Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, November 04, 1916, Image 7

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Morning Oregonian., November 04, 1916, Page 7, Image 7

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Newspaper Page TextTIIE 3IORXIXG OREGOXIAN, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1916. 7 ASSESSOR ANSWERS ATTACK BY DODGER Author Once Discharged as Deputy for Fund Misuse, Says Mr. Reed. DRINKING IS CHARGED, TOO Church Property Listed by Theodore Rowland as Being Favored Ex empted From Taxation by . Law, Is Reply. For several days past a dodger at tacking: County Assessor Reed has been circulated in different parts of the county. The author of it is Theodore Rowland, who was employed for three months in 1913 as a deputy by As sessor Reed. The dodger has caused a number of people to make inquiry of Mr. Reed as to the facts, which, being furnished, have proved satisfactory. Referring to this dodger. Assessor Reed said yesterday: , "I had hoped to go through this campaign without personalities, but the vlciousness of Rowland's statements compels me to tell what is behind them end the vengeful motive which actuates them. When I became Assessor, in 1913, I reappointed Rowland, who had served under Mr. Sigler, as draftsman in the office, with the understanding that he would not indulge in intoxicating liquor during the usual working hours, nor drink immoderately at any time. He did not keep his promise and it was necessary for me to decide to dispense "with his services. Misappropriation of Fund Charged. "While I was looking for a sober and competent man to take his place. I learned that he had been in the habit of making prints from the records of Multnomah County, selling them, and rocketing the money. Overindulgence in intoxicating liquors and misap propriation of Multnomah County's money were the causes of Mr. Row land's summary dismissal by me March SI. 1913. "If Rowland cares to take exceptions to these statements, he Is at liberty to Fummon me before the grand jury and 1 will be able to prove every state ment I make. "So much for the motive which prompts Rowland to make this attack In the last hours of the campaign. "The dodger says that in 1914 the people of Oregon, by initiative petition, enacted a law relating to exemptions. This is absolutely untrue. No law of this kind was enacted by the people in 3 914. nor was any such measure sub mitted to the people under the initia tive or the referendum. The truth Is that the law now in force pertaining to exemptions is substantially as it was passed by the Territorial Legislature of Oregon in 1854. Church Tax Charge Denied. "Rowland makes the further state ment that there is only one church or ganization that owns taxable property that is not taxed. This. also, is untrue. Much property is owned in this county by the various religious organizations. Some of it is legally exempt under the law because of the use which is made of it. Some of it is not .used in such way as to make It exempt and it is therefore taxable. That which is legal ly exempt is not assessed or taxed and that which is taxable is assessed. The records of the Assessor's office will substantiate this. In the allowance or continuance of exemptions there is no discrimination In favor of or against any religious denomination, whatever its name. All are treated alike, as they are entitled to be and as the law pro vides. Denomination "Not Favored, Rowland takes seven pieces of real estate identified with one particular religious denomination and tries to make it appear that this denomination Is favored in exemptions. I shall refer to these properties in detail and will satisfy any fair-minded person that Kowianns attempted showing has no foundation whatever. Piece ro. 1 is situated on the east Ride of Williams avenue, near Portland hoillpvnrfl. Pnwlnnrt inll t a ac.1 dence. It is a school and was made non- I Fourth assessable by Assessor Plgler in 1912, because of its use for school purposes.' As it still is a school it Is entitled to exemption. "Piece No. 2 Is a property at the northeast corner of Vancouver avenue and Portland boulevard. It was ex empted in 1908 by Assessor Sigler, be cause of its use for school purposes. Its character as an educational institution has not changed since It was first ex empted and there is no legal reason why it should be assessed. Rental Property Assenned. "Piece No. 3 is the Knights of Colum bus building on Park and Taylor streets. Prior to 1915. that part of the property on Taylor street was used for the purpose of producing a revenue, through rental to the Oregon Camera Club. It was