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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 16, 1900)
faBw? 1 ?". !f""-H -fwitSGJ?" " THE MOHNINGr OBE(xONIANr TUESDAY, JAHUABjT ,3-6, 1900, TAX IS 4.8 MILLS School District No. 1 Votes This Year's Levy. TWO REPORTS FROM DIRECTORS Gliairmc.iL Stro-wbridjje Ivored a Iower Tax, but the Other Four Were Ag-ainst Him. A meeting of the taxpayers of school district No. 1 was held at the high school building last evening, and a special levy of 4.8 mills was "voted. One of the taxpayers present remarked that he had attended a good many school meetings, but none of them -were as much muddled up as this one. Thero -were 200 people In attendance, about a dozen being women. Most of their countenances threw out a ray ol congratulation when they discovered chairs in the hall on the lower floor and that they would not have to climb up to the assembly hall. At 8 o'clock Chairman Strowbrldge called the meeting to order, and Clerk AUon read his financial statement, which was as follows: Financial Showing:. The following report of receipts and ex penditures for the year was rendered by Clerk Allen: To the Taxpayers of School District No. 1, Multnomah County. Oregon: Ladies and Gentlemen I herewith submit for your consideration the following state ment of funds received and disbursed for the year ending this date: Balance on hand as per last re port 5 233 47 Receipts County school fund....$244,437 92 State school fund 30.649 S3 Special tax of 1896 2,239 2S Special tax of 1897 13,562 06 Special tax of 189S 145.444 85 Delinquent taxes 1,148 94 Tuition 543 75 Sundry cash receipts... 394 55 BUls payable, notes given since last report 105,600 00 543,821 33 Total Disbursements Teachers' salaries $181,442 Janitors' salaries 14,713 Clerk's salary 1,500 Supt. clerks salary.... 740 Supt. of repairs' salary 900 New buildings Pulton Park school....? 2,837 Thompson school 2.SS5 New Holladay school.. 25,104 Portland Homestead... 6,719 $544,054 80 54 50 00 00 O0$199,296 04 99 07 35 27? 37,545 68 51 43 16 09 21 48 33 95 04 03 20 76 05 17 72 91 86 77 43 65 75 65 47 35 50 2S 40 15 7,813 30 itepairs to buiiamgs High school building..? Harrison school Failing school Atkinson school Park school Couch school .".V Chapman school Ainsworth school Fulton school Williams-avenue Albina Central school.. Multnomah school .... Highland school Holladay North Central Central school Stephens school Brooklyn Sunnyslde Peninsular school Woodlawn school ..... Portsmouth sohool Clinton Kelly school... Se'lwood school Midway school Fernwood school Thompson school "Woodstock school Miscellaneous Bonds ..... ............ .? Bills payable, notes 785 618 597 424 416 101 161 4 9 1S2 127 21 200 512 328 166 506 761 8 640 61 178 809 115 3 16 11 39 2,500 00 outstanding, per last report ... 115,922 Bills payable, notes given since last report 105.600 Interest 14,410 00 Tuition paid to district No. 29 Tuition refunded Taxos refunded Insurance Fuel Stationery 1S4 5 15 2,892 6 743 2,762 TL65S SO 00 89 SO 74 05 82 92 75 50 3G 45 75 44 85 74 80-262,283 09 00 25 24 86 35 22 1,017 2 ... 5507,960 03 20.803 70 ... 15,291 07 water School furniture 2,939 Oregon Telephone Co... 603 Rents 1.237 Janitors' supplies P0S Portland Gas Co 194 Printing T91 Streets and sewers . 953 Advertising 42 High school laboratory 275 County school fund.... 1,979 General expense Auditing committee..? 60 School election .- - 299 Taking census - -409 Collecting taxes 153 Attorney's fees 32 Cartage, etc 63 Total disbursements , Paid teachers, Jan. 13, 1900.. Balance on hand this date. Total $541,054 SO Statement of Indebtedness. Bond account One hundred 10-20 bonds. Issued Oct 31, 1893. payable in 1913, interest 6 per cent $100,000 00 Ten bonds, $1000 each. Issued by district No. 2. Aug. 2, 1892, payable In 1S02, Interest 6 per cent 10,000 00 Ten bonds. $1000 each, issued by district No. 31, June 2, 1890, payable in 1902, interest 6 per cent 10,000 00 Ten bonds. $1000 each. Issued by district No. 31, June 1, 1S91, payable in 1916, interest 6 per cent ... . .-..-.. 10,003 00 Total bonded indebtedness $130,000 00 Report of Auditing; Committee. To the Taxpayers of Sohool District No, 1: Gentlemen We, the undersigned, your committee, appointed at the last taxpay ers' meeting to audit the report and ac counts of the school clerk of said district, beg leave to report that we have made a thorough and complete examination of said school clerk's accounts and books and find that all expenditures and dis bursements by the clerk have been made on vouchers approved by at least three directors of the board; and that his ac counts and books are correct. We have compared the cash on hand and balances in bank, and find they cor respond with the accounts shown by the reports of the school clerk. G. E. WITHINGTON. S. GRUTZB, Auditing Committee. Portland, Or.. Jan. 10, 1900. Census Report. The census of the district has been taken with the following result: Females between 4 and 20 years of age 10,560 Males between 4 and 20 years of age 9,902 Total 20.462 Of the above number 1394 females 'and 1054 males are between the ages of 4 and 6 years. Respectfully .submitted. , - K. S. AMEN, School Clerk. Portland, On January 15, 1S&. On motion of J. N. Teal, the report was received and placed on file. StrowbrIdere, Minority Report. Chairman Strowbridge then read his re port of the doings of the board of di rectors during the past year and the rec ommendations for the future, and com mented and explained as "he went along. It was a report of the chairman only, the other members of the board not agreehy to It or signing it. Mr. Strowbrldge described the school buildings and their cost, discussed their sanitation; said there were 130 non-resident pupils, and that the schools were all in fine condition, in charge of efficient principals and good teachers. He recom mended that the school clerk and city su perintendent of schools be -elected by the" taxpayers at the annual election for di rectors in March. He xecommended that the position of superintendent of repairs be abolished. Mr. Strowbrldge said that he believed that In addition to the five-mill county school tax, the