La Grande evening observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1904-1959, February 13, 1913, Image 1

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VOLUME .xn.
liA GBA2TDE, UNION COUNTY, OREGON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1913.
NUMBER S3
A"
-9
COUP. Will
IESTSIIIIIC
. IIJ RSPER
EVTLT.LSSUED WARRANTS TO BE
TAKEN WITHOUT INTER.
' 'est pa rax XT
KNOTTY PROBLEM TALKED
Situation ef City's Finances Gone In
to In Detail (Deadlock Between the
Major and Connell Continues to Ex.
1st Yarjong Topics Relative to Fl.
nance Are Broaght up.
COUXCIL PROCEEDINGS IX
TABLOID.
' - ' v . - : ;
Met and partialis solved prab-
Jem of preventing comDound in-
terest on Improvement warrants.
- City to Invest in general war-
s" rants.
' - Telephone franchise returned
tor remedy of discrepancies ex-
Isiiug in draft.
5 . read lock . between mayor and
council over appointments brok-
en and relocked iu less than five t
minutes. ' $
..' 3 Foreclosures on 'ddllnquuDts
t. on interest ordered.S .
: New method of assessing .pi'bjj
erty for improvements Intrqditc
" ed. - , ... ..-
v Salary bills paid week, sheafl. '
t of last orders. ; ?ii
e- Three of cquncil'bblect to pay-,l
-.i ,mh noyi ana vaieni.w-aj5es.. t
U' Appraisers of city 'assets -an.
J pointed.
. & j$$$
k Finding ' relief In the very paper
:S that has deteriorated In value of
, "tate. the city of La Grande will in
vest sinking funds in general war
; rants paying not less than 95 cents
: on the dollar and holding them until
called, therebv stonping interest on
' $8,000, general fund warrants at the
very start, and increase the amount
as t'a.e progresses. This action was
taken last night after a long session
of the council wherein the dadloc
between Mayor Hall and the council
. over certain appointments, and finan
cial problems of the city were the
chief items of pablic Interest.
The franchise question came up
. i but was sneedlly sent back to com
mittees. The street committee re
ported to the council that It had met
with the Eastern Oregon Co-Opera-
tlve Telephone company and re-
' quested that concern to draft -Us te
tative ordinance, and the committee
presented that draft with the report.
Hence the council was forced to have
' read, for Information only, the fran
chise as the farmers' firm had draft
ed it. and but one fault was found
with it In the cursory examination
. and that was there was no mention
"-hatever .or a revenue tax to the
city. Tbe general franchise provi
sions covering poles, conduits and
the like were covered In detail and
the maximum charges of $1.50 and
$1.25 were fixed to suit the farmers,
and practically every nhase going
with a franchise excepting the reve
nue question, was touched upon. This
discrepancy was discovered however
and the franchise ordinance 1ias been
sent tack to committee, the Judiciary
this time, to be remedied, and will
come up at the next meeting. Infor
mal discussion of what this revenue
hall be, came op. some favoring 3
- per cent on gross Income straight
through the life of the 19-year fran
chise and others favoring the new
company pay the same as the Home
company, towlt, there, four and five
per cent for the lat 15 years divided
Into' flv-riir pprtfyl.
Finances Real Problem.
Questions of finance came up eaHy
In the evening and occupied a greater
portion of the session's time. There
are now and have been frequent
- times In thft.Past when the Improve
ment warrant are called In and no
Interest money at hand. This arises
from the fact thajt when certain Im-
provementa are carried out. the con
tractor old by the city with Im-
prorement fund wcrrants which nm
with tlx per cent interest until te
bonds covering that particular, pro-
Ject are floated. Then tbe warrants
and Interests are stopped automatical
ly and it has come to pass in tbe past
and again rlsht now In two instances,
that the oity bas been liable for in
terest money which usually runs
about two months from time of con
struction until the bonds are liquid
dated and there U no fund other
than tha, general fund to pay these
interest claims Mom. This conse
quently creates compound Interest for
the cltjio bear and all the pros and
cons otntie difficult situation were
discussed. Councilman Sargent offer
ed a partial solution In asking fiat
the contingency fund which warruut
are always dollar for dollar, be In
creased to provide for this contin
gency. It is believed this will even
tually tolve this situation.
