Power Tax Needs Thought—Do You Want It?
•
4
•
(AN EDITORIAL)
ings in this editorial.
ment for several years. The cent. Mind you, this would by far the most advanta on the power program . . .
In the first
the *■--
pro- state body’s figures show not only include the incor geous.
at least not now.
A proposed city ordinance ---------
— r place,
----- > —
would place a gross earn-, posed ordinance can be pas- the local holdings worth porated limits of Vernonia
But, we wonder if the
The Bonneville power op
ings tax of 4-per cent, on sed through customary chan- over $240,000. Last year, but the rural district now gross earnings tax is justi portunities are still dor
the Oregon Gas & Electricals by listening to three this company is reported to served out of this operation. fied at this time? There mant. We do not know
Company’s revenue within J readings at three regular have netted $3,000, or a- In other words, the Verno may be facts with which we what they will bring. We
the incorporated limits of meetings, or can be declar-
J--’— bout 1-per cent. These are nia people would be inflict are not} conversant. We hope, even the Oregon Gas
I
ed
an
emergency
and
passed not our figures, but those ing a higher rate on the mention the ordinance this & Electric Co. must hope,
Vernonia, This ordinance
(within
a
comparatively
available to the nublic.
hinterland . . . parties apart week in such a prominent that Bonneville will bring
according to information
■short
time.
Which
choice
As soon as an earnings from the city but whom fashion because we are not reduced power rates to Ver
published in The Eagle last
week, is now being drawn I the council will make, we tax is in inflicted, the com would not feel too kindly especially anxious to pay an nonia and rural power con
and will be submitted to the cannot say.
pany’s representatives will towards us for our forcing added tax of any descrip sumers.
But until we learn defi
councilmen for probable
In the second place, what go to Salem where the situa added power costs to their tion. And we believe there
are hundreds of power con nitely one way or the other,
passage Monday evening. ever percentage figure is tion will be laid before the already skinny budgets.
BUt, then, perhaps the i' sumers in Vernonia who perhaps it would be better
So many Vernonians have ■ selected for the amount of utility commissioner. On
to pour a little oil on rio
asked concerning the ordin (the tax, your average bill the basis of the company’s Oregon Gas & Electric feel the same way.
The ordinance will raise tous waters. There is much
ance that The Eagle, after will eventually carry that figures, as well as those at Company would not take
due thought, devises a story figure and the amount*, the disposal of himself, he this step. We don’t know. only about $75 monthly for misinformation afloat now,
The other way the tax the city and therefore can on all sides, and The Eagle
can ill afford to deny the
which it hopes will be read which you will pay.
could be carried to the con not be termed a revenue chooses to await specific
by every power consumer’ When we say that the, company’s petition.
in the city limits. We have consumer will pay the tax,! The absorption of the tax sumer would follow in producing tax. Then it is and authentic developments
reason to believe that the we base our finding on pro by the consumers, you and somewhat the same style as natural to assume that there before it countenances any
program.
city officials want to act in cedure in other localities | me, may be brought about the former, except that the are other reasons.
The other reasons, of
If you favor the gross
accordance with the major and with many other power in two ways. The company company’s representative
ity of taxpayers and power companies. The reason the may ask for a revised tariff would seek permission from course, come within the earnings tax at this time,
consumers in their city, consumer will pay is based in an upward direction, the commission merely to] power program that has, tell your councilmen you do.
hence we issue an appeal on the fact, (Utility Com which would, without a add 4-per cent, (or what indeed, enlightened the peo If you don’t, tell them about
to all of you to talk with mission reports show the i doubt, cover the entire dis ever the figure) to those! ple a lot, and will, no doubt, it. We have reason to be
your councilmen concern following correct) that the; tribution system and would, consumers’ monthly bills bring much information be lieve that Vernonia’s mayor
ing the ordinance if you are Vernonia unit has not earn-] if our own figuring is with- within the incorporation. If, fore the city ere it is com- and council want to rep
not satisfied with the find ed 7-per cent, on its invest-' in reason, average 10 per ' any is sought, this would be uleted. We do not frown resent their constituents.
PRINTING YOU NEED CAN BE
DONE IN VERNONIA BY VER-
NONIA PEOPLE; A RECIPROCAL
ATTITUDE
IN
PRINTING
AS
WELL AS IN OTHER SERVICES
AVAILABLE HERE PAYS
DIVIDENDS.
ADVERTISING WORKS INDIVI
DUAL MIRACLES.
SOME PEO
PLE
STILL
CAN’T
BELIEVE
CALIFORNIA IS HAVING WEA-
THER TROUBLE.
WHY DON’T
YOU ADVERTISE? IT HAS
ALWAYS PAID.
Last of
Concerts
Due Mon.
Jane Watts to Act a* Mistress
of Ceremonies; Fine Pro
gram Billed
The last in a series of five concerts
which have been presented for Ver
nonia music lovers in recent weeks
by the Junior band is billed for the
little auditorium in the Washington
grade school Monday evening. Di-
rector C. R. Watts announced this
week.