therefore assessable and was assessed by me for the years 1913 and 1914. In the latter part of 1914 the Oregon Camera Club moved away and the Knights of Columbus occupied the entire property for their own uses. Under the law, therefore, the property became wholly exempt, because it was j wholly used by a charitable and fra ternal order for its own purposes. To ehow that there has not been any dis crimination in respect to the exemption of this particular piece of property, I will say that the Scottish Rite Temple, on Lownsdale and Morrison streets, and the hall of Multnomah Camp of Wood men, on the Kast Side, are both wholly exempt for the same reason that the Knights of Columbus property is wholly exempt. All three properties are wholly used for the purposes for which their several owners are incorporated and they are entitled to the exemption which they have. "Piece No. 4 is the Hibernian Hall, on Russell street. Rowland makes the statement that this property was as sessed prior to 1913. Of course. It was. because it was not owned by any or ganization entitled to exemption and would be assessed now if it were owned the same as it was prior to 1913. Hibernians Pnrehaxe In 1014. "Tn 1914 the property was purchased by the Hibernians, built upon and was entitled to exemption because of the use made of the property by a chari table and fraternal order. "Rowland raises the point that dances are sometimes held in the build ing for which a charge is made. Like wise dances are held in Woodmen halls and in other buildings which are ex empt. So are musical recitals held in churches and various entertainments are held in the T. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. for which a charge is made. Such uses of a property are incidental to the main use which determines the exemp tion and do not Interfere with the ex emption. The courts have held this time and again. If the holding of musical recital, a dance or a movln picture show in an exempt property would make the property taxable, then nearly every church and school. Includ ing the T. W. C. A. and T. M. C. A.. would have to be taxed. . End Pat to Discrimination. "Piece No. 6 la the property on Third. and Clackamas. This property was wholly exempt under Assessor Sigler. When I came into office a number of people complained to me that Mr. Sigler had for several years illegally exempted a parsonage situated on the property. L'nder the law parsonages are taxable. I investigated and, finding the com plaint well founded, caused an assess ment to be made against the parson age. The exemption of this parsonage by Mr. Sigler had caused a number of people to feel that there had been dis crimination, which I stopped the mo ment my attention was called to it. "Piece No. 6 is the block on East Twenty-third and Siskiyou streets. It is not wholly exempt, as Rowland says. Only that part is exempt which is legally exempt. It is a combined church and school, not a church alone, as the Rowland dodger says. It is precise ly the same as St. Helen's Hall on Ford street and Park avenue. Anyone who is interested can take a look at both institutions and see that they are parallel cases and are treated exactly the same. In each of these cases, the exemption allowed is that which the law permits and no more. "Farm" Is Vnlverslty. "Piece No. 7, is Columbia University, which the Rowland dodger calls a 60 acre farm. This property was origi nally owned by the Methodist Church and was known as Portland University. As far back as 1898 the late Robert S. Greenleaf. then County Assessor, ex empted 67.92 acres. In 1901. the prop erty became Columbia University and the same amount of ground was ex empted by Assessor C. E. McDonelL The same exemption was continued by As sessor Sigler. with the exception that in 1908 Mr. Sigler increased the exemp tion by exempting lots 16 to 23, Melvin Addition. There has been no change in the character or use of this property since I became Assessor and there is no reason why I should treat it dif ferently from the way in which it was treated bv four of my predecessors. "Columbia University is in the same class with Reed Institute, which has a large acreage and is wholly exempt. The fact that Columbia University or any other educational institution may own cattle does not enter into the ques tion at all. Cattle are personal prop erty and, under the law, the personal property of educational institutions, no matter how great its value or what use is made of it, is exempt from taxa tion. If Rowland does not know this he should read up on the law. "Rowland was a deputy in the As sessor's office for six or seven years under my