennen, counsel for the government, will cross-examine Mr. Kruttschnitt tomorrow. Wednesday 6,796.71 Thursday , 5,426.76 Friday 8,461.56 Saturday . 9,059.23 Total $44,013.18 Thus it will be shown that the collections in one week last year were almost as largo as tho col lections for tho several weeks that have elapsed, sinco collec tions began this year, Register. May 3' to 8 will be locks open ing weefcfor Colllo and Oregon City canals. A now freak law is offered by the Prohibition party and Labor Federation, for election of rep resentatives at largo and noVby districts, ' Independence, Two miles hard surface road built north, . ,k . Sutherlin Coles Valley elec tric railroad being promoted.