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About Oregon City courier. (Oregon City, Or.) 1902-1919 | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1916)
University OREGON CITY C to 34th Year OREGON CITY, OREGON, THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1916 Number 1 OU REFUND RISE ON CITY SECURITIES . SOAR TWO POINTS IN ALMOST AS - MANY MINUTES NET RESULT, THOUGH. NOTHING Jitney Ordinance Ghost Dances into Session and Out Again. New Cemetery Plat is Ordered Oregon City's refunding bonds were quoted at 9(5 in the council chamber Wednesday night, and a few momenta later rose to 97. Shortly after this they were quoted at 98, with 99 bid but when the market clos ed they were quoted at 300 loads of dirt. Which, in a, nutshell, tells the story of a spectacular financial battle in which M. D. Latourette, F. B. . Pratt and Christian Schuebel starred, witti the council playing as chorus The bond matter came "up well to wards the close of the meeting, when Recorder Loder announced that the time had come to open bids for the five percent, 20-year securities voted by the people some months ago. The only bid appearing was sub mitted by M. D. Latourette, who offered to sell the bonds to a Denver buyer for par nnd accrued interest; Jtmt who asked four percent on the transaction as his fee for acting as the city's fiscal agent. A certified check for $5,000 accompanied Mr. Latourette's proposal. Councilman Roake did some figur ing, and then asked if he understood things correctly. "Your proposition, Mr. Latourette, means that the city will get 96 for the bonds," he asked. Mr. Latourette said Mr. Roake had figured it out exactly. F. B, Pratt, agent for Morris Brothers, who have bought many of the former issues of city bonds, then bobbed up. He said that if the coun cil would give him a 20-day option on the bonds he believed he could get a buyer who would pay par and accru ed interest, and that for such service his firm would charge the city a fee of but one-half of one percent. Mr. Latourette's commission, of four per cent, he pointed out, would amount to between $11,000 and $12,000. Mr. Latourette assured the coun cil that he was acting solely in the city's interest, but added that every time the bonds were "hawked around" and not bought, the city would lose a point or two in valuation. A some what spirited discussion of bonds in general and the refunding bonds in particular then followed. Finally Mr. Schuebel took a hand in the discussion. After reviewing the question as to whether the seven mill levy provided for the bonds would be sufficient to care for the principal and interest within the 20 years life of the securities, and con cluding that it would if nothing un expected happened, Mr. Schuebel sprung a new solution of the muddle." "It seems to me that the sen sible thing to do," he said, "would be to go back to the people again with an amendment to the bonding ordi nance, and ask that power be given the council to levy seven mills or as much more as might be necessary to care for the interest and principal of the bonds. If the people should re fuse to grant the council this, we would be no worse off than we are at present; and if they grant it, the only technical objection to the bonds would be removed. "Also, if the people do not give the council this power, we can turn round to the warrant holders and exchange the bonds for their warrants; or if they don't want to take the bonds, we can let them keep on holding the war rants. I am certainly not in favor of paying $13,000 simply to sell the bonds at this time, when we can go to the people and perhaps settle all difficulties for $75 or $85. Oregon City must meet its obligations any way, so the bonds are worth at least par all the time or else they aren't worth anything." General discussion of all the pro posals was then indulged in by the council in informal session. Finally Mr. Templeton was hit with a bright idea, and suggested that the matter be referred to the finance committee and the mayor and city attorney, and that they -report back by Friday night Mr. Latourette wanted an immediate report on the matter, and said that if the Council 'would act at once, he would raise his bid from 96 to 97. Cheered by this advance, the council talked a little more, and Mr. Latourette announced that he would increase his bid another point ana make it 98, subject to telegraphic confirmation of his client. Councilman VanAuken wanted to wait till Friday night, so Mr. Pratt could get a bid from his client. . Councilman