state school fund and the amount of unpaid tax due the district that it is-safeto,Eayi thaA 0.255 mlll special tax 'giving Uihe- tamount; of ?71,419 02, will be all that" Is necessary to carry on the schools of the district for the coming year. Mr Strowbrldge's report was concluded amid applause, and then Director Witten berg moved that Director Warren be per mitted to read a report prepared by all the other members of the board. Pro fessor Warren read the report, as follows: Majority Keport. To the Taxpayers 6f School -Dlottfct No. 1, Multnomah County, Oregon ladles and Gentle men: Inasmuch as the presentation. Just made by the chairmen of the board is of so unusual a. character, and bis refusal to permit its con sideration or amendment by the board Is eo ex traordinary, the majority of the board beg leave to submit the follor-lnj? ea our views of the condition of tbe district and Its needs for the comlns ear. Your liberality in pafet years has raised our schools to their present high standard of excellence. We believe It to bar the desire of the taxpayers to maintain thla high standard. Hasty Judgment and unjust criticism usually arise from lack of Informa tion, and ours is the duty of placing- before you the fullest information possible. Thla duty we ehaH now try to discharge. Indebtedness. The indebtetoess of the district at our last report, exclusive of the bonded indebtedness, -was on notes due to banks, $115,022. To meet the current expenses of our schools until money should come In from taxes. It was necessary to borrow from time to time various sums, aggregating- $105,600 more. TMs makes our Interest account appear large. However, we are pleased to report that receipts have enabled us to pay this large Indebtedness and leave a balance of $15,291 07, In the hands cf the clerk. This, however, does not give the real condition. There is still to be paid on contracts for new buildings, which will soon be completed, $25, 457. This will leave us with an lndebtedneeo of $10,166, which we have Included In our esti mate for the coming year. "We shall be com pelled, also, to borrow considerable money to meet the current expenses until the next, pos sibly the second distribution of school funds. This will require the payment of Interest, which, "together with the Interest on the bonded Indebtedness, has been provided for In our esti mates. "We regret that we have not been able, even with our receipts exceeding: our estimates, to come before you without indebtedness, but the great Increase In the cost of building ma terial and labor has made the cost of building nearly 25 per cent greater than we anticipated, which accounts for our not being- free from all debt, except the bonded Indebtedness. Expenditures. That the taxpayers may judge as to whether the affairs of the district have been Judiciously and economically managed or not we herewith submit in tabulated form a comparative state ment, showing our estimates of expenditures for the year Just closed, the amount actually paid, and our estimates for the coming j ear: Estimate of disbursements for 1S99. Teachers' salaries .. . $200,000 Janitors salaries 14,f28 Clerk's salary .. ..... 1,500 Superintendent clerk's ealary 600 Superintendent repairs salary,....' ,. ' 900 Bonds s. 2,500 Bills payable 115,922 Interest 12,000 Insurance ....... ............ ................ ...... 2,500 Puel - 4,500 Stationery 2 700 "Water 2,000 School furniture 2,500 Telephone 500 Rents J50 Janitors supplies ' 700 Gas r 250 Printing ......"-- 500 Streets, sewers" arid sidewalks'"'; .:'.. ?.. ... J '1,000 High sohool laboratory .......-.-.; ? --50 Advertising 100 Repairs and sanitation 8,2xx Expense of election .....-. 300 Attorneis' fees 250 School census . 350 Due on contracts - Extraordinary expenses l.$ New buildings 30.000 Totals ". $420,000 Ifcw BundingrB, It will be observed, as already stated, that the principal increase in expenditures over our estimates is in the item of new buildings. It Is the opinion of a majority of the board that at least one new building ought to be erected every year to meet the requirements of our rapldly growing city. We are now renting one room at Woodlawn, for which wo pay $10 per month. This is made necessary, because the people la that locality object to sending this class to Highland, here there is one vacant room in which they could be accommodated. There is force in the objection, for the reason that to take the class to Highland would make it very Inconvenient for those living north of the "Woodlawn school, as It would greatly in crease the distance they must travel to attend. "We are also renting a house in the southeastern portion of the district, for which we are paying $S, to accommodate the children Uvlns In that locality who are too small to attend the Clinton Kelly school, on account of the distance. Here tofore the children were permitted to attend -the "Woodstock school In district 29, this district allowing the per capita of public money drawn by the children In actual attendance there. But the directors of that district informed us of their disposition to discontinue that arrange ment, and to forbid the further attendance of these children unless thy paid the tuition at the rate of ?22 per year for advanced grade and -$13 per ear in intermediate grades. Being unable, lawfully, to comply with this proposi tion, the present arrangement was adopted), The room rented and In use near the Failing school will be abandoned as soon s tbe new building in that locality Is completed. There are two' rented rooms now occuplwi at Sunnyslde, for which we pay $20 per month. Thl6 was made necessary to accommodate the increased at tendance there, and to relieve the overcrowded condition of that school. The Increased attend ance at Sunnyslde, Central, North Central, Stephens, Atkinson and Couch schools make It imperative to provide additional accommodation In these localities, either by renting or build ing. The addition of another section of four rooms to tbe new building- at Central would re lieve, temporarily, the Stephens and North Cen tral This addition could be made for about $6000, as the heating plant in the part now built Is of