Image provided by: North Santiam Historic Society; Gates, OR
About The Mill City enterprise. (Mill City, Or.) 1949-1998 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 14, 1968)
IS Salem Scene by Everett E. Cutter TAX HE FORM, BEACH RIGHTS AWAIT LEGISLATIVE ACTION legislators convening here in regular session two months from now clearly have their work cut out for them on two important issues, thanks to last week’s defeat of Ballot Meas ures 6 and 7 at the polls. On the first of these, the proposal to allow the state to purchase beach property, (the legislature could face more work than if the measure had passed.) Had voters approved the measure, a gasoline tax would have been written into the Constitution for the ex press purpose of saving sand areas in question. Oregon voters, however, opted to resolve the question through legislative action. Such a course, incidentlly, was re commended by many respons ible oranizations — including the Governor’s Advisory Com mittee on a Livable Oregon. The “beach bill” passed by the last legislature has been upheld in one circuit court de cision, now being appealed to the Oreon Supreme Court. That bill retains public rights to all Oregon beaches up to a 16-foot level above the mean high tide, presenting a rather wavy line up and down the coast as the steepness of beaches varies. But the last legislature also directed the State Highway De partment to survey the entire coastline and recommended modifications to the law if needed. These recommenda tions will be made by January, and the new legislature will have these guidelines, and pro bably further court decisions, with which to work. Legislators assuredly a r e aware that Oregonians want the beaches kept open. One sus pects that Rep. Norman How ard (D-Portland,) long-time members of legislative high way committees and interim highway committees, speaks for the majority when he ob serves that what the voters rejected was a gas tax in crease, not the concept of sav ing the beaches. On the other issue, the 1H per cent property tax limita tion, the work and worry of the legislature were greatly reduced by the voters’ deci sion. The measure was defeat ed by nearly 2-1 margin, avert ing financial difficulties for local governments and schools which would have forced legis lators to act under the gun be fore effects of the revenue loss would lx? felt. The message, however, should be clear: property tax relief is needed, less reliance should be placed upon local taxes for schools, and Oregon property owners definitely want property tax relief. The fact that Oregon voters chose to achieve this relief in an or derly way, in effect giving the legislature another chance, speaks well again for the dis cretion of our citizenry. Chances tor tax reform may well be better in the coming session. In 1967, in regular and special sessions, the issue re peatedly bogged down in dis agreement between Democrats and Republicans, Senate and House, liberals and conserva tives. Now there will be new faces in the House, although the :18 Republicans - 22 Democrats makeup is the same count as in January of 1967. But the nature of the Senate will change; with 14 Republicans and 13 regular Democrats, only three of the conservative Derri- ccrats remain. A new lineup in the Senate could help smooth the way for referral of a responsible tax reform mea sure to the people. Such a measure could take the form of a sales tax. It could propose an income tax increase or a net receipts tax —a tax, essentiality, which is levied cn income from the first dollar earned. Almost certainly any referred measure would seek to lighten local property taxes by raising more money on the state level ta provide more basic school support. The high cost of Oregon’s quality education, and shifting that cost, may be expected to be the key to tax reform. Some self-appointed “legis lative psychologists” have said that the defeat of Measure 6 and 7 would indicated to our lawmakers that Oregonians do not realty want the beaches saved and do not realty want lower taxes too badly. This ob viously would be dangerous thinking on the part of the leg- LYONS By Eva Bressler Applications were approved for renewal of liquor licenses for Lyons Tavern, Bob’s Mar ket and Walton’s Grocery at the regular meeting of the City Council recently. Plans were also made to build more shelves at the city library, and it was voted to pay all bills. Mrs. Howard Naue and her mother, Mrs. Lydia Culwell. were in Portland Thursday to visit Ray Short at the Vets hospital. He is a brother-in- law of Mrs. Naue. and son-in- law of Mrs. Culwell. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Waters islature, and most of its mem bers should know it. Lest there be any doubt, readers of this newspaper may well choose to write their sena tors and representatives, re iterating their desires on these two issues. Now that we have passed these important prob lems to the 1969 legislative body for resolution, the least we can do is give all the guid ance and support possible to those we elected. and family were weekend quests at the home of her par ents, Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Erb at Cathlamet, Wn. Mrs. Percy Hiatt and Mrs. Earl Allen were among those attending the Past President’s breakfast of the American Le gion Auxiliary Past 58 of Stay ton, held Monday morning the 11th. Mrs. Lawrence Chytka re turned home from Santiam Me morial hospital after spendin two weeks there for medical treatment. Mrs. Joe Johnson spent Fri day night and Saturday in Eu gene at the home of their son- in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Taylor and children. While there the two grand daughters, Jill and Heidi un derwent tonsilectomies. Following church services Sunday morning at United Me thodist church, Miss Lula Cory was complimented on her 80th birthday anniversary with cake and coffee and also a card and handkerchief shower. Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Bassett called at the home of Mrs. Vera Bassett in Salem Sunday and took her cut to dinner. 7—The Mill City Enterprise, Thursday, Nov. 14, 1968 A large crowd attended the annual chicken dinner spon sored by the St. Patrick Catho lic parish Sunday. The country store was well attended and the bingo table was busy. Winning prizes were Florent Frichtl, electric blanket; Don Callahan, quilt; and Tina Miller, the tow el set. Winning turkeys were Vincent Krantz and Marian Dozier. Door prizes were won by Lee Joyce, Steve Frichtl, Bernie Ripp and Sister Mary Caroline. Mrs. Florence Meyers of Beaverton was a Wednesday evening through Friday guest FOLKS THAT WANT SURE-FIRE at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Bassett. Thursday the «SULTS KNOW AN AD IN THIS two ladies attended a luncheon at the home of Mabel Bruder IEWSPAPER IS A FAST, DEPENDABLE in Mill City, honoring the WAY TO BUY, SELL OR RENT birthday anniversary of Dora Liesy of Florence, a former Mill City resident. —CALL NOWi Subscribe to The Mill City Enterprise Mill City Enterprise Phone 897-2772 REPAIRS-ALTERATIONS- INSTALLATIONS ft Building I Your New Home Now? * ¿a Let Us Give You A FREE ESTIMATE on any and all of your plumbing needs. MOFFATT PLUMBING & HEATING, INC. Phone 897-2799 or 897-2499 1968 Camero Convertible $2995 Only 3,900 miles, V8 3 speed, automatic trans. 1968 Chevelle 300 Deluxe $2345 2 dh. hdtp. 6 Cylinder, Automatic transmission 1967 Chevy 2 $1795 4 door, 6 Cylinder, Automatic transmission 1965 Chev. 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