Roake put this suggestion in the form of a motion. "You want to move first to reject my bid," said Mr. Latourette. Mr. Roake said he didn't want to do anything of the kind; that -while the council had called for bids Wed nesday, there was nothing in the A LITTLE TALK ABOUT CIRCULATION, AND WHY THE COURIER LEADS 'EM , J The Courier has a larger - circulation than all the other Jt papers in Clackamas county J put together. . , The Courier wouldn't say Si this if it wasn't so. And if it wasn't so the other papers.' J would prove that it wasn't. J People . read the Courier . i from the front page to the ! back. They read the adver- tisements, because they know that Courier ads are truthful, J J and that bargains described in Courier ads are real bargains. i And people aren't "stop v ping" , ythe Courier, either. 5 Every week a dozen or so of ! good folk come in and plunk J J down their little dollar, so they J J can read the Courier for a J i year. They like it. J - You can come in any time S J and give us a dollar for the . 6 Courier for one year, and we'll J guarantee to give you several v dollars' worth of good reading & J in return newsy reading, of J the sort that will interest and J help you. jt . J? itrtr ip K" jp jp f" t? jp r K" ? if j? BLAST KILLS MAN R. P. Wallace Dies in Oregon City Hospital from Wounds Digging in his field near Mulino to find out what caused a blast he had set several days ago to fail in dis charge, R. P. Wallace Tuesday thru3t the blade of his shovel into the mass of giant powder. In the .re sulting explosion he sustained three fractured ribs, a fractured skull and probably internal injuries. His son, assisted by neighbors, carried him to his home, where he lay four hours before Dr. Mount, of Oregon City and Dr. Dedman, of Canby, both of whom had been summoned, could reach his side. The doctors at once ordered his removal to the Oregon City hospital. Shortly after his arrival there he died, and the remains were turned over to the Myers & Brady funeral establishment for burial. Funeral arrangements had not been made at the time the Courier went to press. Kohler on Fence H. W. Kohler, of Oswego, demo cratic candidate for sheriff two years ago, and heretofor regarded as this years candidate on the democratic side, says he doubts very much if he will declare himself in the race be fore the primaries. Mr. Kohler is well known in the county, and it is believed he would like to be the democratic nominee for sheriff; but his friends do not blame him for hesi tating about coming out. It is under stood, however, that if Mr. Kohler's name is written in on the ballots so that the nomination will go to him, he will make the race for the office. world to compel them to accept "bids at the same time. Mr. Schuebel bore him out on this legal point, and then offered further advice. "I'd reject the bid of 96 right off the reel," said Mr. Schuebel. And I think the council ought to sleep on this matter at least one night, and possibly talk it over with the war rant holders. The Bank of Oregon City, the First National Bank and other business houses are vitally in terested in this matter, and they ought to be considered." Raymond Caufield, deputy city treasurer, thought the matter ought to go over to Friday night. Mr. Lat ourette said that if it did he would not leave his certified cheque of $5,000 up to cover his bid of 98. Put to a vote, Mr. Roake's motion carried, and the bond matter went over to Friday. " Also Mr. Latourette drew down his cheque, and all bids, from 96 to 99 were off. It was at this point that Mr. Williams, who was waiting to talk to the council on an other matter, offered to give 300 loads of sand for the whole bond is sue. The council meeting didn't start off with any hint of the frenzied finan cial minutes that were to follow. Mr. Loder opened the session by readingj letters irom tne uregonian and Jour nal, both of which papers declared that they were opposed to "boot jacking" "phony" extras in Oregon City. No reply to the mooted ques tion of "extras that weren't extras" was received from either the Tele gram or the News. Mr. Loder also read letters from the Southern Pacific railroad and the state railroad commission relative to the installation of safety devices at the Eleventh street crossing:. The railroad commission wanted to help, and the railroad company said it had "investigated" the matter and would "act without delay." This matter has been agitated for the past two years. Attention of the council was call ed by the Courier to an apparent