THE LANE COUNTY NEWS
W. A. DILL
Editor and Manager
Published Every Monday and Thursday by tae liane boun$.tb-
llshlng Association.
1-
'One. Year
RATES OP SUBSCRIPTION.
91.60 Six Months .75 Thrco Months
Advertising Rates Furnished on Application.
.60
And .emembor to Gat a Stop-Over for Springfield.
SPRINGFIELD, OREGON, THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 1915.
THE COUNCIL'S PROBLEM-
The lot of the public official is never an easy one, and par
ticularly is this true when some controversy of long standing bobs
up in some new and unexpected phase. Just now the council of
the town of Springfield has a difficult problem to face in the case
xf the suit brought last fall to prevent the collection of certain
taxes levied in December, 1913, particularly a tax of 4.G mills for1
lights and water, and .4 mills for support of the band.
1 At the council meeting Monday teyening, spokesmen for
Beveral of the parties to the suit, declared emphatically that they
have carried the sulfas far as they want tb, and, in the interest
of harmony in1 the town, are ready to pay the contested tax, less
their court costs, if the city 'will not press its appeal in the
'Supreme court.
. ' " Here is the dilemma that faces the council. If it grants the
request, it will be criticised by many for giving in and allowing
a few citizens to dictate terms upon which they' will pay taxes. Oh
the other hand, if the council continues with the case it will be
jpriticised for rejecting the olive branch when it Is offered in good
faith. How best to meet this situation Is the problem for the
jcouncil.
' The whole situation has grown out of a forgotten amend
ment to the town charter, passed in 1906. At that time it ap
pears that the people voted to increase the limit of tax levy from
.one-half of one per cent to one per cent. The record was not
made very clearly in the minutes of the council, and when the
lact of the amendment was presented in the circuit court, Judge
Harris ruled that the record was too vague to have standing, and
"he accordingly ruled against the contention of the town and in
favor of the parties to the suit. Now as a matter of fact, gen
eral fund tax levies in excess of five mills have been levied every
year hut one since 1906, even though the authority for Ihe levies
had apparently been forgotten. Experience has shown that a levy
of five mills would not, at any time in the past eight years pro
vide revenues sufficient for all the activities expected Of the
"town government.
H Should the tax suit be dropped at this time, and the Judg--ment
of the circuit court be allowed to stand, the .result would be
"that the town would lose a few hundred dollars -withheld" from
spayment by the parties to the suit, and the tax limit "amendment
of 1906 would be void. . The right tb levy a tax up tb ten mills
would exist, however,- under the tax amendment of 1914." 'Ttils
latter, on the cither hand, would be subject to' review in the courts',
and any taxpayer, or group of taxpayers would have the right
to bring suit to test the validity of the 1914 amendment, just as
the pending-suit hinges on the amendment of 1900.' Uncertainty
would face the council as long as there were any who held the
opinion that there are defects in the 1914 amendment and the
validity has not been decided In the supreme court.
If the present suit were continued, as a friendly suit if pos
sible, a decision would go a long ways toward clarifying the rights
of the city. A reversal of the circuit court, for which the council
would wish, would establish fully the right to levy taxes such as
have been levied for the past eight years and would make the
amendment of 1906 the charter of the town- The amendment of
1914 would -therefore be null, since in effect it simply re-enacted
the amendment'of 1906. On the other hand, a verdict sustaining
the circuit court' would open the way to doubt as to the validity
of the 1914 amendment, and render it desirable to have a suijt
at as early a date as possible to settle the validity of this amendment.
the war and hold steadfastly and practically in regard for the wel
fare of that class in peace, fyst as it now looks out for "Tommy's"
health, comfort and efficiency in warl Pursuing that policy, how
WW Jttajtojjct rid of the fear-and we , mttit
mcjtt say ihe cocUoi,phy8cl,.mbl and mentaJUe$isnera
L1UII MlIllllIK LI1B 1UI1E11MI1 IlIIIMlAaT
- --- j I ----- - wu v. vj
this idea 6f dogenoratlon has boon unwarranted in largo measure.