The director’s daughter, Miss Jane,
will act as mistress of ceremonies
for the Monday evening event. The
concert starts at 7:30.
Those wishing to attend this final
concert : are asked to enter the school
via the west door.
The event Monday evening, similar
to those in the past, will be an im-
promptu affair, the students partici
pating arranging for their individual
numbers shortly before the hour of
the presentation.
The public is extended an invita
tion to attend the musicale.
—o-
In McMinnville—
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Brutkie and son
spent Sunday in McMinnville with
relatives.
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1938
VERNONIA, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON
VOLUME 15, NUMBER 9
CANDIDATE
BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
LOCAL POST OFFICE
DELIVERED IT!
One can read of such instances,
but seldom does one see it worked
out so clpse to home. But a letter
came this week to the local post
office addressed to either one of
two Portland telephone numbers,
Vernonia, Oregon. C. R. Watts,
carrier, took the letter to the local
telephone office and it was found
that a brother of the man whose
business bore the telephone num
ber on the envelope, had just plac
ed a call a short time before. While
the letter was probably not in
tended for the local man. the
Portland man's brother who re
sides near here, got the letter
Tuesday after it had been mailed a
day or two before in Cottage
Grove. “Though addressed to a
telephone number, the letter was
delivered promptly,” said Post
master Emil Messing and Carrier
Watts.
Fuse on Power Issue Due for
Igniting Here Monday Evening
Stockmen of
County Will
¡Meet Tonight
—
| Grange Hall to Be Scene of
Important Session; Will
Seek Protection
—----------
Neighbors Help Eagle
Out of Tough
Spot This Week
Due to mechanical difficulties suffer- |
ed by The Eagle this week, the man- i
agement found it necessary to hurry ‘
----- ------
---------- for
•
to Hillsboro
and a arrange
setting f '
i
many columns of the type matter em I
bodied in this issue. To the staff, es I
pecially the mechanical department, of
the Hillsboro Argus, The Eagle axtends
its sincere thanks and appreciation.
Come over and we’ll return the com
pliment by running down a steelhead
j in Rock creek.
See Bonneville Dam—
---------- o----------
Mr. and Mrs. Vern Sykes and H. W. j | On Business Trip—
Cameron made a pleasure trip to Bon- i I Mr. and Mrs. Ed Salomonsen spent
neville Dam Sunday.
Friday in Portland.
I
Stockmen of Columbia county
will gather in Vernonia this evening
to discuss several important topics
of interest to them in their business.
The Grange hall will be the scene
of the meeting which gets under
way at 7:30 p.m., according to
Lode McDonald, in charge of local
arrangements.
Somewhat perturbed at activity of
packers concerning beef buying and
certification, the stockmen will dis
cuss protective legislation at the
meeting tonight.
In addition cooperative efforts
in breeding and feeding will come
before the group at the session to
night.
All stockmen of this dis
trict as well as in the entire county
are urged to attend and enter into
the discussion scheduled for this
evening.
Last week’s Eagle erroneously re
ported the meeting for March 1.
March 4 was the date set for the
meeting.
Carl C. Donaugh, federal district
attorney for Oregon. Monday formal
ly entered the lists for the United
States Senate when he filed his de
claration of candidacy with Secre
tary of State Earl Snell. Donaugh thus
became the first officially to enter
the race for the Democratic nomina
tion for the senate subject to the
May primary.
Donaugh announced he would run
a>n a slogan of “For Roosevelt; wide
dtistribution Bonneville power; Wil
lamette Valley project; stabilizing la-
baar conditions.”
Pritchett
Denied Right
To Remain
I
"
A promised lighting of the fuse
on the local power issue is due for
Monday night at the Vernonia coun
cil session when the expected first
reading of the gross earnings tax on
the Oregon Gas & Electric income
within the incorporation is expected.
Some said that the ordinance, or
dered drawn last week by the coun
cil, would be connected with a n
emergency rider and would, there
fore. be placed into action at an
Local Men
Arrested for
Game Violation
Wood Brothers Shoot Deer;
Get Fines of $100 Each in
Clatskanie Court
Albert Everett and Isaac Irvin
Wood, brothers, 37 and 43, respec
tively, were fined $100 each in
Justice Puzey’s court in Clatskanie
last Thursday following their ap
prehension the same day by Warden
Forsythe for slaying of a deer out
of season.
Forsythe found the two brothers
loading the deer in the back of their
car in the Oak Ranch creek section.
The arrest followed and they were
taken to Clatskanie by the officer
where they entered pleas of guilty
I before the magistrate.
earlier date than if passed through
ordinary channels. However, City
Attorney Lester Sheeley intimated
that the ordinance would be read
fee the first time Monday night.
Ordinance Incomplete
The statute, around which much
debate has been centered, was not in
its final form yesterday, the attor
ney said, hence its contents were not
available.