10 repair and enhance the cash
value of general fund warrants was a
subject long discussed. A resolution
was nnally presented by Councilman
Kalsten which met with tbe approval
of the council along this matter and
brlngB to a focus a matter which the
council has long had under consider
ation, namely, the Investment of the
Beaver creek, pipe line sinking fund
now amounting to some $8,000.00, and
growing rapidly. .
The Financial Flan.
It will not be possible, under the
resolution, to pay any Interest on
warrants, therefor the, Reavnr nroalr
pipe Hue bond fund cannot be used i
, nnt U 1 si I . . . . I
iv van iu wairams. uunciseiy siaiea
the plan is this: The city will bu-
warran:s as !t can with this fund
taking only newly-issued warrants
such as labor certificates, salary bill?
and what other general fund war
rants that may be Issued from time
to time. The city, must not pay less
than 95 cents on the dollar, though
tbe market now la 92 In most cases.
The city will then hold these war
rants as ary Individual or bank would
and when, in due course of time,
tbey sre turned in, the city will col
lect the face value but pay no inter
est, turning the profits of 5 per cent
back, to (ra Beaver creek pipe line
bond 'fund. In Yhnyway the c'ty. as
an Investor. -.is a nearby sanation.
' It oes a good way towaixl solvine
the situation tfut'the .couneif-'nna only
.M)0 to handle, a', general fund in
debtedness of some $88,000. ' ,
xErASSESS3n:y-ttETiicp.
Parallel Proerty In Quarter Block
" Xofc to Pay All Hereafter.
New methods of making improve
ment assessments on .abutting and
contiguous proierty are embraced in
sn ordinance read last nlglit for In
formation and to come up for final
nassage shortly. To best illustrate
tbe working principle a quarter block
of any block may be taken. If the
lots in that block have thelB'long axis
North and South, it follows that' they
front or East and West streets. WbeD
the East and WV.. street is paved;
the abutting property pays tbe costs,
and In the payment of the Intersec
tions, the lots pay 4ft. 30. 20 and .10
tier cent respectively of this cost.
However. Ihere Is little change In
that but the new method provides
that when the North and South
streets which lie parallel to the long
way of the corner 1-4 block Is paved
the quarter block shall be divided in
to 4 zoneB along the East-West street
id pay 40, 30. 20 and 10 per cent.
fhig removes a portion or Uie bur
den from the man who owns the
abutting property and distribute It
on contiguous property which bene
fits by the fact that there is paving
on the iNorth and South property. The
siidewalk and curb expense Is paid
entirely by abutting pronerty.
Minor Business Heavy.
During the evening varrous minor
Vistness matters came up for consid
eration. Amon them was the petition
of the Eastern Oregon Power com
pany for a.maln to the nower plant
which" was recommended dented nv
the committee and so ended up in
the council.
Orders that 25 per cent or contrail
nrlre be denosited with the city by
nroperty owners who are In Improve
ment districts but wlsn to let tneir
sidewalk contracts to individuals out
right, were rescinded Insofar as tney
pertain to the particular section on
East Adams avenue' where the first
application of this rule was to be
made. Contractor P. J. UHy present
ed sareements with a big number of
owners and there remains only a lit
tle over 2n0 feet uncontracted for In
that district. It Is likely the street
committee will either eliminate ine
district entirely or have It cut down
so that there will be no superfluous
advertising of bids.
Salary Bills Paid.
I'ndolng In a measure what had
been done at the last regular meet
ing, action was taken to pay salary
warrants, which were ordered held tin
at the laat meeting, until the next
regular meeting two weeks from then.
Cnnfdrferohln discniw'on has- been
fOontlnwd on Page 41
bSfoSS
TO DEAD OR WOUNDED THA
Mexico City. Feb. 13. Mexico City's
battle raging since Sunday was re
sumed at 8:10 this morning. Except
for the fact that the bettgerents have
drawn a little closer, the positions
are at-the same as yes erday. !a-;
doro has assumed the aggressive with
additional ammunition at band. He
bas pressed heavier guns Into service
but Diaz has replied with cauuou
and maetifna guns. Shells are still
falling in the territory outside of the
flghttfng zone, endangering Ameri
cana.
Dead Xot flored.
Practically no effort Is being madr
to move the dead and wounded from
the blood-Spattered streets. Some o'
the streets are literally choked with
torn and dismembered bodies. Many -A
the wounded lack medical attentirn
and the city Is threatened with pent:-1 sued a statement that be would not
lence because of the decomposing j accept an official position in Mexico
bodies. The loss of life is -fenrfti" fand regretted the loss of several men.
but tnKexact number will never be and while wanting peace was prepar
Imown. ' ed to carry on a supreme struggle.
