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Tuesday, Korftmber 29, 1955
MSDFORD (ORBOOK) MAIL TRIBUNE THREB
State Taxation Discussed By Tax Commissioner, Other Officials Here
Increased Expenses
Indicate Change In
Tax Base Desired
A slight decrease, required by
law, in the assessed valuation of
public utilities may have caused
a slight rise in local taxes, Sam
uel B. Stewart, state tax com
missioner, said here yesterday.
Stewart took part in a dis
cussion of state tax problems at
a Chamber of Commerce round-
table luncheon at the'Jackson
hotel. The luncheon meeting was
attended by 38 people including
Stewart, State Sen. Philip Low-
ry, a member of the senate tax
committee; and State Rep. Al
Littrell.
Expenses Triple
It was pointed out at the
meeting that state expenses have
almost tripled in the past ten
years and that there is a need
for a new tax basis in order to
... meet the rising cost of state gov
' ernment and to equalize tax pay
merits.
Public utilities, which are ap-
praised by the state tax commis
sion, have in the past been as
sessed on a higher tax ratio than
other property, Stewart said.
The commission has been re
quired by law to equalize the tax
ratio and is complying. The un
equal tax ratio, plus the fact that
utilities are now subject to the
state corporate excise tax, placed
an unfair burden on the public
utilities, Stewart said.
It was brought out at the meet
ing that the state general fund
budget needed to meet expenses
has almost tripled in the last
ten years.
Reasons for Rise
Reasons given for the rise
were state support of education
and welfare, payment of interest
on bonds issued to provide a vet-
, erans' bonus, and large increases
In the cost of maintaining state
institutions, police, and the cost
of developing and controlling
natural resources.
Lowry pointed out that more
than 50 per cent of the 1955-57
budget will be used to meet the
state's share of school expenses.
Under the basic school support
plan the state now pays $80 per
school child. The total cost of ed
ucation in the state varies from
$238 to $700 per child.
The amount paid under the
basic school support plan will
probably be increased further,
Stewart and Senator Lowry
agreed.
New Basis Needed
Lowry stated that there is a
Jieed for a new tax basis which
vill provide required revenue
and at the same time not place
too great a burden on any par
ticular group of tax payers.
It was brought out at the
luncheon that income tax and
property tax revenues, as well
as state liquor profits become
self defeating when they place
too great a burden on a group of
tax payers.
The big question for the tax
legislature is, "Who pays the
taxes?" Stewart said, indicating
that it is difficult to find a tax
which is fair to everyone.
Stewart remarked that he had
noticed a great deal of interest
in a sales tax for Oregon. A sales
tax has the disadvantage of plac
ing a burden on low income
groups, he said, unless it is mod
ified in some way.
Combination Suggested
It was suggested that a sales
tax, combined with a revision of
the income tax laws, such as the
plan in effect in California
might be used. This plan is a
three per cent sales- tax com
bined with a state income tax
which exempts incomes of less
than 55,000 per year.
A three Der cent, sales tax in
6 Oregon would raise about S50,-
000,000 in a two year period,
Lowry said.
21 Cases of Disease
Reported Last Week
Twenty-one cases of commu
nicable disease were reported to
the Jackson county public health
department last week.
One case of viral hepatitis was
reported from " Prospect. Most
numerous disease cases were
chicken pox, with eight, six of
them in Prospect and one each in
Medford and Ashland. Others
included two cases of measles.
three of influenza, one of trench
mouth, four of strep throat and
two of pneumonia.
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ANNOUNCING
Brooks Electric & Plumbing
NOW LOCATED AT
1016 N. RIVERSIDE
1 Block South of The Old Location
Jackson County Residents Will
Pay 16.8 Per Cent More Taxes
During 1955-56 Fiscal Year
Jackson county residents, dur
ing fiscal year 1955-56, will pay
$5,413,239.45 in taxes and liens,
according to the tax roll sum
mary prepared by Robert G.
Fowler, county assessor.