predecessor. He was such deputy when most of the exemptions to which he refers in his dodger were granted by Assessor Sigler. Can ha prove that he ever remonstrated to Assessor Sigler against any one of these exemptions? WIRE WORKERS QUIT Strike Called on Power Com pany, but Only 10 Go Out. UNIONS ORDER BOYCOTT Attack Called Canard. "If Rowland feels that I have granted or continued any exemption not au thorized bv law he could have sub mitted the matter to the County Board of Equalization in 1913, 1914, 191 or 1916, and if I was wrong the Board could have set aside the exemption. Did he ever make any such presenta tion? If he felt that I was violating any law he could have come out against me in the primaries and submitted his case to the voters. Did he do so.' fie did none of these things, but has waited until the last minute to spring a cam paign canard.' "In nassing on exemptions. 1 an minister the laws of Oregon as I find them. If any one is dissatisfied with the law. the place to seek redress is the Legislative Assembly. "Any one interested in any exemp tion now in force is welcome to call at the Assessor's office and see the records for himself. The records of the As sessor's office are public property and open to all. Jt is not necessary for any one to get information on any Question relating to the Assessor's office from a sorehead who was di chareeii In diseraee from the service of Multnomah County." LIQUOR BUYERS FINED WOJIEJi WHO GET FREQUENT SHIP MENTS PAY SIO EACH. Two Others Are Fined and Three, AVho . Pleaded Not Guilty, Will Be Tried by JndKc Dayton Friday. Four persons who sent to California for liquor shipments more often than allowed by the dry law were fined tlO each by District Judge Dayton yester day, and trial of three who pleaded not guilty was set for next Friday. Seven more cases are pending. Bessie Powers, who lives at 348 street, and sent for whisky August 15 and Sentember 2, and Hazel Graves, proprietress of the Metropole Hotel, 362 Vj Alder street, who sent for liquor August 11 and 31, were fined. Joe Degideo, of 514 Patton road, pleaded guilty to receiving shipments July 14 and 29 and August 21 and Sep tember 2, and was fined with C. W. Robinson, of 267 Cherry street, who secured shipments August 9 and 25. George Duggan, oj 254 Cherry street: C. E. Allison, of 369 East Forty-third street, and Ed Mullins, of 86 Union avenue, entered pleas of not guilty, and will appear before Judge Dayton Fri day. Deputy District Attorney Pierce is appearing for the state in the cases, which were the result of investigations of Special Agent Geren. Men Resent Action of "Agitators" and Say They Are Satisfied With Conditions and Do Xot Want to Walk Out. Organized labor has inaugurated a strike of the electrical workers of the Portland Railway, Light & Power Com pany. The strike has been on since last Monday, but only 10 men have quit, and officials state the waltf-out has caused the company no inconveni ence whatever. The employes lssuea a statement yesterday in which they declared they were entirely satisfied with working conditions. Besides the strike, which atrectsoniy the light and power branch or the service, the labor unions have insti tuted a general boycott against the company, as an aftermain or me elec trical workers' strike. une reason given for both the strike and the boy cott is that the company refused to enter into a trade agreement with the Electrical Workers' union. No. 125, of the International Brotherhood. Paper Attacks Company. Just what steps have been taken to render the boycott effective have not developed, the first announcement be ing the publication of a special edition of the Oregon Labor Press yesterday which was distributed broadcast over the city and devoted almost exclusively to an attack on the streetcar company and the electrical workers who refused to Join the strike movement. The 55 electrical workers of the com- panv held an indignation meeting yes terday and voiced an olticiai protest aealnst the efforts of the Portland CentralNLabor Council to embroil them in a quarrel with the company. The men asserted that labor union agi tators had "framed" the strike against them because the company refused to sign a trade agreement with the elec trical workers' union. Clique Blamed 'or Strike. In the public statement issued by the company electrical men It is as serted that the strike was "ordered and engineered by a small clique of union labor agitators, and entirely against the desires of the large majority of the men directly affected by such ac tion." The statement disproves the actions of Eugene E. Smith, president of the council, declaring that "he has launched on an unscrupulous campaign against our company and is resorting to means and methods that are entirely repre hensible from every standpoint." The electrical men employed by the company feel that they are being made the "goats" by the labor agitators, whom they assert are trying by every conceivable means to boycott the Portland Railway, Light & Power Company, whether that boycott be merited or not. Men Satisfied With Conditions. "Bulldozing and trickery" are charged by these men and they set forth that "working conditions with the Portland Railway, Light & Power Company are absolutely satisfactory to us in every way. The conditions are as good with us as with employes of any other similar public utility in Oregon and much better than the ma jority of them." So far as the strike is concerned these men who were ordered to strike by the council, declare in their public statement that 'the strike is a dismal failure." The employes also resent the attack made on the company by which they are employed that appeared in a spe cial edition of the Labor Press and as sert that "we resent it as a mass of untruths, misstatements and plain 'mischief-making so far as it applies to the electrical workers of the company." All of Workers Sign. This statement is approved by all the electrical workers of the Portland Railway, Light &. Power Company as follows: C. Hildreth. F. J. Currigan. George W. Ibbotsen, A. B. Lamont. W. P. An thony, W. A. Kasdorff. F. Baldwin. W. Cottv. W. H. Lehman, L. Stafford, W. G. Mickle, F. Scott, M. S. Totter, C. Hagey. A. Hawks. O. Wood, J. It. Akin, L. B. Welch. George Egner. George Lehl. George New, K. E. Stiles, F. P. Fultz, W. Fegles. George Garrow, C. Daggett, F. P. Foster, A. Nagel. R. I. Newcombe, S. P. Smith, J. Fegles, T. Osborne, J. Lehman. W. L. Cooper, C. Schafer. T. Crane, E. Copeland. L. A. Ware, O. Stopper, D. W'eist, A. Cayo. T. Donovan. H. Suter, J. Van Derflute, L. Denno, G. E. Dolbow, L. A. Walters, C. Grable, E. Johnston, W. O. Graves. J. D. South. G. Schwable. J. Knight, J. Moretty and W. T. Holland. fir I iff &4Mflh inufou:eujii, ; 1 fffilAWTO r?i?JPftiAlin mw Eflnrm uumw ll'lMf Is Your Name Listed in This Directory? If not, you are losing a valuable service. How can your business or social friends and acquaintances reach you? This is a big city and no casual inquiry will locate you. The Telephone Directory is the most accurate business and social register, and the one used most frequently. Your name should be in it. A new directory will go to press November 15, 1916. If you are planning to have a telephone installed please place your application before November 10th, if possible. The Pacific Telephone Telephone Broadway 4920 and Telegraph Co. Oak and Park Sts. ELKS HAVE FROLIC 550 Attend 27th Celebration Birthday. of GOVERNOR MAKES TALK LIQUOR SELLERS ARE FINED Proprietors of Soft Drink Assessed $150. Parlor Ijaurelhurst Vote Favors Hughes. An interesting straw vote was taken at the Laurelhuret clubhouse last night. where a card party of 17 tables was in progress. There were 72 ballots cast, of which 53 were for Hughes and 19 for Wilson. Movies Show George Baker in Kacc to Banquet, Starting Fun That Lasts All Through Affair. Messages Are Received. Tho Portland Lodge of Elks cole brated its 27th anniversary with a ban quet and entertainment at the Multno mah Hotel last night. About 5D0 mem bers attended. After an enjoyable meal, the pro ceedings were interrupted by the an nouneement that George L. Baker, the toastmaster. had failed to arrive. Just then lights went out and a motion, pic ture machine started to work. The first scene showed Mrs. Baker calling: "George! George'." Tho next showed George asleep in an easy chair. He rushed out of the house, caught a pass ing automobile, which overtook a fire truck that brought him to the door of the hotel. As the lights came on George dashed, out of breath, into the room and took his place at the head of the table. Governor Wlthycombe. who is a mem ber of Albany Lodge, was the only for mal speaker. A group or a dozen sur viving charter members had places of honor at the table and received an ovation when Introduced. Other speak era were: Judge R. G. Morrow, Judge W. X. Gatens and Joe Day. J. Brlzzo lari. the chef who prepared the meal and an Klk. was brought into the room and congratulated. Harry G. Allen, exalted ruler, gave the 11 o'clock toast. The whole company Joined in sinking; "America" and "Auld Lang Syne." Congratulatory telegramn were read from Edward Uightor, grand exalted ruler; K. V. Hauser, president of the Multnomah Hotel: Samuel H. V ried- lander and Sol Shapiro, one of the