sufficient capacity for eight rooms. The demand for school facilities- at a point near Ockley Green Is Increasing. Multnomah school building should be removed to that locality. This would necessitate finishing the six rooms now unfinished in the Thompson school. Reduced Assessment. But, In view of tbe fact that the assessed valuation of property In the district has been cut down $10,118,300. ard also that the tax payers have been burdened during the past few years of financial depression, we hesitate to recommend anything for new buildings the coming 3 ear. This win probably require the renting of rcnrs In certain localities, and un doubtedly" will necessitate a much larger ex penditure in the year following. It Is hoped that the taxpayers will be oetter able to meet the requirements then than they are at the present time. The county ocshool tax Is limited by law to 5 mills on the dollar, but this district actually re ceives less than 4 mills out of every 5 mills that It contributes. The reason Is that this sum first suffers a subtraction of $50 for each district in. the county, end is then divided among the various districts in proportion to their respective populations. Thie district, hav ing fewer children in proportion to Its taxable property than other districts in the county, re ceives from the fund less taan it contributes. The condition of the state school fund Is somewhat more hopeful. The last legislature cut down the rate of interest to C per cent, which undoubtedly will enable the treasurer tp place more money at Interest than formerly. The decreased rate may, however, disappoint us as to the amount we shall receive from this fund. But the base of our estimates on one source of Income has been so materially reduced that to meet the requirements of the district In pre serving the school property and maintaining the schools, without Impairing their efficiency, will necessitate a larger special levy than last year. The Increase is apparent, however, not Teal. Ti cloelnsrriP of lour tax rolls by ssIbb of de linquent property during- the past sear gave us an unusually large Income from the delinquent taxes. This Irccme will, of course, be row cut ott, and we have estimated only a small sum from that source, jet quite as much as we can reasonably expect to receive. The lowering of the assessed value of the tax able property in this county from $42,870,464 to f31.659.771 diminishes the amount to be, ex pected from the 5-mIll tax for the. coming year sy about $?o;O06. This sum Is to be added to She amount to be raised by a district tax. Con sidering this addition and the fact that the -'assessed value'" of taxable property. In the city has been lowered from $S$,6S5.411 to ?23.G67; 111, a special tax of 4.8 wills means only as much total revenue to the district as would have been realized with a special tax of 2vt mills bad the assessment of the city and coun ty been the same as last year. jj7 In order to show how nearly our estimates yx. receipts and expenditures made a year ago have been realized, we Append the following statement: Estimated receipts for 1800 $420,000,00 Total amt. received from all sources. 438,454 -cO Excess of receipts over estimates.'.. S 18,454 SO Estimated expenditures for 1609 ,$420,000 00 Actual expenditures. ..".$402,360 03 Due teachers Jan. 13, 1900 ..., 20.S03 70 423,163 73 "Excess expenditures over estimates -$ 3, 163 "73 (These expenditures include $1079 90 refunded to the county sohool fund, which amount was erroneously allowed us in the last apportion ment.) Actual cash on hand .- $36,094 77 Due teachers Jan. 13, 1900 (since paid) 20,803 -70 Available cash $15,29107 Estimated Income for JOOOi , County school fund :. h ...:.-. . .$114,000 00 State school fund .., 34,000 00 Tax Yoll.of 1897 1. 800 00 Tar roll of 1808 .. 2,500 00 Other delinquent taxes 1,000 00 Tuition 1,000 00 Sundry cash receipts 300 00 Special tax of 4.8 mills 123,400 00 Total ...... $278,000 00 It will be seen that the foregoing estimates require a special levy of 4.8 mills, which we recommend. As we have before stated, it has hitherto been the policy of the board. In order to meet the growing demand- upon the district for ad ditional room, to build at east one sohoolhouse each year, as well as to cnange such portion of the plumbing In the older houses as does not conform with the existing municipal re quirements. In our estimates just submitted no provision is made Which will enable the board to proceed with this work the coming year. If the people desire the board to continue this work, provision will have to be made in the present levy. Concerning thi3, however, we make no recommendation. The important matter of providing circulating libraries for the elementary schools has dur ing the past year received considerable, atten tion. The liberality of Hon. D. P. Thompson in donating a library to the Thompson school, and of the heirs of the late John H. Couch In making- similar provision for the Couch school, is, In our opinion, deserving of the thank3 of all friends of public education. Respectfully submitted, R. K. -WARREN, J. V. BEACH, R. WmJAMS, H. WITTENBERO. January 15, 1900. This report was finally adopted after all sorts of technical tangles were waded through. Chairman Strowbrldge made a statement referring to deliquent taxes due the dis'-' trlct and Mr. Wittenberg said that assess ments were not generally collected In full. Director Williams explained matters from Estimate of Paid, 1809. disbursements for 1899. $202,240 24 $210,000 14,713 30 , 15,500 1,500 00 1500 740 00 700 900 00 ,000 2,500 00 115,022 00 14,410 43 '" 10,000 2,892 80 3.OO0 6,743 74 5.000 2.762 05 2.800 1.658, 82 1,600 2,099 92 2,500 603 75 800 1,237 50 1,000 9il8 36 800 194 45 ' 250 304 75 ''" 400 " 053 44' , - -l,000 i 216 74 - 800 42 85 SO 7,813 30 8,000 299 25 300 32 35 250 409 24 450 10,000 482 77 1,500 37,546 68 $421,183 93 $278,000 -JJ his standpoint, i and isome big figures were tackled and stood around for general In spection. Director Williams said that last year the district did not receive the allotted 5 mills, taking no account of delinquent taxes, because $50 was taken from each district, and that the rural