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About The Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Lane County, Oregon) 1922-current | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1922)
f Ito sign impur meidiatô sto» Is a guarantee/ J W i R K C IIA N T S \JL^ recommend chandise. who display Oregon this Quality sign Associated mer “ Give me an Oregon brand.’ ’ They are active ronpcrators in the upbuilding o f a greater state. They guarantee the goods they sell. Industries sign and _ You are helping the industrial expansion o f your community. Huy Oregon-made products. Huy them on M ERIT. Korin the habit o f looking for the You are helping yourself to greater pros perity. Buy Where You See The Associated Industries Sign W rite for handy directory o f Oregon products liefer to it when you buy. The Associated Industries of Oregon 7<>2 Oregon Building, Portland, Oregon * ............. = — --- (Editorial in Balent Capital Journal.) mation of Our Readers. saying ------ T o the People of Cottage Grove and Southern Lane Of all tiie candidates to be nominated tomorrow’ , the most important to the people o f Lane county is the county commissioner. There are three in the field from Eugene and one from northern bane, the same being myself. Northern Lane has not been represented in the county court for many years; our people feel that they have been discriminated against, and they now make a special appeal to you of southern Lane to stand by them as they have stood by you in the past; and v\ c make the same appeal to you o f the west. A body o f men in Eugene, usually spoken o f as the Eugene King, have had altogether too much in fluence in the past, and are now making frantic efforts to retain their hold. Finding Fault It goes against me to tell o f the other fellow ’s sins and shortcomings. It always re minds me o f the fellow in the hible that thanked God he was not like other sinners. How ever, it is only by turning the light o f publicity on public affairs that we can keep them in healthy condition, and there are certain matVrs that should be looked into. For instance: The Price of Gravel In understand that Lane county is now and has for years paid $1.25 per yard for gravel while the same grade can he bought in Harrisburg at 65 cents per yard. Why this d iffe r ence? I f nominated and elected I will look into this matter and if 1 find that we can save money by the county having its own plant, 1 « i l l see to it that we get it. Save the Roads Much is being said in certain quarters about the excellence o f Lane county roads and we certainly have some fine roads; hut then when millions are expended one naturally look for some results, lip to March 1, 1!I22, the state had expended over $ 1,300,000 in Lane county. Hut it is not for that kind o f roads I plead, but for our common gravel roads. Up to four years ago we in this end o f the county were able to improve our roads a little each year, but since then they have got only a very little gravel hut plenty o f scarifying. There is natural wear to the road and unless the worn material is replaced the result will he tile same as if you keep on drawing on your hank account and make no deposits. Scar ifying done in the spring makes the road smooth for a little while, but it loosens the road bed and mixes the gravel with the dirt and next, winter the road is worse than before. And the scarifying and scraping anil patroling in automobiles absorb all the money and leaves nothing for gravel. In former years all road districts got 2'_> mills oil their assessed valu ation. This year they get only 2*/4 mills. That shows the tendency o f those in power. The Real Issue The ical issue in this campaign is this question o f road work and road maintenance. The valley to const road will he built ini matter who gets elected, hut how about the farmer roads? Particularly out in the Imrk country where people have been asking in vain for a little help? I f nominated and elected I will assume the office unfettered by any secret pledges. I will not kill for the pleasure o f killing, hut I am opposed to retaining anyone on the coun- t y ’s payroll that is not necessary or profitable. H. P. Markusen Republican Candidate for County Commissioner Hoffs Record Principal Events of the Week Briefly Sketched for Infor* Hv acquiring this habit you are sure o f quality merchandise. OREGON NEWS NOTES OF GENERAL INTEREST A new Evangelical church will be ( built In Monmouth this spring. The pastern Oregon Interscholastlc track meet was held on the Round up grounds at Pendleton. Plans have been approved for the erection of a new Methodist church In Corvallis to cost $100,000. Statewide reports on frost damage has led to the hope that the loss was not as great as had been feared. Ranchers along the Columbia river are planting far back from the river's edge this spring In anticipation of an other flood. Fines aggregating $3245.10 were col lected In various parts of the state In April as a result of the activities of state traffic officers. Nearly twice as much squirrel poi son has been distributed among farm ers this year as was used last year in Linn county, A. C. Heyman, county agent, reports. Preliminary plans are complete for the opening of the eastern Oregon branch of the state normal for a sum mer school In Pendleton, the dates of which are June 19 to July 28. The cost of printing and mailing the so-railed voters’ pamphlets for the primary election aggregated $11,- tRO, according to a report prepared by Sam Kozer, secretary of state. Just as fast as the snow recedes in the mountains road work is being started in the Deschutes national for est, which has a $20,000 program map ped out for the spring and summer. Thirty-five cents a pound was paid for wool at Klamath Falls, setting the high mark for the season. Approxi mately 250,000 pounds of Klamath county wool has been sold In the past ten days. The first pier of the "Bridge of the Gods,” at Cascade Locks, which is un der construction by the Young-Mc- Donald company of Portland, has been completed and the second pier will be begun soon. There are bright prospects that con gress will nt an early date authorize the improvement of the port of Ump qua, according to W. P. Jewett of Eu- I gene, who has arrived home from Washington, D. C. More than 17 tons of T. N. T. will be used on forest road work this summer. It Is announced. Nineteen thousand four hundred pounds will be used on the Deschutes forest, 14,000 on the Ochoco and 2000 on the Fremont. The state highway commission at a meeting in Portland awarded 26.88 miles of road work, amounting to $2G1,237. The commission referred to the engineer offers for 13.26 miles, the low bids for whleh aggregated $297,- 811. Construction of the Roosevelt high way between Hebo, In Tillamook coun ty, and SIleLt, In Lincoln county, which will cost practically half a million dol lars, was one of the agreements of the state highway commission at a meet ing in Portland. The raising of sugar beets to sup ply the Utah Idaho Sugar company is an experiment which will be tried at Stanfield in the hope that the beets, which thrive best In rather heavy Ir rigated soil and which resist alkali, can be grown successfully. The Oregon Memorial Annual, pub lished by the state superintendent of public instruction and containing a suggested program for the day. rules of flag etiquette and selections to be used In observing the occasions, Is being sent to all schools in the state. Definite advice that the public serv ice commission will tolerate no longer delay on the Improvement of the Southern Pacific depot at Oregon City as ordered last September was for warded to the company by Fred O. { Ruchtel, representing the commission. Portland's 1922 Rose Festival will i be held June 20, 21, 22 and 23. The new dates were chosen because the \ lateness of the season would not per i mit that luxuriance of bloom so es sentlal to a successful festival in time for the dates originally set, June 7, 8 and 9. There was one fatality In Oregon due to industrial accidents in the week I ending May 11, according to a report Issued by the state industrial accident commission. The victim was J. P. : Adams, timber worker of Myrtle Point. A total of 420 accidents were reported to the commission. Activities of officials of Oregon and i of the city of Portland, coupled with the work of the White Cross chapter and Oregon Narcotic Control associa tion. were praised by Harry D. Smith. | in charge of the federal narcotic 1 squads on the Pacific coast Activi ties of the officials and citizens have already done much In cutting down the business of the drug peddler and have driven several of them away. Smith told Oov Ben W Olcott and I Mayor Oeorg# L. Baker In a confer ence,__ <-* *-_* ‘ _ The candidate* election pamphlet contain* tin: following state ment m behalf of State Treasurer U. 1'. llo ff, who.is a candidate for re-election, us to why-he should be nominated and re-elected: ‘ flis oath ot ollice is his only pladge. His record is your guarantee. His experience is your protection. ’ It is tkercloru incumbent upon the voter to scan Hie record that is your guarantee, and the experience that is your protection. The last report o f the industrial Accident Commission siiows that $100,Dili) lias been marked o tf from the value ot securities in Hie Industrial Accident lund fur depreciation as a result oi the investments made with the funds by ¡Stale Treasurer llo ff. these investments in questionable securities of money reserved for widows and orphans resulted in a grand jury investigation ol the stale treasurer s office two years ago, exposing as great a scandal as ever broke under the dome ot the capitol, showing that the slate investments were practically turned over to a corrupt bond house, . men was given a virtual monopoly ot investing state lunds by l lie slate treasurer. • • • • The grand jury, of which Gideon Sloltz, of Salem, was fore man, found Dial the state treasurer often paid for bonds long be fore their issuance or delivery, and thta the bond brokers were per muted i o make extortionate p rolils at the expense ol the slate, .o e jury reported: “ Htate Treasurer l l o f f purchased frum Mr. Etheridge, of Morris Bros. Juc., i rum January (i, 1919, to Aiuicli 15, 1920, bond* ol tiie pur value or $1,100, 029.09 at a cost lo Urn Htate ol Oregon ol $1,1 * 2,223.12, winch bonds cost M o rn s tiros. $1,088,147.113, g iv in g the enormous ¿trolit to JViorris tiro* iue., or $£.4,0 <0.09. The records turihe. reveal that bonds which were not in existence hud been sold by Mr. Etheridge to Htate Treasurer llo ti at an exorbitant prut'it, and puymeuts made iu full thereou by the state treasurer.” • # # * Instead ot purchasing bonds on the open market or buying directly from municipalities and saving the state excessive com missions Treasurer H olt’ made practically ail oi ins purchases through one bond house, permitting them to make excessive protits. About this, the