vio lation of the law by the city in sell ing graves in the new division of the city cemetery. This addition to the cemetery has never been legally plat ted, and no legal plat of it has been filed. The state laws provide that: ' "Any person or persons who shall dispose of or offer for sale, or lease for any time, any lot or lots in any town or addition to any town or city, or any part thereof which has been (Continued on Page 8) LOCAL CITIZENS DO KINDLY DEED QUICK RESPONSE GIVEN WHEN COURIER ASKS FOR AID IN BURYING HAYCK FUNERAL SERVICE IS SIMPLE Men and Women Glad to Assist in Ef fort to Give Elderly Farmer Suitable Cemetery Grave "How much, then, is a man of more value than a sheep." These words, from the twelfth verse of the twelfth chapter of Mat thew, enunciated by the Rev. W. T, Milliken at the close of his funeral sermon over the remains of the late James Hayek last Thursday after noon, fittingly summed up the spirit that was back of the effort to give the poor remains of the burned farm laborer a fitting burial, even if it was two months after his death. It was the realization that James Hayek had once been a man that made local folk volunteer so much in his behalf; and that made men and Women forget the station in life that had been occupied by James Hayek when he was alive.' Dr. Milliken opened Jus funeral sermon with . the story of the shep herd who left the ninety and nine sheep to go in search of the one that was lost, and with this as a text, as it were, brought out the fact that the remains lying still in the white cas ket at one side of the chapel had once been a man, filled with the breath of God, and living with a man's hopes and ambitions. "This man, in respect to whose memory wer'are now gathered here," said Dr. Milliken," was once a little baby. Somewhere, we . know not where, he was held in his mother's arms; somewhere a good woman look ed upon his face knowing that he was her son, and dreamed dreams of that son's future. Sometime, we know not when, this baby grew to man's estate, and went out into the world to carve his own life. He had his ambitions, his hopes, as every young- man must have. He had his ideals, his plans, and he tried to follow them, as'every man must do. We know naught of his life; we know but little of its close save that it was tragic. But we know he was a man, that he was a creature of God's; and because of that we know that he should have decent burial, and a word of prayer over his grave." Last week, when the Courier told of the odd circumstances that had sur rounded the death of James Hayek, and of the virtual abandonment of his bones in the ruin of his cabin be tween Beaver Creek and High land, there was an instant recog nition of the fact that something radically wrong had occurred. As women folk of the neighboring dis trict had felt about it, so did -the big- hearted men and women of Oregon City feel; and when the Coftrier started the plan for a real funeral for James Hayek, the response was spon taneous and highly gratifying. The Rev. W. T. Milliken volunteer ed to conduct funeral services. The Myers and Brady undertaking estab lishment volunteered the use of their chapel, County Judge Anderson, on behalf of the county court, and in spite of the fact that the matter of James Hayek had once been officially settled, said the county court would stand the cost of giving his remains a fitting receptacle and burial. John W. Loder volunteered the use 'of his automobile to transport the casket from the undertaker's chapel to Mountain ' View cemetery. Ladies of the Baptist church expressed an in terest in the case, and as a result there were beautiful flowers on the casket when the funeral exercises were held. And then came the surprises. Mr. Myers and Mr. Brady, of the under taking firm, not satisfied with the county court's willingness to provide a plain box for the remains of the dead stranger, talked matters over be tween themselves. They wanted to do something, too and so James Hayek came to have a neat white casket, with a silver plate on top bearing the words "At Peace," and with four silver lillies upon 'the sides. Then leading men and women of Oregon City .heard of the affair, and they wanted to do something, to show that they believed a man was worth more than a sheep. A small purse was sub scribed; turned over to the Courier, and the sum thus realized was used in paying for details of the funeral that would otherwise have been lacking. At the funeral Mrs. L. H. Olmsted sang two beautiful solos, the final one being "We