EAGLE
EDITORIALS
SOME INFORMATION FOR
THE PUD VOTER—
THE FACTS given below are taken as
quotations from a recent bulletin issued by
“Oregon Business and Investors”. The infor
mation deals with the question of public util
ity districts and revolves about points of
question which have given rise to considerable
comment in this region. The quotations are
not presented as an opinion of this publica
tion but merely as the findings of “An
Afcncy Specializing in Taxation, Legislation
and Public Affairs.”
“Tax levies placed on property by any
tax-levying public body, a PUD for example,
must not be more than 6 per cent greater
than the tax levy in any one of three preced
ing years, unless specifically authorized by a
majority of the legal voters.
“The foregoing is a thumbnail summary
of Oregon’s “6 per cent property tax limita
tion,” which is Section 11, Article XI of the
state’s constitution.
“6 per cent of nothing is nothing!
“Therefore, a new PUD, a new school or
port district, or any new tax-levying body,
that has no tax base, cannot, withoqt a vote
of the people, make a first or original tax
levy. Any tax levy would be in exces.| of a
6 per cent increase over no previous tax levy.
Since a first or original tax levy by a PUD
or any other tax levying body would be more
than 6 per cent of nothing . . . these levies
must be submitted to the legal voters for
approval or rejection.
“Tax levies by PUDs therefore, are sub
ject to the restrictions imposed by the Oregon
6 per cent property tax limitation constitu
tional amendment.
“What’s the significance of this conten
tion that PUD fix levies are subject to the
restrictions imposed by the 6 per cent limit
ation ?
“The significance is this: As Oregon’s PUD
law is now operating, or rather has been per
mitted to operate in Tillamook, Wasco and
Hood River counties, the five PUD directors,
acting as a budget committee, ask for a cer
tain amount of tax money. The assessor
forthwith computes the millage levy necess
ary to raise that budget, and includes that
millage tax in the levy against all the prop-
Vernonia Eagle
MARVIN KAMHOLZ, Editor and P ublisher
Entered as second class mail matter, August
4, 1922, at the post office in Vernonia, Ore
gon, under the act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription Rate $2 per year
Local advertising rate: 26 cents per column
inch
Foreign advertising rate: 35 cents per column
inch
Classified advertising rate: Minimum 25 cents,
5 cents per line, three insertions for price
of two.
Legal advertising rate on request
Reader advertising rate: 10 cents per line.
Official newspaper of Vernonia, Oregon
erty in that particular utility district. Five
PUD directors, therefore, now function as
the sole authority for levying the first or
original PUD tax.
“However, if the theory advanced by this
Bulletin ... is correct, PUD directors cannot
legally make the first or original PUD tax
levy. Since the first or original PUD levy is
certainly more than 6 per cent in excess of
the non-existent levies during the preceding
•three years, our contention is that such first
or original PUD levies, or until a tax base
is established, must be “specifically authoriz
ed by a majority of the legal voters voting
on the question . . .
“The 1939 Oregon legislature referred to
the people an amendment to the 6 per cent
limitation, which amendment proposes a pro
cedure whereby a tax base can be created
for any tax-levying body that has no tax
base. This amendment will be voted on at the
1940 general election. But if approved by the
people, PUDs would still be required to sub
mit three tax levies for approval by the
people. When three such successive levies
are approved, an average of the three becomes
the new tax base.
“PUD advocates in Oregon have stressed
their intention not to ask for public approval
of general obligation bond issues to finance
their public ownership plans. Obviously, PUDs
cannot issue revenue bonds until and unless
there is revenue available against which such
bonds can be issued. Now, if the public refuses
to authorize PUD tax levies, when submitted
at an election, just where are PUDs going
to get the cash that is necessary to get
started ?
i
I i*M
“So far there has been no effort by any
taxpayer in any county wherein a PUD has
been created and has levied a tax, to test the
validity of that levy or those levies, with
respect to their legality or illegality under
the restrictions imposed by the 6 per cent
limitation.
“Suffice it here to say that it is quite
probable that PUD advocates will not relish
the idea that the authority of five PUD dir
ectors to levy taxes is circumscribed by the
6 per cent limitation. We hazard the guess
that PUD advocates will find it easier to
create PUDs than to obtain public approval
'of direct tax levies on property for PUD
organization purposes. Other tax levying dis-
itricts, school district, cities, port districts
¡for example, that have no tax base, must
obtain voter approval of tax levies that are
outside the 6 per cent limitation. Why then,
should PUDs, that have no tax base, be
exempt from this necessity of voter approval
of tax levies?”
A GREAT MAN’S
BIRTHDAY PASSES—
MONDAY OF this week, February 12,
marked the date of the birthday of one of
America’s great men, Abraham Lincoln. The
date probably passed for most of us with
little thought being given the man who has
been given considerable space by historians
in the hall of America’s great men.
Lincoln has grown into the realm of an
ideal for the youth of America. Probably one
characteristic more than any other attributed
to the man has led to his position in history
—his honesty. Early in his career he became
.known by the nickname “Honest Abe”.
The application of that principle through
out his career in life is commendable to note.
It is a principle which has been forgotten
by many now but one which could well be
followed to the advantage of all. Let us not
forget the ideals for which Lincoln stead
fastly stood throughout his life.
COUNTY NEWS
Si. Helens
ENGINEERS PROPOSE DEER
ISLAND DIKING PROJECT—
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1940
VERNONIA EAGLE, VERNONIA, OREGON
PAGE FOUR
to an elevation of 26 feet above
sea level, which will protect ap
proximately 4333 acres of land in
the proposed district against any
flood equal to the one of 1876 in
the Columbia river. The levee will
be about six miles in length, be
ginning on the mainland near the
south end of the island, and ex-
tending around the island on the
river side, and connecting with
the mainland on the property of
Dr. Arthur L. Canfield at Columbia
Stock Ranch.
Expense of the project is estimat
ed at $381,000 by the U. S. en-
gineers and construction contracts
will be let as soon as the drain
age district is organized and ac-
quires the necessary right of way
for the levees and other .traina?«
works.
Initial steps were taken this
Week toward the proposed diking
and drainage improvement of ap
proximately 4333 acres of lowlands
of Deer Island and vicinity. This
is a federal project, supervised by
Major C. R. Moore of Portland,
corps of United States engineers,
under the flood control act of
congress. The estimated cost is set
at $381,000.
A petition, signed by most of
the landowners in the affected
area, was filed in court by Russell
E. Sewall of Portland, attorney for
the proposed district, setting forth
the objects of formation of the
district. This is to reclaim the low.
overflowed lands of Deer Island PUD HEARING TO
and acreage westerly on the main OCCUR FEBRUARY 24—
land below the S. P. & S. