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About The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 1914)
ONTARIO--The future Metropolis of f astern Oregon The Banner Wool Market for the Interior of Oregon (ftttfuri -The Ontario Argus lends in Prestige, merit, and Circula tion. Watch usjrrow M &vgm. mm The Produce from 15,000,000 acres is marketed from On tario each year Representative Newspaper of Ontario and Malheur County. VOLUME XVIII ONTARIO. OREGON, THURSDAY. OCTOBER 29. 1914. NO. 44 I Vote for Ontario and Receive a New Court House Free Vote for Vale and be Taxed for a new $200,000 Court House MALHEUR COUNTY'S DONATIONS TO THE CITIZENS OE VALE FOR PAST MONTHS From October 1, 1913, to August 31, Mil 1. Is it the Tax Payers League or the Tax Eaters League. Vnlo Ih sending out tons of litera ture containing arguments In fnvor of retaining the county seat at Vale imilcr tho roRiiomon of "Taxpayer League" to create the Impression that all the taxpayers of Malheur county are fighting to removal of the coun ty aeat at Ontario. We helleve that the name of the no-called league might more appropriately dc ohih the "TaxeaterH MtfM, aH you win find nearly all the people Identified with the "Taxpayer! Loaguo" on the o(hi n ty payroll, at well as nearly all the Vale pooplo, and the few dollars that some of them may pay In taxes to tho county are Just a drop In the bucket to the Kraft they get out of the county. An examination of the hills paid for the flical year, ending September 30, 1!14, discloses how the major portion of the general fund of Malheur county Ih diabursed to the Vale Taxeaters. nearly tho entire appropriation for xeneral road fund being disbursed to Vale employees ror. taoor or 10 Vale tradesmen for supplies. If there should happen to be any of the "(lenerous Cltlxens" of Vale whose names do not appeal the ounty payroll, they would Immed iately ascertain from the Vale "Tax- eaters league" why they aru not let in on the graft. Here Is the list of Vulo "Taxeaters." This Hat does not Include the sal aries or expenses of regular county officers, or bills allowed at the Sep tember. 1914, term of court These bills shown here are for 11 months on'v. from October 1. 1913. to Septem ber 1, 1914. J. A. Newton $106.00 W. B. Newton 1-00 M.-wyn Newton B0-u0 Hay lee c McDonald 47.25 J l Miller 20.00 J. r. Miller MM A. W. Glenn 315B0 A. W. Qlenn 38000 J.A.Randolph 00 Vale Trading Co 6-35 Vale Trading Co I'-10 J. 8. Wooda 1-B0 W. H. Crlpe 108.00 Jim Roberts ?-60 Interior Warehouse 2.70 W. L. niaylock 800 Ed. Blaylock 12.00 W. L. niaylock IM Levi Wilson 17-25 Don Smith 12.00 Wm. Plaisted 2.00 R. I. Hlaylock 1 Geo. P. I lurk l.y 214.26 Geo. P. Berkley 85.00 H. C. Edwards 132.00 Paul Grandona 17160 Lee Shelton 00 Floyd Howard 47.00 le Shelton , 49.50 Alex Holden 6.00 Paul Grandona ,;" " J. H. Kills 91.00 Ralph Draper 100 H. C. Kdwarda 41.50 Henry Eldredge 100.00 A. C. Batchelor 800 J. F. Miller 35.00 Geo. Donaldson 1200 Drexel Drug Store 29.65 Vale Trading Co 36.00 R. M. Duncan 25.00 J. H. Ellis 4.00 Malheur Ford Co 7.75 F. L. Williams 65.00 Paul G. Freeman 16-10 CL T. Uoynton 6100 F E. Barkley 52.00 role & Smith 49.00 Go. A. Newman 980 I B. Harland 24.50 Malheur Enterprise 139.75 Hoard of prisoners 207.12 L- E. Hill 11.00 F. J. Froman P. J. Hull Chester Store Home Lbr. Co Vale Electric Co Drexel Motel W. O. Norton Julleii Hurley J. K. Bowman J. K. Howman A. W. Glenn L. H. Harland ('has. Copel Geo. A. Newman role & Smith Houston Office exp Vale Garage Vale Garage Vale Garage , Vale Garage B. W. Dlmm Det Johnson Oeo. McKnight Wearer Randolph Kail'" Dnier A. C. Batchelor James Miller , 8. G. Bull Vale Hard Co Vale Trading Co H. C. Neely J. F. Miller F. M. Vines T. W. Halllday A. C. Palmer A. W. Mm F. H. Kicker W. P. Harris Empire Lbr. Co. Vale Ralph Draper Int. Warehouse Co KnieHt Sloper J. F. Miller Warren Dillon A. C. Batchelor Wm. McCaliu Ralph Hoyt J. F. Miller Selby Transfer Co Albert Thittle J. F. Miller Sarah E. Flint Ind Malheur Enterprise W. G. Norton Pastime Lunch . Joe Boyer Drexel Hotel Co Delia Nelson Louis Hill asses Vale Elec. Co Malheur Tel. Co City of Vale J. E. Bowman Board prisoners T. T. Nelson T. T. Nelson Malheur Ford Co Drexel Drug Co C. T. Boynton Vale Drug Store Geo. McKnight exp Mrs. F. E. Barkley Empire Luni Co. Vale H. H. Meador C. C. Romph Sarah E. Flint Ind A. C. Gunderson Z. G. Wilson G. A. Newton John Simons Jullen rfurlejr Z. G. Wilson Bailiff Z. G. Wilson. Bailiff Z. G. Wilson Malheur Ford Co J. R. Weaver, sup L. E. Hill City of Vale Water Mrs. F. E. Barkley Ind B. Rose & Co I. F. S. Diven Empire Lbr. Co. Vale C. f. Boynton Drexel Drug Co Vale Trading Co I Continued on Local Page 17.50 220.75 13.50 343.60 28.66 21.00 12.75 20.00 132.95 3.00 49.00 24.60 38.00 94.83 6.00 .67.74) 1.76 64.00 26.00 12.00 46.00 10.00 22.00 24.75 36.76 66.76 100.00 6.00 11.26 126.21 S4.60 206.00 64.36 26.46 5.00 175.60 24.00 5.00 70.40 S.60 730.76 4.00 1.00.00 16.60 90.75 39.25 34.60 27.36 1.41 2.50 100.00 4.00 162.26 6.00 4.00 3.00 31.00 7.40 17.90 44.60 82.10 8.90 130.00 166.80 10.56 76.00 4.50 4.00 175.50 11.05 69.20 62.00 14.76 2.00 3.42 4.00 16.00 3.00 140.00 15.00 25.00 9.00 6.00 9.00 12.05 3:'".94 5.00 6.55 52.00 4.15 131.30 6.85 125.75 12.10 IS, 15 THE VALE MEN HAVE AGAIN BEEN ASKED TO WHAT THE VALE COURT HOUSE HAS COST DEBATE WITH THE ONTARIO SPEAKERS; MALHEUR COUNTY DURING PAST TEN YEARS They Evidently Realize They Have No Favorable Argu ments to Advance and Decline the Proposition. FARMERS AM) 1M SIM-ftS nn mm Nyssa. Ore. Oct. 24, 1914 Mr. Harry B. (irauel, Secretary Ontario Commercial Club, Ontario, Oregon. Dear 8lr: At a meeting of the aliove named organization, I win Instructed to com municate to the speakers of Vale and Ontario a hearty Invitation to hold a Joint debate In the City of Nyssa to discuss the following question, to-wit: Is the removal of the County Seat of Malheur County from the City of Vale to the City of On tario, on the terms submitted to the voters of said County, desir able from the standpoint of the voters and taxpayers of Nyssa and community? So aa to allow ample time to make all preliminary arrangements, I would suggest the night of November Second as a desirable -time to hold the debate. In the event of your acceptance, please let me have your views promptly so that the matter can be promptly ar ranged. Very truly yours, P. J. PHILLIPS. ONTARIOCOMMERCIALCLUB To the Farmers and Business Mens League, Nyssa, Or.. P. J. Phillips, Secretary: Gentlemen: In acknowledgement of the re ceipt by me thla morning, of yours under date October 24th, request ing the Ontario People to hold a Joint discussion on the subject of Nyssa's Interest In the question of the County Seat removal on the eve of November 2nd, 1914, at Nyssa, Oregon, will say that I am authorized to accept uncondition ally this Invitation on the part of the Nyssa people and will thank on to advise us of your final disposition In this matter and will assure you that Ontario's side of this question will be presented In such a manner that no personal exreptlona can be taken by any one, even though they may not see this matter from an Ontario view point Trusting that all this will be to your entire satisfaction, 1 have the honor to be Very respectfully yours. HARRY B. ORAUttL, Secretary Commercial Club. Here Are the Figures Showing How Your Money Has Been Used to Keep Up Repairs. VALE HAS IMPORTED FOREIGNERS TO VOTE DESTROYING THE WILL OF THE TAXPAYERS At the Fair election last fall every man. and woman In Vale and Grange voted and the total was 603. There has been little change there in the way of new people, many of the men who were formerly employed In rail road yards have moved away, still the registration at this time Is 938. almost double. Allow them a normal gain of twenty per cent in the year and there are still over 300 people to account for and this can only be done by Including the floaters they have there for election purposes only. As a taxpayer and resident of the county what do you think of a community that goes to such means to defeat the will of the residents of the county who pay the taxes and keep up the schools and other Institutions. Do you believe that the time is here to take the con trol of the county from such people? lxok over the list of voters register ed and note the many from Vale .mil the adjoining precincts, Greek and Austrian names of mun, who are not cltlsens and never intended to be. HOW IT IS POSSIBLE TO BUILD A COURT HOUSE AT VALE WITHOUT VOTE OF PEOPLE J. W. McCulloch W. W. Wood McCULLOCH & WOOD. Lawyers. Ontario, Ore. Oct. 26. 114 To Whom It May Concern: I have been repeatedly asked the question whether or not Malheur coun ty can build a court house at the ex pense of the taxpayers without first giving the taxpayers of the county an opportunity to vote upon that question In answering this question I must sav that if an election should be called for the purpose of voting a tax to build a court house, and that election should carrv, the county would be com pelled to carry out the will of the people aud make the levy and raise the funds to build the court house. Hut It is not necessary that an election shall be held and u tote tuken before a court house could be built at the ex pense of the taxiayers of the county. The county c irt can without any request or vote of the people of the county . make n levy for the purpose of raising the necessary funds to build a court house. Some people of the county have a inlsuiidurstandlng of this matter, ob tained, no doubt, from reading Chap ter 234 of the lawa of 1918. That Chapter provides for the county court making up a budget or estimate and publishing the same, and Inciting a hearing or discussion before the levy is finally made. But there Is nothing In that law that requires the county court to adopt the suggestions of the taxpayers at the hearing or discus sion. If the county court should at the time of making its levy this fall, put in the budget a five mill tax for the purpose of building a court house, there is no power that would prevent that levy from being made, even though every taxpayer lu the countv should appear at the discus sion and hearing ami protest against the law. Very truly yours, j. w. McCULLOCH. THERE 1$ AN OMISSION IN THE OFFICIAL BALLOT IN NO. 332 Through an'error of the printer there is no rule between the lines of KU ami IB, so you will have to be careful ia marking your ballot so that the x will not cover both lines The Clerks of Election are requested to draw a line between these numbers before passing out the ballots. The publicity bureau of the Vale Chamber of Commerce, called the "Taxpayers" Mid the Vale Enterprise have rendered numerous false state ments to the public to create the Im pression that the citizens of Malheur County are obligated to retain the county seat at Vale, by reason of thn charitable donations which tho "Gen erous Citizens" of Vale have made to the count; In the way of a court house, as well as other public enterprises. Ignoring the question of veracity of the claims of Vale towards other pub lic enterprises of the county, let us consider what the facts are In regard to the Vale court house. The Vale Elnterprlse and the cir culars Issued by the Vale Chamber of Commerce under the mini de plume of "Taxpayers league." among other things, makes the statement: "Vale citizens erected the pres ent court house. The cost of the building ready for the furniture and ofrice fixtures was 112,600, all donated by Vale cltliens." The facts are that Vale had a coun ty seat fight on about fifteen years ago, and In order to Induce tho voters of the county to leave the county seat at Vale, the citizens of Vale pledged them selves that they would furnish a new courthouse for the county free of cost. As a result of this promise, the people of Ontario as well as other friendly taxpayers and voters support ed the Vale people In their fight to retain the county seat at Vale. How ever, Instead of keeping their pledge to the people of the county, that they would erect a substantial courl house lor the county, they slapped together some native stone found around Vale .ii. i erected a stone wall shell at a cost of $r,0()0 as claimed by Vale, then under the pretense that they were unable to supply the remulnlug funds to finish the court house, they petition ed the county court to finish the Job, a hiih they set forth would cost the county only $3,000. The records do not seem to disclose Just exactly what It cost the county to finish the court house, but the Vale Building Committee estimated the cost would be about $3,000, however, Inas much as they claim that the total cost of the court house, on the date when the county officers moved In the build ing, on or about January 9th, 1913, was $12,500, the county must have been mulched out of $7,600, at least for building the courthouse. The truth about the court house at Vule Is best disclosed by the petition Bled with the County Clerk or Mai heur County on May 11th, 1901, and signed by the Hope brothers of Vale, as well as others who are now con spicuous as the champions of Taie lu the county seat fight, and plainly shows the perfidy and deceit practised upon the taxpayers and voters of Mai heur County In the present county seat Issue. An examination of this peti tion of file with the County Clerk of Malheur County should readily con vince any taxpayer or voter whether or not the county seat should be re moved from Vale, for the false state ments they have made lu regard to their charity towards the count, und lor the false promises made to the electors of the county to induce them to retain the county seat ut Vale at a previous election entitle them to no consideration. Here Is the public dm u inent that is signed by the Hope lirothers and other leading Vale Tax pavers in 1901, which brands the statements issued by the Vale "Tax pajrafl League," of which they are members, as absolutely false: i nil ioimv doubt ok rai ST All: 01 OlIfiOMi HHC Mil- BUI CO! NTT. To the Honorable Board of County Commissioners: Gentlemen: We, the undersigned, your petition ers, respectfully represent that the committee heretofore chosen by the i citizens of Malheur county to sollclte runds and expend the same for the erection mid building of a court bouse upon the county property on the court house square In the Town of Vale; suld committee reports as follows: That said building has been erected to the height or 30 reel, with n stone wall 18 Inces thick, and 60x80, with door casing and window casing In both stories, together with the Joists lor each floor; and nearly enough stud ding foi all the partitions, In place, at an expenditure or about $6,000. The committee has used all or Its ready means which was subscribed for that purpose; there tnuy be a rew dol lars more provided these subscriptions are fully paid; whatever that sum may be. It Is the purpose of the com mittee to present that to the county for i be purpose of defraying the ex penses of completing the building. The contractor has been fully paid, and there Is no Indebtedness against the building at the present time. Therefore, we, your petitioners, re spectfully ask that your honorable body ut once make provisions for the completion or the same; at a cost not to exceed $3,000. And we urge as a further reason,, that It the walls are left as they now stand, wholly un protected, In a short time their value will be greatly repreclated. Hoping that you will take immediate action lu this, we remain Yours, (Signed) M. G. HOPS, 1. W. HOPE, W. W. CAVINESS, K. M. VINK.S. J. 8. EDWARDS, and other "Generous Vale Citlxens". While it is almost impossible to as certain correctly bow much the court house at Vale has coat the taxpay ers or Malheur County, In addition to the "$3,000," which the Vale Building Committee asserted It would take to finish the Job, yet the Information given out by the "Taxeaters League ' or Vale and by the Vale Enterprise Is as follows (Refer ring to the Vale court house), "The same building could not be duplicated for $25,000. To this has beeu added the vaults and various other Improvements, not the leust or which is the beautiful shade aud lawn which only time and care can create." "The Jail cost the county at that time $.,,iMMi H is therefore safe to say that the present building aud Its Improvements are worth not less than forty thousand dol lars." While any sane person would take Issue with the statement that the pres ent building is worth not less thau fort' thousand dollars, yet there Is no doubt but what tin- tuxpuyers of Mal heur County have been mulched aud graftal out of more than that amount, in lounlv officers, who weiv residents of Vulu making piecemeal appropria tions from year to year to make tho court house hubltahle. The county judges of Malheur County, us well as the KMial) clerks, have ull been resi dents of Vule lor over rifle, u years past and In order to baviMaf IsM tax fj ir ami Ml er up the court hou. u,i paanriations, the various amounts ex pended for lourt house tiuprow menu und repairs have beou charged off to Continued on Editorial I'age.