HUt the fact that the conditions under which ho is allowed to oxist
m peace navo worked and will work steadily to his demoraliza
tion remains undisputed. Let the empire do as much for him and
his clnss in peace as it Is eager to do in war, and "this splendid hu
man material," aB tho English surgeon puts it, vylll bo as groat an
asset In peaceful empire building as It has proved to ho In Ha arm
eddofenso.
Morebver, tho lesson to bclearnod in this caso of "Tommy At
kins" Is not alone for Grot Britain.
Springfield will watch with much intorost tho progress of
tho suit in San Francisco to dissolve tho Southern and Central
Pacific railroads, for upon' tho results hlngo a largo merisuro of
prosperity lor sprmgiicurs immeuiato luture.
WORK Op PUPILS OF THE SPRINGFIELD SCHOOLS
Tho Lane County News today progflntB a tayt examples of tho work
of composition In tho ' classes. In tho Sprlnfidold Public schools. Tho
articles are published as written, without correction, In tho hopo that tho
printing bt them may pror an asststanco to tho young puoplo in de
veloping their power ot expression. Other teachers dro Invited to sub
mit such articlos as thoy may wish to havo published lnthls column.
Tho following Btorics woro written . night in a largo grcon pasture.
ttJffiJiM.1 "'nVLviTho next day we traveled, long
Lincoln school,. Miss Oraco WalkctJ
teacher.
A Tramp.
It was a sunshinoy day on tho
22 of Feb. that William Gerald
and I prepared to go on a tramp
to the hills. We met at my placo
at one o'clock that afternoon.
We then hit Out for the hills
after dark and camped in an
other pasture.
The next day about sun-down
wo reached tho springs. Wo
didn't put up our tents that
night, but slept by tho wagon.
The next morning we put our
tents up. Some times wo would
Wu crossed tho wagon bridge !P ashing ad y uncle wont
mm tcinvc tun rnnn rn i:ro.vwnii. i "e
When tho railroad crossing was
reached we left the road and
climbed the fence. We crossed
the hill and were just going to
jump a ditch when I saw some
petrified wood. Wo stopped and
chipped off some of it. Then we
went on and William got stuck
in the mud and we had a laugh
At last we reached two old log
huts and stopped. I built a fire
and we sat around It for a while.
Then wo started home and on
the way William treed a squirrel
and we tried to shake him out of
the tree, but he would not porno.
(Author.) Age 14.
One morning one of our
friends calno in and asked us if
we were going homo. Wo start
ed home that day and stayed at
my uncle's house that night and
got homo at noon tho next day.
Mabel McPherson. Ago 10
A Much Disturbed Day.
It was in tho afternoon and
we were sitting quietly in our
room studing. We all had oun
lessons very nicely for the first
.time In the year.
But here our trouble begins.
It was about three o'clock and
the llttlo children were getting
out of school. Tramp, tramp,
tramp went their little feet down
tho hall.
This .did not end our trouble
for the Domestic Science girls
now had their turn We heard
a girls voice up stairs crying,
"Oh! Lillian I have split all my
white sauce and it was so nico."
Then we heard 'slam; bang; and
PEACE AND WAR ESTIMATES OF "TOMMY ATKINS."
At the Beach
My aunt uncle and three
cousins came ,on a visit to pur.1
nouse. yy.e pianneu 10 go to uip
beach. So In a few days wo pre
pared to go. We put up our
lunch in two baskets. We went
on the eight-tlilrty train.
We had a. nice iournev all the
way. There were many treesuuwu craaneu a pne oi uisues.
we' passed. A shrieic and a scramble and we
When we got to the beach by heard no more from the Domes
name, Moclips, Washington, we tic girls.
went to a hotel and got rooms. ' Then It was the janitor's turn.