grand ju ry said: ‘ ‘ The most flagrant example of excessive profits is the sale o f $ 100 , 000.00 water bonds o f lieedsport to the state treasurer at the enormous profit to M orris llros. of $l(i,0i9.90. On June 19, 1919, Keedspoit was incorporated. August 2oth same year M orris Tiros. Co. entered into contract with ii city o fiicials to take $100,000.00 of its bonds when issued for $92,320.00. Mr. Etheridge sold them on October 28, same year, to Htate Treasurer l l o l f lo r $108,399.90, and l l o f f paid him that day that amount. Thirteen da^ ~ later the city voted to issue said bonds amt forty four days later did issue and deliver them to M orris B ro s .” • • • • The graiul jury severely criticized the “ right appaieutly given by State Treasurer l l o f f whereby Morris Bros., Inc., were author ized to withdraw securities sold to file state, some o f which were offered for sale by Morris Bros., while they were yet held by the state treasurer.’ ’ The bond house lias authority to sell any first class security held by the state and substitute other security for it, leading the grand ju ry to remark, “ there should be no strings upon any ot the bonds purchased by the state o f Oregon.’ ’ Further, the grand ju ry reported: “ W e condemn the policy of State Treasurer H o f f iu investment of such large sums iu one investment; also condemn his praetiee o f buying bonds that pay a high rate o f interest regardless o f the property that must redeem the principal. S afety first should apply to investment o f public funds. Why should not the State of Oregon use as much intelligence in the investment ot its funds as it does in buying supplies! ” • • • • Attached to the grand ju r y ’s report and made a part o f it, was the auditor’* report o f the investigation made of the hooks of the treasurer and bond house, which revealed the fact that duriug the first month of Mr. H o f f’s administration, L. G. lluliii, who filled the office of deputy state treasurer as appointee of Mr. llo ff, was paid a commission by Morris Bros. Inc., tor bonds purchased by the state. To quote this report: “ On January 21, 1919, a payment o f $562.50 « a s made by w ithdraw in g that amount from the bunk by means of a check made out to the order oi cush. Tin* stub of this check contains tiie follow ing inform ation: ’ Cash for account of Htate Industrial Accident Commission % ol 1 per cent on $¡5,000,00 Astoria 5 ’s dated October X, 1918.’ W e were inform ed by Mr. John L. Etheridge, of Morris Bros, inc., that this was a commission pain to Mr. L. O. Huiin, at that time deputy state treasurer, on a sale of those bouds to the state January 24, 19X9. This amount was charged to the eommissiou account ou the books ot M orris Bros. Inc. “ la the same account we find that amounts tolaliug $315.33 were charged as commission paid to L. U. Huliu February 5, 1919, by uicaus o f a check made to the order o f L. U. Huiin which plus the eouunissiou of $562.50 on the Astoria bonds, Mr. H uliu received a totul commission o f $877.83 for sale of bonds from M orris Bros, to the Htate of Oregon. ’ ’ A fter the adjournment o f the legislature, Representative .1, G. Richardson succeeded Mr. Huliu as depuly treasurer and practi cally all o f the slate treasurer’s bond business was turned over to John L. Etheridge, o f Morris Bros. Inc., who invested the slate funds in whatever security al whatever price he desired and reaped u fabulous profit, the state treasurer apparently not earing about the security as long as the interest was at a high rate. As a result o f the expose, the grand jury recommended the taking away from the state treasurer the right qf investing state moneys amt the placing ot it with the state board o f control a recommendation enacted into law at tbe next session ol tiie legisla ture. Mr. H o ff was not and is not accused o f dishonesty but his competency was challenged. The conduct of lus office Itas dem onstrated his lack o f business acumen. • • • • In the argument for his re-election, Mr. H off praises himself for increasing interest earnings o f the funds in his charge. For this, o f course, lie is to be commended, but the saving thereby resultant does not begin to ottset the loss lo the state due to de preciation o f poor investments. Mr. H o ff has handled more money than his predecessor, due to increased revenues from taxation, from highway ami bonus bond sales, blit this entailed relatively little more work. I In the other hand part o f the work formerly done by the treasurer, the state land loans, have been taken away from his department altogether, despite which he has spent over double the amount ot money that his predecessor spent. The lust legislature appropriated for the state treasurer for two years. 1 hiring the first year lie spent •+26,227.44 in addition to $I4,64;< out o f the inheritance tax fund. Ho that his total cost per year is over $40,000, as against $1!),550 for the last year o f his predecessor. Neither as investor, nor as guardian o f public funds, nor as economist nor as administrator has Mr. H off earned re-election. His opponent, Thomas F. Ryan, o f Oregon i ’ity, wa* for eight years assistant state treasurer and his qualifications for the office seem superior to those o f Mr. H o ff— at least they could not be poorer. Mr. H o ff’s record is certainly no guarantee and his experience no protection to the l»eople. (Paid Advertisement by Ryan for Treasurer Ctub, Hal E. Huss, Beeretary Treasurer, Oregon City, Oregon)