CDUBT HOLDS
-NIGHT SESSION
ADDED FTKBJGHT CHARGES
, ' DENIED ' :
ARE
Replevin Case Before the Court To.
day for. Consideration,
In the case of Brutm against the
Apple City Liquor company the juiy
lias returned a verdict for the de
fendant. The defendant was sued on
an account, and the verdict means
that the defendant does not owe the
additional sum required by the brew
ing firm of the company for a recent
sate.
Most of yesterday and last night
was taken up In a hearing .of the
case of David Zlmmerle vs. Frank
Childers. The object of this suit is
to recover 24 hogs and V bales of
hay or their value, attached by J. B.
Weaver and taken possession of. by
the sheriff, Mr. Childers at the time.
Mr. Zlmmerle claims ownership" of
the property, although It was thought
to be . the property of the Grande
Ronde Orchard company. The amount
sued for in. the event the property
cannot be delivered. Is $750. , '
Hearing evidence is still in prog
ress. ' Green and . Ivanhoe are ' attor
neys for fhe plaintlT and Turner Oli
ver Is representing the defendant.
The next case to come up Is that of
the state against Geo. W. Buchanan,
who is charged with the crime of as
saulfwlth a" dangerous weapon. Bu
chanan was arraigned the other day
and pleaded not guilty..
Jack YcGIftthUn Here.
"The man who owns the Illinois
Central railroad," Is the way mary
of Jack McOlothlin's . friends speak
of him. but today he denied emphati
cally that he owns the entire system
and stated that, accordln to his best
information, there were several small
stockholders scattered over the coun
try that he had not yet been able to
deal with In order to have the system
in Its entirety.
Jack is here "glommlng" all the
freight he can get over Ms line from
tve cast. He is the Oregon agent for
that railroad.
Basketball Tonight
Tbe Union picked stars will battle
with the Y. M. C. A. team this even
ing at tbe rink commencing at 8
o'clock.
Foreigner In Terrpn,
Liberated convicts roam tbe streets
spreading terror la a terror stricken
city.. Many homes are burned by these
convicts and Americans spent a night
of terror.
American Building Wrecked.
The library-American club was
wiecked at noon when schrapnel was
fiied directly Into the building.
Fighting Rale Ignored.
Both armies' are Ignoring the fight
ing rules of civilized nations. Thori
was a lull In the firing at 10 o'clock
although shells fell Intermittently In
remote districts and . killed people
who had, fled to places they thought
safe. Fewer women and chtldren are
being slain than the first day,
At 5 o'clock this morning Diaz Is-
HftS flEVERSES
FIX. VI AXD CONCLUDING CHAPTER
TONIGHT.
All Contributors to BiwebaU Fund
Should Be on Hand Early.
With the city covered by solicitors
in a very thorough manner, and all
the larger subscriptions obtatneo, re
ports from this committee will be fil
ed tonight at the Commercial club
room when tbe final situation will b
discussed. The committees admit tha'.
tbe second day didn't bring the re
suits contemplated and after the $ 1 90C
mark was passed, donations came
very slowly. At the present- situa
tion there is need of 'careful prepara
tion and efery -contributor to this
fund Is very urgently requested to' h
(Copyright by Powers Eng. Co., N. T.)
Miss Helen Taft (incidentally ber famous "bonnet") daughter, of the pres
ident, whose engagement to marry Dr. C. N. Grayson. United States
navy. It is expected, will be announced In the near future. Intimate
friends who are supposed to know positively of the betrothal, are spec
ulating as to whether Mrs. Taft Is planning a white house wedding as
the last social function of the outgoing administration.
T LITTER CITY
on band this evening. "Tonight Is the
laat tima around, gentlemen; what Is
done tonight la final and If fans want
baseball this summer they have some
thing to work out at tonight's meet
ing." said.. Chairman Stange of the
temporary baseball, organization.
TAIEXT IS BOUGHT.
Final PnrrLases for Cfcautaaqau Pro.
fTM Made This Morning.
Dealing directly with A. L, Flude.
general manager of tbe Chautauqua
Managers' association, the board of
directors of the Grande Ifonde Chau
tauqua today made the final purchases
of talent for the regular program. Mr.