Shall Meet Beyond the River." As the final chords ' of the prophetic words died away, there were wet eyes in the chapel, and there was deep and serious thought everywhere. Those who made the real funeral of James Hayek possible, either by attending or by helpfully contribut ing money or effort, were as follows: the Rev. W. T. Milliken, Mrs. W. T. Milliken, Mrs. L. H. Oliiisted, the Myers & Brady company, B. N, Hicks, J. D. Olson, Charles T. Sievers, CONGRATULATIONS IN ORDER. Courier- Celebrates Natal Day 34 Years of Useful Service. Thirty-four years ago this after noon March 23, 1882, to be exact this newspaper was founded in Ore gon City. At that time it was not called the Courier, in fact 1882 was so long ago, that very few of the old timers hereabout will remember what name the Courier went under in those days. That isn't material any how. Suffice to sav. the earlv newsna- Der began to erow from that date. and durinir ths uns and downs nf its journalistic career has maintained a healthy growth, even if its name has been changed once or twice during the interim. The start was modest. Some 75 copies made up the whole circula tion of the first issue. The Courier 'can hardly refrain from shaking hands with itself. Its influence has extended as the years have rolled along, and now it carries not only a wide prestige, but also the largest bona fide circulation of any country weekly in the state of Oregon. The Courier is first, last, and all the time, a paper of the people. It will continue to grow, tinder the pres ent management, as it has during its former administrations, And in making this statement, we are not unmindful nor unappreciative of the loyal support which has been tender ed by the people of Clackamas coun ty, and without which tho Courier on its 34th birthday,' would have been no more important than when the first issue was struck from the old Washington hand-press In the early spring of 1882. G COMPANY INSPECTED Federal Officers Put Militiamen Through Their Paces Forty-two enlisted members of G Company, Oregon City's militia or ganization, faced federal inspection bravely Wednesday night in Armory hall, and acquitted themselves with much credit. The men went through the manual of arms in good style, and managed the more intricate maneuvers of skirmish line advance and retreat well enough to join the United States forces' in Mexico. A small gathering of spectators watch ed the evolutions, and decided that the local company knew its business of soldiering. The report of the federal inspec tion will be made to the War De partment, and on this report will be determined the question as to whether or not the company will be disband ed. Those who saw the company in action, however, believe that the men acquitted themselves well, and that no order abolishing the. local com pany will be issued. NEW POST OFFICE? Secretary of Treasury Thinks $55,000 Enough for County Seat According to advices received from the national capital, Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo has reported on the Oregon City post office bill that he believes $55,000 wpuld be a suffic ient outlay for a federal building here, with an additional allowance of $10,000 for a site. Secretary Mc Adoo thinks a one-story building would be ample for local require ments. The report is on the Hawlev meas ure, introduced some time ago,- pro posing a much larger appropriation for a federal building in the county seat. Local boosters for a new nnst office are much encouraged to hear that the matter has finally reached Secretary McAdoo's hands. There is no aDDi'ODriation in sitrht for the building from the present session of congress. - DEDICATORY EXERCISES At Highschool Auditorium Monday Evening, March 27, at 8 O'clock The following is the complete pro gram of the dedication exercises to be held in the new highschool build ing Monday evening: Music, High School Orchestra, Prof. Gustav Flechtner, director;' in vocation, Rev. W. T. Milliken; music, High School Orchestra; address, J, A. Churchill, State Supt. Public In struction; address, Mrs. Eva Emery Dye; vocal solo, jOscait Lawrence Woodfin, Miss Holmes, accompanist; address, Dr. Kenneth Latourette; ad dress, Hon. J. E. Hedges, chairman Boarji of Directors; music, High School Orchestra; inspection, of build ing and equipment. Every" taxpayer, patron and friend is urged to be present. , Local Delegates Named President O. D. Ebv. of the Oretron City Commercial-club, has appointed H. Leiehton Kellv. H. E. Williams and Chas. Parker delegate from uack&mas