The figure is some $781,741.06
more than the S4,631,498.39 paid
by taxpayers during fiscal year
1954-55, ending last June 30, an
increase of 16.8 per cent. In
1953-54, the total tax collection
was $4,094,727.12.
Of the more than $5,000,000
which will be paid this year,
$3,651,234.25 is for schools in
cluding the rural school levy of
50.2 mills, special school levies,
and school bonds. Levies in
American Cities Said
Facing Bankruptcy .
Unless Slums Cleaned
Miami. Fla. U.R Federal
housing chief : Albert M. Cole
warned today that American cit
ies face bankruptcy in 19b5 un
less thev move quickly to wipe
out slums and rundown areas.
Cole said the rapid increase in
population and new families ex
pected after 1960 will create
greater demands on municipal
tax resources.
T h p s e additional demands
"will become insupportable if
the present heavy costs of slums
blight and obsolescence are al
lowed to go on," he said.
Cole nointed out that the pop
ulation probably will , jump to
more than 190,000,000 by 1965,
almost all the increase being
registered in urban areas.
Cole said . the problem oi
"urban renewal can be success
fully accomplished only on an
area-wide basis.
Face Bankruptcy
"The neoDle of any city witn-
out a comprehensive plan of ac
tion underway within the next
five years at the latest will face
miinirinal bankruptcy in 1965,"
he said. Cole issued his "warning I
UAL Delayed in
Resuming Service
wahiintnn (U.P.) The Civil
Aeronautics Board has extend
ed temporarily an order delay
ing resumption of service by
United Air Lines to Monterey,
Santa Barbara and Eureka,
Calif., pending disposition of an
appeal by Southwest Airways.
Southwest asked the CAB (to
reconsider its decision effective
Nov. 27 permitting United to
serve the three points again.
United service was suspended
nrioinallv hv the CAB to per
mit Southwest to serve the same
points as a local service airline.
The Nov. 27 decision gave South
west permanent authority to
serve the points as well as others.
However, the order also rein
stated United on the grounds
that Southwest's "survival" now
was assured.
United had planned to resume
service to the three California
points Dec. 8.
Mercy Flights Take
Two To Vets Hospital
Two Jackson' county men
were flown to the Veterans Ad
ministration hospital in Portland
by Mercy Flights, Inc., yesterday
afternoon. Both were scheduled
for surgery there.
The patients were Warren
Locke, Central Point, and Jack
Wright, Ross lane. The flight
was made in the Mercy Flights
Cessna plane, as the two new
Beechcraft planes are still
grounded until registration pro
cedures are completed.
Lock and Wright were the
424th and 425th patients carried
by planes operated by the non
profit ciir ambulance corpora
tion since it started service in
January, 1950.
school districts range from Med
ford's 39.8 mills, the lowest, to
Griffin Creek's 56.6 mills, the
highest.
Last year, school levy collec
tions totaled $3,223,915.84, and
in 1953-54, collections were
$2,760,406.52.
County Taxes Double
During the three-year period,
county taxes have increased
from 5.7 mills to 8.7 mills this
year.
Ten Jackson county cities will
receive $653,522.30, an increase
of $22,565.02 over the $630,
957.28 received last fiscal year.
In 1953-54, cities received $569,-796.24.
in a speech prepared , for the
American Municipal Association.
He said that a substantial num
ber of cities already are attack
ing the problem and have
achieved "conspicuous results."
Under the housing act of 1954,
he noted, community-wide pro
grams have been approved for
more than 70 cities and towns.
About 90 others have programs
in the planning stage. This
brings the total to some 320 de
velopment programs underway
in more than 200 communities.
The housing act provides for
federal loans, mortgage insur
ance and direct grants to aid
cities in such programs.
Adlai Stevenson, candidate for
the Democratic presidential nom
ination, will address the associa
tion tomorrow.