districts had received $21,500 last year. The chairman then remarked that the amount of delinquent taxes due the dis trict now Is as laTge as It' was last year, therefore the estimates in the minority report were large enough, especially as there was no litigation on the amount due the district. J. W. Whalley moved the adoption of the chairman's report. D. P. Thompson said: "It is evident that the minority report Ib misleading, as very little taxes can be collected from delin quents. All delinquent- taxes were col lected last year that could be. "No per son of Intelligence" can take a stand that any considerable amount of these delin quent taxes can be collected. There will be a large deficiency should the minority report be adopted. The law- limits our indebtedness to $100,000, and we cannot af ford to levy a tax that would cause the closing of the schools or the violation of the law. Litigation is sure to follow if we try to run the schools on borrowed money. People will resort to courts and oiot to elections. We all know that we cannot carry on the schools with the money allowed in the minority report." C. K. Henry moved to amend the mi nority report by substituting the report of the majority, but was ruled out of or der by the chair. Chairman Strowbrldge said he had much Tespect for Mr. Thompson, but would ven ture to make the assertion that large sums of money were being held back by certain persons. He regretted very much to make the statement, following Mr. Thompson's remarks, as they were boys together in Oregon Cltyt Director Wittenberg said he was not making any grandstand speeches, and only referring to plain facts. From a business standpoint he had carefully gone over the chairman's figures, and he thought it was folly, foolishness, to try to run the dis trict on the ridiculous sums asked for by the estimates of the cha-'rman. The lat ter stated that he could keep the build ings in repair for a year for $1500. "I wish he could have the contract," said Mr. Wittenberg. "I defy "him to take it at double that sum. . Buildings' must be kept from rotting down, "if we can't have new building3f we must have money to repair old ones. It is ridiculous to think of keeping up repairs for a pitiful $1500. I would like to know where there is any money due the district that has not been collected. Det us look where we jump before we jump. Some of the build ings must be painted this year to preserve them." J. W. Whalley said: "The desire is to maintain ourschoo's with, efficiency.. The people are nqw already overburdened with taxation. no taxes are so high that it amounts to confiscation. It was formerly much easier to raise money to support the schools than it is now. There has already been too much spent If the amount had been less, the schools would have been conducted with just as much efficiency Tear by year we are asked for sums of money that are extort'onate. We always hear the same old song and dance. Our property has been eaten away, and it simply amounts to confiscation. A Thla business can be managed with more econ omy, and the way to go about it is to withhold the sinews of war." He then moved to amend the minority report by substituting a levy of 3.5 mills, Frederick V. Holman said he understood that the difference between tie two re ports was only $6000 and that, hinged on repairs. He asked Tvhat fraction of a nilll would the repairs be. He suggested ''that the meeting talk"afooufc something else. J. N. Teal said that the only difference in the reports was In the estimate of Income from delinquent taxes and cost of repairs. There was now one alternative do you Tvant thO schools to run as usYial or to cut down salaries? One or the other would happen. Of the back taxes, It was Impossible -to bd611ect any-' large amount. There were 10,000 live children In the schools, and it took money to keep j up repairs on buildings they occupied. He was opposed to going into debt. m The chairman said that the great trouble .with organized bodies was the more money you give them, the more "they want to spend. He believed 2.5 mills :s harder -to raise -now than five or six Jyears ago, and It should go as far when it was disbursed. - Bonton Klllin remarked that the law authorized tho county to bid In delinquent property for taxes. This year the county did that as usuaL He said there had come a snarl from the chairman that might mean that the clerk or some one kelse was withholding money. "I want to imow what he's talking about, he said; "he donlt seem to know himself." Mr. Wittenberg stated that he would vote to spend the money appropriated to the best of hls.abillty, but would not go in debt. C. K. Henry said the adoption of the minority report might result in the teachers' salaries being exit, and he was opposed to that being done. D. P. Thopipson, in, speaking on the mo tion to subsUtjJte 3.5 mills, 'gald: "We can not reduce our teacliers' salaries, for they would leave, and we know "what "we are to expect from the state and county, and it Is nonsense to think that any of the delinquent taxes that would amount to anything- can be collected, and it is useless to talk about a less tax. than that suggested by the majority report. The teachers are getting as small salaries as we can get them for, and the expenses are kept down as much as possible; the Insurance is low, and It Is folly to talk about a lower lervy." Motions and amendments of all kinds were mado and discussed and seconded and declared Impossible, and brought up again and laid over under the table and tangled and tied up and untied again, and finally the result of the whole businesswas that the majority report was adopted. The auditing committee of last year was again elected, and at 10:40 half tho house departed. Resolutions. The following resolution, offered by D. P. Thompson, was adopted i Resolved, That one-fourth of 1 mill of the property tax levy of this district for the year 1900 shall be devoted exclusively to the purpose, of the construction and repairs of school build ings In the district, wherever and whenever, in the opinion of the directors the construction and repair of school buildings are advisable; and, be It further Resolved, That