county to the "prepared ness" convention to be held inSpo kane on March 27 and 28. , E. T. Mass, 0. W. Eastham, Charles benram, Jonn N. Sievers, George C. Brownell, W. A. Dimick, H. E. Cross, W. L. Mulvey, Grant B. Dimick, George Bannon, William J. Wilson, S. O. Dillman, Dr. L. A .Morris, Dr. H. S. Mount, O. D. Eby, W. A. Long, L Adams, John W. Loder and mem bers of the Courier staff. LUMBER I I STATE GROWING SO FAST IT HAS TO GET ITS SUPPLIES ' FROM WASHINGTON FEDERAL FIGURES CREDITABLE Interesting Comparison between Two Big States Shows Oregon Util izes Vast Amount Timber The Forest Service has just issued the results of a preliminary statistic al study to show the relation between the annual production of timber pro' ducts ana the consumption of such material Within the states of Oregon and Washington. This study has brought out the fact that Washington consumes in her timber industries over six billion board feet, or 82 per cent of her log production, and 87 per cent of all the wood cut from her forests annu ally; while Oregon uses in her tim ber industries nearly three billion board feet or 27 per cent in ex cess of her log production, and 16 per cent in excess of the wood cut from her forests each year. Owing to natural geographic conditions, she draws heavily on Washington for raw material for her mills and thereby conserves her own resources. Washington consumes 17 percent of her lumber production, or nearly eight hundred million feet. Of this, more than half is used for building purposes, about 7 per cent by the railroads, over one-third by the wood using industries, and a small percent age (.6 per cent) in mine work. Ore gon consumes nearly 20 per cent of her lumber production, or over four hundred million board feet. Of this amount, more than half is used by the building trade, approximately 12 per cent by the railroads, 30 per cent by the wood using industries, and a small fraction (.2 per cent) in mine work. When it comes to a per capita use of wood, the residents of Washington actually consume in the form of tim ber products within the state 225 cubic feet per capita annually, as com pared with 100 cubic feet per capita for the entire United States, while Oregon uses 217 cubic feet per capita. Eighty-two per cent of Oregon's consumption are for fuel purposes. The report covers lumber, lath, shingles, fuel, cordwood, poles, piling, railroad and mine ties, and fence posts. ', v BOY BANDIT CAUGHT Milwaukie Officers Capture Lad Who Broke Parole Two Years Ago Sunday Marshall Riley, of Milwau kie, assisted by Deputy Sheriff Mul len, captured Elmer Babcock, alias Frank Nolan, 17 years old, who es- capted from the state reform school two years ago. They brought the lad to the county seat and turned him over to Juvenile Officer Frost, who Sunday night returned the boy to the Salem institution to finish his term. Babcock was sent to the reform school from Woodburn. The youth was discovered by Mul len, sleeping in his barn. He was armed with a small revolver, a leather sap, and a pocket flash-light. He had with him $6.16, and told the officers, after he had been arrested, that he got the money from a man in Ta coma who gave him work. He said he carried his gun and sap to protect him in case he got into trouble on the road. The officers believe the boy has been traveling with yeggs since his escape from the reform school. RAIN CAUSES SLIDE Road to Barton Blocked by Several Hundred Yards of Earth The hard rains of the equinoxal storms of this week started a serious earth slide on the Bakers Bridge Barton road, where it passes through the steepest part of the Clackamas gorge, and over 200 tons of dirt and rock slipped down the hillside and fell across the highway. Traffic was entirely blocked on the main road, and teams and automobiles, had to detour over the narrow road on the opposite side of the river. Road men will tackle the job of clearing the slide at once, but it will probably be well towards the middle of next week before the main 'part of the slide is removed. ; It is esti mated that 250 cubic yards of earth tfill ,have to be moved, In .wf-: ' j clear tb? highway. ( . - Mrs. Lewthwahe Hurt ThtS old proverb "more hnsU, "less speed" was unfortunately illustrated in Gladstone this week, when Mrs. Gertrude Lewthwaite, a member of the office force of the Crown-Willamette Paper company ran for a car while on her way to work. Mrs. Lewthwaite slipped on the wet side walk and fell, breaking her left leg below the knee. She was taken to her home and given surgical aid, and