charter members. The committee mem- brs in charge were Fred agner, William McGinn and Henry Harlan. teetives had no clew to the thief, but they lined up the employes and threat ened them. "If that stuff isn't back there In three hours," the police said, "we will arrest everybody In the plant." The watch and money were returned. MAJOR BLETHEN ADVANCED RIDER DRAGGED TO DEATH 1). P. Pavls, Former Astortan, is Killed at Scappoose. SCAPPOOSE, Or.. Nov. 8. (Special.) D. P. Davis, a meat market man here, formerly of Astoria, was thrown from his horse late toaay and dragged to death. His body was found by search ers about 8 o'clock tonight, after the horse had returned home riderless. Mr. ravis was 45 years old. is sur vived by a widow and two children, one of whom Is attending school in Port land. Mrs. Davis is visiting in Port land with her children, and could not be located tonight. The Davlses came here from the Coast about two months ago. Seattle Editor Is Lieutenant-Colonel of Washington Coast Artillery. SEATTLE, Wash.. Nov. 3. (Special.) Official announcement of the com mission of Major C. B. Blethen. of the Coast Artillery Corps. Washington Na tional Guard, editor of the Seattle Times and son of the late Colonel A. J. BLUFF GETS GOODS BACK Police Threaten to Arrest Employes of Plant and Thief Weakens. The great American game of "bluff" enabled Detectives Hellyer and Tacka- berry to recover a watch and small sum of money reported stolen from Alex Brokdolff in the plant of the Kaola Company at Twentieth and Hooevelt streets last night. The owner had hidden his property in a cubbyhole behind an engine. The de- Charles Kuznesky and 'William Blair, proprietors of a soft drink parlor at 241 Couch street, were found guilty in Municipal Court yesterday morning of 1 maintaining a public nuisance. Judge Langguth imposed a fine of $150, to be I borne equally by the partners. u Conviction was obtained on the tes timony of James Raker, a logger, who I was ejected from the place Wednesday noon by Kuznesky. During the alter cation Kuznesky was wounded in the left side by a pocket-knife, thrown by I some unknown assailant. He charged Raker with the assault, and the latter! told the officers that liquor was sold at the place. In a raid, conducted by Patrolmen, Miller and ellbrook. quantity of whisky was seized. The charere against Raker was dismissed. OUMlOUlQDlty COLUMBIA: VICTOR lit '.WC' iT . a THE HAM WHAT AM In the Stockinet Covering An sjrrlusiv0 jlrmtmr ftaiur. Patnt applied for. One of Armour's The famous Armour cure imparts to Star Ham all the high qualities of taste and flavor; smoking in the Stockinet Covering retains all the goodness. The re sult is the ham that sat isfies the last bite as good as the first. ARMOUR'COMPANY Ma;r. Charles H. Sommer, St.. Portland, Or. 13th and Flanriera Phvae Main 781. Order a Whole Star Ham from Your Dealer Today jjovh for thm Blmm, and XU9ML Oval Sign on joar dtaltr' ttorm front. Blethen. as Lieutenant-Colonel of Coast Artillery, and his appointment to com mand of the Kirt-t Coast defense com mand of Coast Artillery was made to day by Rricadlor-Genoral Maurice Thompson. Washington Ad.1utant-Gen-eral. simultaneously with the issuance of this general order: "Major Clarence H. Blethen. Coast Ar tillery, to be Lieutenant-Colonel of Coast Artillery, with rank from October IS, 1S16, assigned to command the First Coast defense command. Coast Artil lery Corps. By order of Krnest Lister. Governor and Conimandr-in-Chief." The appointment fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Lieutenant-Colonel Howard A. Hanson. A Fhalceper Joke pro'ied thw Fhakes ppare tercentenary In New York. When Her bert Tre rpoTi(34 to a curtain call tn "H"nTv Iir "nm "ti In the audience ioTit-' : "Ati'hr, author. 1 J for u' Jectracrfcjfr 1 4 The landlord or homeowner who has not wired his building for Electric Light is not only blind to his tenant's or his own comfort; he is missing; a first-class investment one which will yield large and certain returns, from the very start. The Electrically Wired House Brings a Higher Rental Sells Quicker Electric wiring adds a definite value to your house for either prospective tenant or purchaser. People are demanding a "modern" house nowadays. They are willing; to pay more to stay longer. You get a better class of tenants. And you more readily find a buyer, should you wish to dispose of your property. $37.50 wires a 5-room house cnplc(e, with fine set of fixtures. $7.50 down and $5 a month with light bill. Free estimate on your property. Just phone Mar shall 5100 and we will send a man to your address. Portland Railway, Lijrht & Power Co.