We stayed to the beach four He was hammering nails into
days. One morning we got up the wall ' of the next room,
early and dug clams. In the Bang; bang; bang; went his
afternoon we went fishing torn- ihammer. He made so much
cods. I caught fourty. In the noise that wo had to dismiss
evenimr mv uncle built a fire out school. Thus ends a much dls-
of logs- We would sit around turbed day.
the fire and tell stories.
The fourth day we prepared
to go home. We took the three
o'clock train.
'We were real tired when we
gotJ home.
Mabel G. Aldridge Age 10
Age 10
My Trip East and Back .
We decided to go sometime
In October and of course mama
had to get busy. We left home
In the first part of No.vember.
We got on the street car and
A Trip to Oakridgo. went to Eugene, then we got on
One time I went to Oakridge the train and changed at Port
to spend a few weeks with my .land. Then, we visited .my aunt
father. He was working on the ;ln Tacoma and then we went on
rfifC 96-
- If ItT HI Mil
Hi
Report of tho condition of tho First
National Hank of Springfield, In the
State of Oregon, at tho clouo of bUBl
nesH March 4, 1016, condensed frbni
report to tho Comptroller of the Cur
rency. RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts $ 02,009,91
U. S. and other ttomln nhd
Warranto 28,100.17
Ranking house, real cfltnte,
furniture and fixtures 18,(i0n,GO
Cash and due from banks . .. 3G.888.78
$170,74 2.70
LIABILITIES.
Capital Stock 2G.000.00
Surplus and Profits ...... . 3,820.86
Circulation 6,800.00
Deposits ...142,115.91
$170,742.70
KB
H
The Best Grocerie;
For Less Money
The Fifth Street Grocery
Thos. Sikes, Prop. Phone 22
Your Taxes Here
Wo are a depository for
County funds nnd are authoriz
ed to receive money in payment
of taxes. One half may Uo paid
on o? before April 1st. Brlrig1 in
your tax statements if you liavd
them, and if not "ask us, and we ,
will get them for you. ,No extra
charge.
Commercial State Bank
Capital $30,000.00
Speaking of "Tommy Atkins" in war, World Wide is authority !blg brIdge ,that crossed the Sal- ' and did hot have to change any
IF YOU HAVE NpYER TfljlED
The Springfield Creamery
CHAS. BARHMAN, JrQ?rIetor .
Try it and be convinced that it paya to patronize
home industries.
for the statement that a distinguished English surgeon, at work
in the hospitals for the past three mbpths, holds it to be a 'real
spiritual experience to-work; with "Tommy.'1 "Day by day," said
that surgeon, '"it comds" over one what little use we make at hohie
of this splendid liuman material, and I shall go hack determined
to do what l ean to give this man and the Class that he comes from
something 't& lose and something to work for When they "hav.e
done fighting-" '"' ' " '
Plere Is a text for some forceful preaching to the wealth and
privilege of Great Britain.. "Tommy Atkins" in p.eace is barely! ., hrnthm. vPrnnn
lass he comes from is no -more' than the I and-1 ran away. Wo' went on the
niond Creek. River. It was a more- We saw many pretty
very nice place to live. I flowers and ineadows on our
I stayed at tne hotel at Oak- way. we crossed many monn
ridge and at the camp where the tains. One time we went way
worKmen .veu tue was a com- up nign on a oriuge. it was so
Issary, where all the provisions high that it seemed like If "you
were Kept, wear it was a large, bare very hard on one side that
tent where all the jnen ate and
1 ate there W One evening
when the. men had eaten, and
were around the camp fire
out of tho woods and we met
some men who were looking for
us. The men toolc us home and
ho nearly got a whlppen for run
ijig away.
t he next any my papa let me
1 XI.. 1 kl.l nL .1. - -.1
tiuuvu uiu eiiuurauie, uie ciuus uv cumcs iiuui jb iiu iiiuiu iiiuu uiv lailU I rail awav.