New York Mayor Robert Wag
ner told a panel group late yes
terday he could offer no solu
tion to the complex problems of
his metropolitan area but sug
gested that New Jersey, New
York and Connecticut could
form a tri-state commission to
study them. ,: . . . :
Areas Limp Along
Chicago Mayor Richard J.
Daley said the metropolitan
problem "can no longer be ef
fectively handled with the anti
quated machinery of govern
ment adapted to a horse and
buggy era." He added that most
of the 168 metropolitan areas in
the nation have been granted
only enough authority to allow
them to "limp along."
"I believe that metropolian
area governments should be giv
en the widest possible range of
discretionary powers so they can
move to solve their revenue
problems," the Chicago mayor
added. "The local electorate will
see that local taxes do not get
out of hand." -
Mayor Noel E. Porter of the
suburban city of Palo Alto,
Calif., gave a qualified endorse
ment of the metropolitan plan.
"I would be hesitant to suggest
the relinquishment of certain
service functions which the
small cities are capable of per
forming and which help insure
that citizens participation in
government is continued," he
said.
Godfrey
tells about
the night
that made him
a top star!
Learn how Arthur became fa
mom by keeping listener awake
for 24 hours in 48 states with
radio's first all-night program.
You'll find out why 4000 fans
brought him coffee and sand
wiches before dawn and the part
Walter Winchell played in giv
ing him a boost into the big time.
This week Arthur tells you
how it all happened in his own
words. Here's the inside story
of Godfrey's network troubles
and triumphs told by Arthur
himself for the first time! Don't
miss "This Is My Story", in the
Post. Read it today!
Out today on at! newsstands
Medford's levy is 18.9 mills
this year. Other city levies in
clude Ashland, 13-2; Butte Falls,
8.7; Central Point, 17.6; Eagle
Point, 25.2; Gold Hill, 19.6; Jack
sonville, 17.5; Phoenix, 24.8;
Rogue River, 15; and Talent 20.6
mills.
In total levy in cities, Medford
residents are taxed 67.4 mills,
the second lowest levy among
the county's 10 cities. The 67.4
mills include city, county and
school district taxes, and will
raise $471,481.92, but does not
include various levies for water
districts, sanitary districts or
other special tax levying dist
ricts within the city.
Cities' Total Millages
Total levies, not including
taxable bodies other than city,
county and school districts, in
other cities are Ashland, 68.7;
Butte Falls, 67.6; Central Point,
66.7; Eagle Point, 84.1; . Gold
Hill, 68.7; Jacksonville, 76.4;
Phoenix, 83.7; Rogue River, 74.7;
and Talent, 80.6.
The total assessed valuation of
property, including public serv
ice corporation properties, in
cities is $36,672,240.42, slightly
less than half the total of $80,
658,894.05 of the taxable value
in Jackson county.
In addition to county, school
and city levies, some $106,487.71
will be paid in water, sanitary,
hospital and fire districts, with
another $301,720.39 going to the
state fire patrol, irrigation dist
ricts, liens and penalties, and
$638.59 to reforestation fees.
Other levies include Charlotte
Ann Water, 3.4; Grand View
water, 9.4; Kenwood water, 9.1;
Kings Highway water 13.4;
Maple Park water, 6.7; Midway
water, 1.6; South Bear creek san
itary, 4.3; Central Point rural
fire, 4.3; Medford rural fire, 4.0;
and Rogue River rural fire, 4.3.
127 N. Central Ave,
its
Mew
1 A
c
Columbia Bridge Bids
To Be Called Jan. 13
Salem (U.R) Bids for con
struction of a new interstate
bridge across the Columbia river
between Portland and Vancou
ver, Wash., will be called next
Jan. 13, Oregon State Highway
Engineer R. H. Baldock said to
day. Timetables for bid calls and
bond issues were agreed on at
Vancouver last Friday, Baldock
said, when the highway depart
ments of both states conferred
on the $14,000,000 project.
The program also calls iov im
mediate reconstruction of the
present interstate bridge. Both
old and new spans will be oper
ated as toll bridges for an esti
mated seven years after they are
opened to finance a revenue bond
issue.