it is the sense of this meet ing' that no moneys of the district shall be ex pended for either construction or repairs, ex cepting ouch as shall be realized from the tax levy above authorized; and, "Whereas, The indebtedness of this district now exceeds the limit of Indebtedness author ized by law, towit the sum of $100,000, bo It further Resolved, That no indebtedness be created for the district until the Indebtedness now existing shall be reduced to or below the statutory limit of the Indebtedness authorized. J. N. Teal offered the foljowing resolu tion, and It was adopted: Resolved, That Uie directors of this district be and they are hereby requested to tin estlgate specially the question of to what extent non residents of this district are receiving: the bene fits of the school system of the district, and to adopt measures to prevent the free use of the iBohoola of this district by nonresidents; and that we condemn the syeftem of the establish ment of a temporary residence In this district during the winter months "for school purposes" only at the expense of the taxpayers of this dis trict. There were motions to adjourn, and probably some of them carried, but while they; were getting-into a state of active eruption, Joseph Paquet offered the fol lowing resolution, which was also prob ably adopted as much as anything could be at that stage of the game: Resolved, That the directors of the school district are requested to establish a sinking fund for the purpose of retiring the bonded in debtedness of the district, and for that purpose there be Incorporated in each tax-year levy a percentage of tax, which in the aggregate stoalK furnish funds sufficient to meet the out standing .bonded indebtedness of the district as It onall mature, and that all moneys realized from the tax levy for th! purpose be devoted exclusively to the retirement of ouch bonded indebtedness, and shall not be expended for any other purpose whatsoever. At 10:45 the janitor commenced to snap together the grasshopper legs of the fold ing chairs, and the taxpayers started home. Board Meeting:. A special meeting of the school board was held at the City Hall yesterday af ternoon, to consider estimates for the coming year All members of the board were present, and Chairman Strowbridge read a report he had prepared, which was to be submitted to the meeting of taxpayers as the report of the board. There were several estimates and rec ommendations in the report which did not agree with the Ideas of the other mem bers of tho board, and, after a general discussion, Mr. Wittenberg moved .that the report of the chairman, as read, "as a whole, be not adopted by the board. The motion was carried, and then the chair man declared the meeting adjourned. Considerable discussion followed after the adjournment, and then the members of the board, except the chairman, went to another room to prepare a report, which was submitted to the taxpayers' meeting. 9oecos9eoeeooee9oeeee LAWTON FUND e s n q The following sums have been re- " e celved by The Oregonlan since the sub- 0 scription lists for the General Lawion o fund were closed and called In: a Previously reported $10 ? J Cash 60 J Total - $60 0 The new list will bo held open till January 31. q 6 eeoeeeeooeoooQoooeoooeoose PERSONAL MENTION. B. D. Gelser, a Baker City mining man, is at the Portland. Mrs. D. C. Kindred, of Astoria, ia a guest of the Parkins. J. M. Will, of Aurora, and wife, aro guests of the Perkins. John H. Gault, of Hillsboro, is regis tered at the St. Charles ( John Mays, a Clatskanle farmer, Is reg istered at tho St. Charles. O, J. Aikens and wife, of Sauvies', are registered at the Perkins. George W. Blanchard, of Tacoma, is registered at the Portland. Ira Oglesbee, a mining man of Eugene, is registered at the St. Gharles. John W. Croker, a Liverpool shipown er, is registered at the Imperial. H. B. Miller, president of the state board of horticulture, is registered at the Im perial. C. R. Smead, a Gilliam county fruit grower. Is registered at the Imperial, from Blalock. A. Bouer, a San Francisco business man, is at the Imperial, accompanied by his wife. J. 3D. Crane, representative of the O. R. & N". at Arlington, is registered at the Perkins, accompanied by his wife. James Neill and wife, Edward Neill, Mrs. Julia Dean and J. W. Burton, of the Neill theatrical company, aire regis tered at the Portland. C. C. Holllnsheaa, of New Tork, who has recently . undergone an-operation for appendicitis, at St. Vincent's hospital, Is able to be out again, and Is staying at the Portland. o t SMITH'S SHAMPOO. Is the best preparation 'for cleansing the scalp andjyashing the hair.. Always gives satisfactions. -FrJce. 25c, at drug stores, a n ' Pianos Organs. Wiley B. Allen Co. IN THE SEVERAL COURTS VITAIi POINT AS TO CUSTODY OF ? NEGGECTEp..CHIIDREX. Can -tbe Court Tarn Them Over Per manently to tbe Boys' end Girls Aid Society? A habeas corpus proceeding having for ita purpose the release of Anna Miller Schmidt, aged 14 years, and Emma Miller Schmidt,, aged 10 years old, from the cus tody of the Boys' and Girls' Aid Society, was argued before Judge George yesterday, and a decision will be announced soon. The parents of the children are Gottlieb Schmidt, an aged German gardener, and Emma Miller Schmidt, wno is considerably younger than her husband. The girls wtro I turned over to tho society temporarily April 26, 1S9S, by Judge Northup, and tho final order was entered by Judge Cake on July 30 following, after a full hearing of the case. The society avers that the chil dren are Its wards until they reach their majority. The decre of Judge Cake states that the father has neglected and abused his parental authority over the children, and that Emma Miller Schmidt, the mother, is a person, of notoriously bad character, and that tho father has repre sented the mother to be his daughter, with her knowledge and consent. A. P. Flegel, appearing for the Boys' and Girls' Aid Society, took the position that the decree of the county court was final. There had been no appeal from it, and the time for appeal had long since expired, and the circuit court could not inquire into the case In a habeas corpus