is now resting as comfortably as could be expected. NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO REGISTER; ELSE YOUR BALLOT IS LOST jjt i Registration closes April 18. J There is less than a month J . left. J . If you don't register by J ' April 18, you cannot vote J this year, either at the primar- ies or- at the general election... i The only people who will be M i permitted to register after April 18 are those who may be admitted to citizenship after ! that date, ' pr those who be- ! come of age after that date. ! You don't want to lose your J vote this year there are too J . many important offices to bej ! i filled, and too many impor- J tant measures on which you J i should express an opinion. i The only SAFE thing to do J is to REGISTER TODAY. M DO IT NOW! J .jl .jt $ Jit t& t tt $ tit it Jt REV. T. B. FORD HERE Prominent Methodist Speaks at Lay men's Conference in County Seat . The Rev. T. B. Ford, former pastor of the first Methodist church m Ore gon City, and now superintendent of the Willamette valley district, visited Oregon City Monday evening and was the honor guest at a banquet given bythose interested in the laymen s missionary movement. After the banquet, which was given in the so cial hall of the Congregational church, the meeting took up a discussion of ways and means to increase the local church membersnip. J. W. Bowland was toastmaster. Short, snappy talks of the conference in question were made by W. E. Has sler, W. H. VanWay, George E. Ran dall, C. A. Williams, C. I. Stafford, R. B. Cox, J. F. Jack and Dr. T. B. Ford. Selections were rendered by the quartet of Messrs. Stafford, Goodwin, Calkins and Hawkins. Among those present were: the Revs. Curtin, of Molalla; Coleman, of Clackamas; L. F. Smith, of Portland, and John Woodfin of Salem, and F. J. Toosse, O. W. Eastham, E. C. Dye and M. Wilkinson, the last for forty years a deacon of the Oregon City Congregational church." NO TRUTH TO IT Roy Eaton! Not Killed, as Reported Late Last Week Roy Eaton, who reads meters fo the Portland Railway, Light & Power company, and who has the added dis tinction of being the youngest man in Clackamas county to travel on the trolley on a pass of his own, is not dead nor even half dead. He came into the Courier office himself and said so. Mr. Eaton's desire to have the Courier know he is still alive was the result of a report spread about the county seat last Saturday to the effect that he had been hurled from a car at Milwaukie and killed. Telephone calls to the morgues and hospitals failed to show any trace of Mr. Eaton; though officials of the P. R. L. & P. Co., admitted that it was pos sible that he had been murdered by employees of the Gas company. It later developed that Mr. Eaton, at the time of his reported fatal ac cident, was out inspecting power lines, and some wag telephoned to Oregon City the highly imaginary account of his death. MRS. NORRIS, PLAYRIGHT Production from Pen of Local Woman is Presented by Children Mrs. J..W. Norris, the wife of City Physician Norris, made her debut to county seat folk last week as the author of a play, and her drama was presented before the Woman's Club by a number of children. ' The title of the playlet, "Modernizing Grand ma," was most appropriate, and those who saw it and listened to its clever lines applauded the author heartily. The play was presented at the "Baby Night" entertainment given by the Woman's Club. Other features of the evening were songs by Mrs. W. C. Green, Mrs. C. F. Romig, Miss Matie Juhnke and Mrs. F. B. Schoen- born; and a debate between Mrs. F. J. Tooze and Mrs. J. R. Landsborough on "Resolved, that the modern way of bringing up children is better than the old." .. HELP FOR BIRDS Humane Society Leaders Will Prose, cute Boys Who Kill Robins Recent complaints that many small boys have been hunting and killing robins and other song birds, and that the youngsters have been seriously interfering with liest making, have been received by Mihs Anita McCarver of the Clackamas County Humane So ciety; anil' -members of the organise? tion have been awked to .be. on the watch for jiuch actions." , Boys caught annoying or attack ing song birds in the future will be apprehended and prosecuted by the society. There is a fine of from five to ten dollars provided for such acts of wantonness; and as the Humane Society folk are in earnest, quite a number of county seat lads are in greater jeopardy than they may realize. You can get the Courier for one year for $1.00 if you pay in advance. CHARITY DAS 'S GREATEST SINGLE EXPENSE IN 1915 WAS FOR CARE AND PROVISION FOR POOR CIRCUIT COURT ALSO COSTLY Experting of County Books Brings Out Many Facts That Will Prove of Interest to All Taxpayers In 1915 it cost Clackamas county $11,524.66 to care for the indigent poor. This does not include $9,673.63 that was paid out in "mothers' pen- , sions," lior does it include $435 which the county paid to help support indi gent soldiers. The whole $11,524.66 went out in little amounts for coun ty relief of men, women and families who could not care for themselves. Commenting on these figures, J. O. Staats, deputy assessor, who has just completed experting the county books, . says in his report: "The greatest single item of ex pense is the care of the unfortunates of the county, who are unable to care for themselves. This seems to be growing more rapidly than any other county expense, and it would seem a wise move to make some provision by which all those supported by the coun ty could be grouped together and cared for with greater economy. The amount spent in two years under the present method would purchase a farm and provide buildings where they could be housed and save the rent now being paid, and the neces sary provisions could be purchased in quantities at a much lower figure than is now paid from month to month. "The farm, under reasonably care ful management, would contribute largely in defraying the expense. "An itemized statement showing the exact cost of house rent, water, provisions, etc., that the county is forced to pay for under present con ditions, if placed before the taxpayers, would convince them or at least a large majority of them that a coun ty farm is necessary for the best in terests of the taxpayers themselves." As Mr. Staats so well points out, the great drain that charity has brought upon the county funds is caused mainly by the manner in . which county relief is given. It is not the fault of the county court that it has to be given in this way it is be cause the county has no poor farm or county home of any kind where the ; indigent could be concentrated - and cared for in an economical way. Re lief has to be given to each case in dividually, and the fact that the poor are widely scattered throughout the county, and that they cannot at pres ent be given any county employment , that would aid them in caring for themselves, makes the drain all the heavier. Under the expense Items of the county, the circuit court comes next after the large item for the care of the indigent poor. Last year the circuit court cost the county $10,214. 37. This amount, however, was not an absolute drain, as fines Imposed helped offstand some of the outlay. Ia--wMltibn to this, many of the court costs were concerned with keep ing order in the county, with the punishment of -crime, and with better ing conditions generally. . According to the report submitted to the county court by Mr. Staats, the sheriff's office, exclusive of tax collection charges, cost the county $4,219.48 in 1915. The tax collector's bureau cost $3,230.89. These figures differ quite materially from a set of figures given out by the sheriff's office early in the year and printed in the Oregon City Enterprise on January 7, when it was claimed that the sheriff's office had been run dur ing 1915 at a total cost of $4,534.38; which sum was declared to INCLUDE the cost of the tax-collecting work for three-quarters of the year. As the tax collecting work for the year cost $3,230.89, it is reasonable to assume that for three-quarters of v that time (w)en the work was charg ed to the sheriff's office) it amounted to three-quarters of that sum, or ap proximately $2,423.16. Adding this sum to the actual expense of the sheriff's office and the work done therein during 1915 -which is quite a different figure from the $4,534.38 claimed by the sheriff earlier in the year: some $2,108.26 difference, in fact. - - .. - Mr. Staats' report shows a number COUNT! of things that will inWresf taxpay- ? era. VXvm October 1, 1914 to Janu-. ary 1, 1916, there was collected in taxes $753,406.19, and back taxes from the rolls, of1 1907 to 1914 in-,, elusive ;were yet uncollected to the extent of $119,570.60. . During 1915 the recorder's office took in as fees a total of $6,303.06. It cost $3,965.60 to run the office, so under Recorder Dedman the office took in as fees a, total of $6,303.06. It cost $3,905.60 to run the office, so under Recorder Dedman the office paid its own expenses and then left hnd- some balance for the county. (Continued on Page 8)