Baldock said the new bridge
should be open for traffic by
June 30, 1958. Reconstruction of
the existing bridge would not be
completed until the end of 1959.
Hearing on Burlesque
Theater Closing Set
Portland (U.R) Friday has
been set as the time for the city
of Portland to show cause why
it should not be enjoined from
closing the Star burlesque the
ter. Presiding Circuit Judge James
R. Bain refused a petition of the
Star's management for . a tem
porary injunction and set the
date for hearing instead.
The city council last Friday
passed an ordinance revoking the
license of Aaron Corporation to
operate the Star. Councilmen
claimed they had evidence that
an indecent performance had
been presented at the Star, one
of two burlesque houses in Port
land. Theater operators contended
that the city acted capriciously
and arbitrarily.
About 55 per cent of Ameri
can families own their homes,
a higher ratio than ever before
in U.S. history.
o
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THURS. - FRI. - SAT. O DEC. 1-2-3
A baking demonstration using Monarch combination ranges will be held in our store on Dec. 1, 2, 3. It will continue
all day until 5:30 p.m. You'll see the giant Monarch oven bake 10 one-pound loaves of bread at one time. Plan
now to attend this wonderful demonstration.
A Beautiful Door Prize Will Be Awarded!
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Medford, Phone 3-5306
Sen. Neuberger Raps
Indian Bureau for
Timber Sale Policy
Aberdeen flJ.R) The Bureau
of Indian Affairs came in for
sharp criticism yesterday from
Richard L. Neuberger (D-Ore.)
and Rep. Carl Chudoff during
a joint Congressional subcommit
tee hearing.
The hearing was held on fed
eral timber sales policies in con
nection with the sale of Quin
ault Indian Reservation timber
to Rayonier Incorporated, oper
ator of three pulp mills at Ho
quiam, Shelton and Port An
geles. Bureau Scorned
Neuberger, while criticizing
Rayonier's advertisements advo
cating utilization of excess com
mercial timber "now tied up
uselessly in certain areas of the
Olympic National Park," placed
no blame on Rayonier for taking
advantage of Indian sales but
scorned the bureau for not get
ting enough in the sale of Crane
Creek timber in 1952.
Chudoff (D-Pa.) concurred that
the Indians didn't get enough for
the allotment timber.
The criticism was made while
L. J. Forrest, land manager for
Rayonier, appeared before the
committee to justify the con
tract on which Rayonier to date
has paid $2,448,000 in advance
payments and will pay about
$600,000 more by the fall of
1958. Additional amounts are
paid as timber is cut, Forrest
said.
$163,000 Forfeited
. Currently, under the market
adjustment formula, Rayonier is
paying 30 per cent more for
hemlock than it did at the time
the contract was signed, Forrest
said.
. Rayonier forfeited $163,000 on
the first sale because the com
pany did not agree to the form
of the Indian Bureau's .contract.
Forrest said the firm on the sec
ond sale paid high stumpage. The
11 v S d) fe
America's Most Popular
Christmas Lay-Away Plan
WEDNESDAY
cutting under the terms of the
contract has 34 years to run.
Second growth will not be mar
ketable for 25 years after the
virgin growth is logged.
Under questioning, Forrest
agreed that the Indians should
be allowed to run their own
property.
Canada's longest river is the
Mackenzie, running for about
2,514 miles. .
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137 E. Main St., Ashland, Phone 9-5831
Fire Extinguished
By Copco Line Crew
Firemen were sent -at 10:24
a.m. Monday to the Richard
R.eum residence, route 2, box
298, Central Point, by the Cen
tral Point rural fire department,
to extinguish a small blaze in a
furnace room.
The fire, which might have
become serious according to fire
chief Dick Krupp, was put out
by members of a California Ore
gon Power company fine crew
by the time firemen arrived.
Origin of the fire wag not
known.
Ik
Wednesday
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