proceeding. The society had the perma nent custody and control of the children during their minority. Henry E. McGinn, as attorney for the petitioners, submitted numerous proposi tions of law in support of the opposite position, his principal argument being that the county court, under the act of 1SS9 regarding neglected and abused children, has no jurisdiction to appoint the Boys' and Girls' Aid Society as the permanent guardian.of children, but only temporarily. If the conditions under which the minors wero placed under the charge of tho so ciety have long since ceased, the parents can reclaim their children. Counsel said a man might be In a position so as to be unable to care for his offspring, and two years Iate"r his circumstances could have eo changed that he might be able abund antly to provide for them. A mother could reform. A father who was a drunkard might reform and become prosperous and a creditable member of society. The tak ing away of his children might be the In centive to bring about hl3 reformation. Such persons were entitled to the return of their children. Mr. McGinn said: "What does the welfare of the children demand? If ever there comes a time when the parents can care for them rightly, they can have them." Counsel read a Massachusetts case, under a law which he stated was the same as that in this state, where the supreme court said: "If there Is anything- more than an order for the temporary care of the child, then the law cannot be sustained." Mr. Flegel argued the case at consider able length from the opposite point of view, and read numerous authorities fa voring his contention. He said the only -question between them was whether the order was only a, temporary order, and if the court had power to make but a temporary order, and had no power to make a permanent order. He strongly as serted that the custody was permanent, and was authorized by law. He further argued that the only court which has power to change or modify the order Is the county court, which originally made, it, and that habeas corpus in the circuit court was not a recognized manner of procedure. The order of the county court relative to jurisdiction granted to them in this case, which is a part of the de fendant's answer, recites that these chil dren "are surrendered to the Boys' and Girls' Aid Society, and they shall have and exercise all the right and authority of parents, under the provisions of the laws of Oregon, "act, of 1889, regarding apprenticing arid adoption, of children." Mr. McGinn took Issue with the law as to apprenticing. He said: "To apprentice a man's child without notice to the parent is doing something the constitution does not permit A parent has the right to be present and know what is done with his child." Superintendent Gardner states that the question Involved In this case is an Im portant one, as, if this case can be re opened, others can be, and the society Is likely to be put to a great deal of trouble and expense. , "Want to See the Books. In the suit of the United States Mort gage Company against P. A. Marquam et al., to foreclose a mortgage on the Mar quam block and other property. Attorneys U. S. G. Marquam and E. B. Watson yes terday argued a motion before Judge Cle land that the Title Guarantee & Tarust Company1, the trustee of the property, be required to exhibit their books, showing the receipts and disbursements of the property. The matter was taken under advisement. The answer of the Title Guarantee & Trust Company was that monthly state ments were furnished to Marquam and also two full statements of everything that has been done. It was stated that to allow Marquam's attorney or others act ing for him to search the books and ac counts would be unreasonable and un just, not only to- the trust company but to Its many other clients with whom it had private business relations. Counsel for Marquam said there was a matter of $5000 deposited as advance rental for which no account had ever been ren dered, and it was suspected that Interest had been compounded every three months. For these and other reasons Mr. Marquam should have the right thoroughly to in vestigate the company's accounts with the defendant. It was not necessary In so doing to look into other people's af fairs. Criminal Conrf. The grand jury returned an Indictment against John Allen, charging him with larceny of $6 from a dwelling-house, the personal property of John Cornell. An indictment was also returned against Thomas Wilson and Edgar Blanding, charging them with larceny of numerous articles from the dwelling-house of R. M. Hutchinson. Thoma3 Stevens, indicted for assault with a dangerous weapon and cutting the throat of Fred Holmes, was arraigned and granted until this forenoon to plead. Charles Heintz, Indicted for an Indecent offense, pleaded guilty and will be sen tenced today. William Hughes, indicted for burglary, In breaking into the store of I. Benjamin, was arraigned and granted until today to plead. Albert Ross, indicted for larceny of va rious articles of clothing from the dwelling-house of F. C. Hammerick, pleaded guilty. Up for Contempt. F. C. Miller," appointed by Judge Cleland receiver of the property of the estate of P. C. McCann, deceased, consisting prin cipally of about $6000 cash, yesterday filed an affidavit asking that Administrator John F. Xiogan and Attorneys O'Day & Tarpley be clted to5 appear and show cause why they should not be punished for contempt for refusing to turn over the money, etc. The court ordered them to appear this morning at 9:30 o'clock. Judge Cako ordered John F. Logan, who succeeded James S. Cooper as adminis trator of the estate, to distribute the property to James McCalm and his sister in Philadelphia, and Mr. Logan turned over the funds and certain shares of stock to Attorneys O'Day & Tarpley, who rep resent these heirs. About this same time or immediately prior thereto Chester V. Dolph brought escheat proceedings In the name of the state of Oregon, and dis puted the rights of these heirs. The re ceiver was appointed in the escheat pro ceeding. Probate Matters". Albin Floss, administrator of the estate of Ferdinand Adler, deceased, yesterday filed objections