dust of the road or the niUd of the street; he springs' froiii one vast ! other side of the tent and cros
amalgamated flotsam and jetsoni that Engllshnieh of wealth anU t s?(1 a rdasninK river on a narrow
TilnHlalmtPn nf hralnn invo hprn rpnrflfiifi- fnr RhnlP.'nrft iiu .Hi i Ihcn VO Went ill a deilSQ
avtromolv trnnMoenmo nvnl.loni VYia, "wnr'a nlorutn"' Cninifla "00"S1' . . ' OrtUnatCiy WO Came
It Is different. "Tommy Atkins" is a hero when the band begins
to play; and when the British empire is at death grips he's more
than that. He fights valiantly and suffers like a stoic, except that
his pat'ence'has a more admirable quality.
- What is it that makes the difference in the "Tommy Athins" of
the one time and condition as compared with the other? Appre
ciation, care and the human regard Which the government evinces
for him. The government takes him from the dust of the road
and tho mud of the street and, first of all, exalts him to a man of
consequence-i-an integral, active unit in the life of the empire.
It feeds him, It clothes him, it looks after his welfare in every way
that It 'can to make him an efficient fighter. It does all the things
requisite for him as & soldier, which it neglects or refuses to do for
him as an artisan of peace.
Suppose that the English sentiment toward the "Tommy At
kins" class were- to undergo transformation in accord with the
utterance of that English'gurgeon; suppose that It were to survive
the train would tip over. The
porter was very kind and would
come and play with us.
We had n very nice .visit while
we were there but .when wo got
home we were glad. Getclien
Herrick. Age 11
A Visit to tho Country.
One Bummer I spent some of
my vacation in the country
with my aunty. My Cousins and
I were planning to go to the falls
The morning was- very warm
and sunny. Tho birds were sing
ing and tne squirrels were scam
go Hunting, we went up on a-j perlng to and fro. Wo planned
large mountain. Wo found noiaml planned to go. Wo each
game so we went back to the got a piece of fat meat and a
camp- fBtrlng. Wo went throuKh tho
On our way hack we went barn yard, climbed over the
through three tunnels and many
woods,
Lewis Jones Age 11
Our Trip to the Springs.
Oho sunny autumn day we
were preparing to go to the
Springs about fifty miles from
our nome. wo started in the
afternoon
and
fence, and then down tho steep
bank to the falls. We waded
In the water for a while and
cought a few craw fish.
Walter took the dog and wont
up ahove the falls to hunt squir
rels; After a while had-past, wo
herd him calling for Us to come
quickly. Wb thdught Buro ho
camped that 'had fallen in tho water- Whero
FIRST NATIONAL BANK, EUGENE, OREGON.
Established ijsa
Capital and Surplus . . J300,000,00
Interests on Savings Accounts and Tlmo Certificates
Bltie Printing apcl P&gs f
A. PEYFOXDS
Work Called jfor and Delivered.
f 4- 4..
wo were tho water wasn't over
three feet deep. Over a ways
farther there was a swimlng
nool that was very deep. We
wont whero Walter was and we
found out that ho had found a
poor sick sheep and It had been
hurt so badly that one of Its legs
was nearly off.
Some of us went bacit home
some of us stayed there. She
camo with some sheep dip, an
ann full of hay and some water.
Wo doctored it up and cut some
of the wool off of Its legs. The
magots were working into -it
feet and hoofs. , A cyoatie had'
biten it and it had gotteii its
horns fast in tho ground;- After
we camo homo we got a letter
which said thoy had to kill tho
goat. This happened at Bear
Creek Falls. West from Eugene.
Mary Edwona Parsons. Ago 10
JIODI2RT BURNS I.odgOj No.
.78, A. M. K sAnclent and
Accppto( Scottish nito Uni
versal and Symbolic Pro'o
Wagons moots Friday ovorf.
ine In W. o. w. hail, viait.
r.'-A. Johnibn, .' J,. H. Durrln, '
Secrotary. n.' W. Mi
Wo print butter wrappers.