However, the general concensus,
following the meeting held last week,
was that the ordinance would seek
collection of four per cent on the
gross earnings in the city.
Figuring the month of November,
which month's earnings were check
ed by a special crew hired by the
city recently, showed that the total
collected by the local power com
pany within the city limits approx
imated $1,800. November, however,
is considered one of the peak months
of the year.
The four per cent., if this figure
is maintained in the ordinance, would
bring the city $72 in revenue, it was
pointed out.
Talked of Before
The earnings tax was originally dis
cussed some weeks back, but at
that time, the West Coast Telephone
Co., operating in this area, was in
cluded in the deal. However, seeing
the need for additional bookkeeping,
records and forms, the late George
Bauman, district manager, met with
the council and worked out a "deal”
(Continued on page 12.)
Chamber Meet Using Insulators on Power Line
Classed as “Undesirable” Billed Next
As Targets Deemed Eery
According to Press Re
ports Received Yesterday Tuesday, 8th
Fire Chief (Carns of Seasonal
Blaze Danger; Local Total Low
"Few days of sunshine, an east especially
about
the
chimneys,
wind, then the fire danger jumps should be removed at the earliest
Harold J. Pritchett, 33-year old
up mighty fast,” said Fire Chief convenience by the tenant.
international president of the IWA,
Earl Smith this week.
Dry moss, especially, said Chief CIO lumber employees’ union, and a
His comment came following the Smith, is easily ignited by sparks, recent
visitor and
speaker in
fire at the James Emmons home on and has, in the past, caused many Vernonia, has been denied entrance
'and the right to remain in this coun
First avenue south which occured fires and much damage.
try, according to press releases is-
at 10 a. m. Friday morning. Seven,
An effort is being made, the of
local volunteers answered the call. ficial said, to secure a reduction in su»'d yesterday from Washington,
The blaze was confined to the roof fire insurance rates in Vernonia, « K C.
Pritchett, according to the reports,
immediately surrounding the chim A rate, somewhat higher than ent- '
•was branded an "undesirable”, in
ney and damage in excess of $40 ists in most communities, is tagged the ultimatum. He has appealed to
or $50 was not expected,
to this area, it was found, due to the state department several times
This was the first call for the extensive fire damage some years I recently for the privilege of remain-
department since June, 1937. and back.
However, efforts at control , rng here to conduct his work in
stands as an excellent record, it of the number of fires, and the connection with his presidency of
is believed, for the community, damage, if a blaze does occur, has the union.
Pritchett said he would return to
The fire was caused by an over- materially reduced the total in re
Canada, his native country, and re-
heated chimney.
cent times, it was pointed out, am!
However, the call prompted the with concerted cooperation on the establish residence, and then, make
another application for admittance,
chief to warn local persons that part of local renters and pr jperty
The young union head said, while
with days of dry weather approacfi- owners, it is believed that the rates I »here, that he wished to become an
ine.
mn«« growth on roofs, and 4 > can
be reduced.
| I American
ing, the moss
can be
reduced.
American citizen.
citizen.
Í
I
< !
I. .
...
Several Rock creek road residents me to death.” she said.
Fortunately, Jim Hodges. Oregon
Business Program to Be Con found themselves sans power and
sidered by Local Members, telephone facilities Friday following Gas A Electric Co. lineman, was en
a severing of the high line from the route up the Rock creek road when
Reported by Hawken
The Vernonia Chamber of Com
merce will hold a noon meeting
Tuesday, March 8. at the Masonic
temple President Lyman Hawken an
nounced yesterday.
The meeting comes in the form of
a business session and will include
discussion of several important topics
current in local discussion.
The memberhip committee will be
out again this weekend contacting
prospective members and 1937 mem
bers not already signed in the civic
group.
Eastern Star members will serve
the meal Tuesday noon. The meet-,
Ing starts at 12 noon sharp, the presi
i dent said.
Keasey. presumably by a bullet fired
from a rifle.
The use of the insulators atop tho
power poles, and which hold the high
voltage lines in their place en route
kept Manager J. W. Nichols and his
linemen ill at ease before but the
break Friday afternoon proved the
most damaging and dangerous for
some time.
Not alone did the line break and
crash to the ground but It fell over
telephone line», throwing “juice" di
rectly into the switchboard in Ver-
nonia. Eva Errend. chief operator
here, was on duty at the time and
was ousted out of her place at the
board when the maze of wires driz
zled smoke and then flared to "scare
the break came, »nd found the pre
dicament shortly after leaving Ver
nonia. He hesitated long enough in
his work to warn a resident, travel
ing by horse and buggy, to wait for
a moment until he eliminated the
electrical death which had been forc
ed across the road.
The transformer near the break
was ruined, at an estimated cost of
$150, and several telephones in the
area were incapacitated for some time
due to the wires conducting the pow
er into the homes.
The break was considered fortunate,
in spite of the damage in dollars and
cents, for but luck which seemed to
dog the incident, several may have
been seriously burned, mayhap killed.