to the account of George Knierim, who was guardian of Adler while he was Insane. He says the charge of $75 by Knierim as guardian was exces sive, and that the sum of $75 charged far additional services was unreasonable. It Is alleged that the 40 acres of land could have been leased for $75, but that Knierim persisted In managing the place himself, and the estate was damaged to the ex tent of $150. Floss says Knierim pas tured his own stock on Adlers land dur ing tho years 183S and 1S99, worth $30, and paid nothing. Three acres of oats and some fruit, it is stated, were taken or disposed of by the guardian. Some other like charges are made. The administrator of the estate of Ken neth Macleay, deceased, was ordered to continue the payment -of the allowance of $75 per month to Isabella M. A. Barnes for the months of January, February and March. Lylo N. Aumack was discharged as ad ministrator of the estate of E. S. Rash, deceased, and his bonds exonerated. The county treasurer was directed to turn over to R. W. Patterson, adminis trator of tho estate of Nellie Conn, $251 cash, one pair diamond earrings, one pawn ticket, three rings, a sealskin sacque, etc. F. Ciarno, E. H. Moorehouse and T. H. Hogue were appointed appraisers of the estate of Mary Warren, deceased. The inventory of the estate of Harry Anderson, deceased, was filed. Tho val uation Is $160. Demands Court Expense. Mary Trigg, nee Purklns, who has sued her husband, John E. Trigg; of Wood stock, for a divorce, has filed an affidavit asking that the defendant be made to pay money into court to enable her to prose cute the suit and pay her attorneys. She avers that her husband has a substantial Income from notes and mortgages, and the sale of property Jn Glenwood, Wis. PORTLAND'S TAX RATE. comparisons SnoTvinff How Exces sive It Has Become. PORTLAND, Jan. 15. (To the Editor.) in me "world's Almanac" for 1900, page3 S95 and 396, our city figures as having the second highest tax levy of any city In the United States towit, 8 mills the only higher one being Peoria, 111., with a levy of 8.S5 mills; but, as Peoria's valuation la reported to be only 10 per cent of the actual value of Its property, while ours is reported as being 40 per cent of it3 actual value, our levy on actual value is really four times as great, and we have the un enviable distinction of being the highest taxed city in the Union. Our rival city, Seattle, compares wtih us as follows: , Seattle. Portland. Estimated populat'n in 1900 80,000 92,000 Net public debt $ 3,500,000 $ 5.42S.335 Assessed valuation 32,263,292 38,396,620 Per cent actual value.. 60 40 Tax rate, mills 2.25 8 Tacoma has a tax levy of only 1.15, with assessed valuation of $22,549,840, and a net public debt of $4,420,944, and SO per cent assessment on actual value. These statistics are stated to have been furnished by the mayors of the respective cities, It will be noticed that our net public debt, as reported, is nearly $2,000,000 greater than that of Seattle, but as In our Indebtedness the water bonds are includ ed, for which no tax levy is made or re quired, therefore it will be seen that the debt of Seattle for the interest of which a tax has to be levied Is larger than tho debt of Portland for the Interest of which a tax has to be levied, and, making even due allowance that Seattle, as reported, assesses 60 per cent of the actual value, while Portland assesses only 40 per cent of it, yet tho taxpayer of Portland pays three times as much taxes on actual value as does the taxpayer of Seattle. Moreover, the statement that the as sessment of the city of Portland is made on a basis of 40- per cent of actual value does not hold good as far as the assess ment of real estate is concerned. Be tween 1893 and 1S99 most of the town lots have been assessed not only at full value, but many at more than full value, if full value means the price at which a thing can be sold for in the ordinary way of business. I am, however, willing to con cede that, while real estate has been as sessed at much more than 40 per cent of Its actual value, personal property has been assessed at much les3 than 40 per cent of Its actual value, so that both may have averaged 40 per cent, but at a fear ful cost to the owner of real estate and a corresponding advantage to the owner of personal property. The main object of this communication is to try to bring vividly before our citi zens the facts as they exist, and to lead them to examine Into the matter and ask themselves how long we can remain in the race with neighboring and rival cities, loaded down and handicapped with taxes as we are In comparison with them. How will it read abroad? Tacoma, with a tax levy of 1.15, Seattle 2.25, Portland 8.00 will it be any inducement for Investments from abroad? Will It bring many here to settle and become owners of homes among us? Will it be of any profit to our own citizens to make Improvements and be taxed out of. existence? Our own people being afraid to Invest in property on ac count of the taxes, how much more will strangers be? Nature has done much for this city. No city has to any greater de gree that which Gibbon says made at one time Constantinople such a great city. It Is "easy of access and easy of defense, surrounded by a fertile soil, and having a salubrious climate." Nature, indeed, has done much for this city, giving It many material and geographical advantages mudh superior to that of our rival cities. If we are distanced in the race for su premacy, it will be through faults of our own. It will be because we will suffer L tho consumers of our taxes to finally con sume our properties and strangle the fu ture prosperity of our fair city. B. GOLDSMITH. TIMBER-LAND CASES. Owners of Mining: Onlmi Protest Against Timber Fllingr. La Grande Chronicle. Tho United States land office has been doing an extensivo business the past few months in the way of receiving applica tions for timber and stone claims, there being as high as 12 entries made some days. It now seems to be proving a "boomer ang" from the lively scene in and around the land office the past two days. Many of these timber and stone claims, it ap pears, are located and being worked as