Flude brought contracts for some of
the finest talent In the country and It
was promptly taken up by the man a
gers here.
Isolated Tracts Sold.
A number of Isolated and sequester-1
rd tracts of land were sold from in
Jront of the local land office " this
mornlngv There were not many bid -
deis for the and. mostly men who
wished to secure the tracts for the
purpoee'ot completing tracts tbey al-jlng lor quick trips to Mexico from
ready own.' The government makes it '.Newport News, four are being fitted'
a. point to sell at nubllo auction sueh'oit, Thy can accommodate 3,010
parcels -of latid as are isolated or
disconnected from' other "larger tracts
for the purpose of competing the
townships and for the purpose of al
lowing farmers to fence land contigu
ous to property they own Most of the
tracts are of 40 or 80 acres and may
be good or bad land. Among those
who secured secured title to these
tracts are the following: Geo. W. Nelll
and Wm, P. Warnlck of Imnaha, Jack
Vaughn of Fox, Oregon, Karl A. Haag.
.e.o, jluu wuurum,, proper Intervention,
of Enterprise. These tracts were sold :
for from $80 to $85 and are considered j - Interior In Disorder. .'
bargains at the price. j E Paso Feb Refuges reach-
.. -- , ng here say Interior cities and towns
Open In New Bank Building., m ready to reVolt, and that garri
Cove. Feb.. 13. (Special) The .. ,. wav wi ,rT in ,..
Cove State bank opened ris doors
for business In Its neW $5000 building
tHs morning. -' '-
ilSPOITS
SELL LUED
Jill bU
CUBAN BATTLESHIP ORDERED IU.
TO FIGHTING ZONE BY .
' . UNCLE SAJL .
ENGLISH DEU ACTIO!!
Word Received From Interior Points
Indicate Entire Cenntry in IBtobel.
lion Dispatches Censored bjr 3s.
. lean Gofemmeat Terr Closely
Americans Are la Terror. -
Washington, Feb. 13. Secretary of
State Knox has notified tbe Cuban
battleship' Cuba, with 200 troops
aboard ,to land a force at Vera Cms
and to go to Mexico City to protect
the Cuban legation. t ,-
General Steever, commanding the
American troops In Texas, has wired
that alt 4a quiet at Jaurez, but adds,
"Jauret is peaceful but IVghtntng will
generally strike there from a clear
sky." . . ,.. .
General Wood declared today that
the government has not made request
1 for the state mmtia to now iiseir in
' readiness. .
; Four Transport i Utcd up.
' Instead, of two transports prepar-
troops and carry 30 days provisions.
- Americans. ' Danger. .
American residents are sleeping on
their arms prepared to defend their .
lives and property if need arises. A
dispatch from official source say the
'censorhtp of the IMexIcan govern
ment over dispatches is Increasing.
Officials believe here that order will
never be restored until Taft .orders
Intervention. It will require the gov- .
eminent two weeks to fit llsef for
I vent Intervention of American sol-.
dlers. Word received here says that 1.
7000 regulars will cross the line at
one time. If the order comes, and that .
militiamen will take the ' regulars
places on the patrol line. - 1 ,
Alarm is felt for Americans In Son
ora state. Drunken Mexicans are
making life dangerous there. .
London Wants Intervention.
London, Feb. 13. Radical newspa
pers are demanding American Inter
vention to effect a settlement of the
Mexican crisis.
ALL TALKING PANAMA FAIR.
William Asli Says 1015" Is Popular
Date In 'Frisco.
Wm. Ash. who bas recently re
turned from San Francisco, where
he went to consult a specialist re
garding a condition of the. heart, says
Frisco Is vigorously, talking the Pan- -
a ma fair. Every place he went the
fair was the all-important subject
White a great deal has not been dona
to the physical exterior of the fair
grounds Mr. Ash says things are grad
ually taking shape end with such en
ergy behind the mov-jment as the Fris
co people are displaying there Is lit
tle doubt that tt-will be all that Is
claimed for It In the wav of an ex
position. The date "1S15" la the es
tablshed date on everything In Fris
co, and said Mr. Ash. "One almost for
cets that this Is 1913 and believes he
Is living two years later."
Mr.' Ash was plessed to learn that
his heart condition was not serious
and Improvement Is certain by fol
lowing a diet prescribe.
ntflU