mining claims, at the time they were filed on under the timber and stone act Now, the question Involved is as to wheth er or not the country in which said claims are located is more valuable for timber and stone or for mineral, which question will have to be decided by the land office department of Uncle Sam's domain. Many of the claims in controversy are located In the Sumpter mining district, and the affair is causing considerable anxiety among the miners of that and adjoining districts. Among those from Sumpter who are look ing out for their Interest, who had their claims located as a timber and stone claims, were Emery Proebstel, Dave Mc Coy and S. E. Stephens. These gentlemen came in and filed a protest Wednesday. However, the case was amicably adjusted, later, and the protest withdrawn. It Is said that at least SO protests have been filed since, by locators of mining claims in the Sumpter district. x a Suit the people, because they are tired of bitter doses, with the pain and griping that usually follow. Carter's Little Liver Pills. One pill a dose. CATTLEMAN F0RC0NQRES5 CROOK COUNTY WAJITS REPRESEN TATIVE WTT.TJAMSOS. They Think tbe Stoclc Interests Should Have a Direct Voice in National Legislation. Arthur Hodges, county clerk of Crook county for the past 10 years, was In Port land yesterday, on his way to Salem, where he expects to take unto hlmseit a wife. Mr. Hodges was four times elected as a democrat and on. the fifth- as a gold democrat, and he sees no recourse for himself now but to join the republ ican rank3, as the Bryan democracy la still championing free silver, while the gold wing of that party is too weak to accomplish anything alone. He feels as sured that the old battle of fiat money f against sound money is to be fought over again this year, and he thinks the sound- money men should all rally unaer one banner. The Crook county republicans, he says, are booming Representative Williamson for congress this year, and quite a strong Williamson delegation will probably ap pear at the congressional convention of this district. Mr. Williamson Is a sheep raiser by occupation, and a good many Eastern Oregon sheep men think they ought to be represented In congress, whilo the forest reserves are In danger of be ing closed to their flocks. No objection la made to Mr. Moody, and the man from The Dalle3 will no doubt be re-elected If nominated, but Central Oregon is hust ling Mr. Williamson forward, as a mat ter of local Interest. Crook county stockmen are still agitat ed over the reserve question he says, as there are some 300,000 head of sheep within It3 borders and a large number of cattle. About half the sheep are sent Into the Cascades for the summer, the other half going eastward, to the Bluo mountains. If the Cascades are shut against sheep, cattle will suffer, as tho sheep, being compelled to remain on tho prairies, will devour more of the bunch grass upon which the cattle depend No official notice has yet been served on the stockmen In regard to the Cascades reserve, and unless some move is mado on the part of the department of the in terior, sheep will start for the reserve in June as usual. Mr. Hodges scouts the idea of sheep being a damage to the tim ber of the Cascades, and contends that the little animals are a benefit instead of a damage, as they keep down the grass which would otherwise catch fir In tho fall and cause devastation to spread through the timber. No practical man who knows anything- about sheep and timber would ever object to the harm less animals ranging in the mountains while grass Is plentiful In the summer months, he said. x In regard to the finances of Crook coun ty, Mr. Hodges says taxpayers are to ba congratulated, as the total amount of out standing warrants does not exceed $10,000, and the delinquent taxes being collected will go largely toward calling these war rants in. The county is now only nine months behind in the cancellation of war rants, and in another year Crook will be out of debt altogether. People of that county being mostly "goldbugs," believe in meeting their obligations with cash, and so the county warrants now issued sell readily at par. Nevr Cable Lines. France is absolutely dependent upon England for new3 of tho Trcnavaal war. because the cables are under h' control, and she is ready to spend a vast sum of money to free herself. Thl3 Is like many people, who, after allowing- dyspepsia to settle- upon them, spend a fortune seeking deliverance. Save your money and try Hostetters Stomach Bitters, the medicine which never fails to cure dyspepsia, con stipation, biliousness, malaria, fever and ague. c i DIscoornKlnpr to Hopgrowers. Jefferson Review. The hop crop of Miller, Jones & Thies sen was sold this week for 5 cents per pound, about 1 cent below cost. It wa3 a fine lot of hops (21,700 pounds), cleanly picked and well dried, and It Is, to say the least, very discouraging to the grower to have to sell at such a flsure. a A Case of Woodbox. Elma (Wa3h.) Chronicle. Mr. Will Wood and Mls3 Viola Box, of Aberdeen, wero married last Saturday. This appears to be about as pleasant an arrangement for a woodbox as we have heard of for some time, and beats a fir one all to pieces. A handsome year-Book flleti with Beautiful illustrations and a 1 complete calendar. It is sold on all news-stands lor 5 cents, and it's -worth ve times tnat amount. It is a reliable cnronology of the progress of the 19th century and a prophecy of what may be expected in the 20th. Hero ara a few of tha great men who h&TO written for It: Secretary Wilson, on Agriculture Sen. Chauncey M. Depew, on Politics Russell Sage, on Finance Thomas Edison, Gen. Merritt, Adml. Hichbom, "Al" Smith, " Electricity u Land Warfare " Naval Warfare! " Sports You will enjoy reading it now, and it will be a book of reference for you through the years to come. Sixty-four pages, printed on ivory fnish paper. If your news-dealer cannot sup ply you with it, cut out this ad. and send it with three one-cent stamps and receive this elegant 3 book free. Address J.C. Aycr Co. Lowell, Mass. i mini iii I ii ii i ihm T-T'-r 11v"-r""","'"l-',B Ayers j ZOth xeniurif . s P jfjJmanac (Not the ordinary kind) j iA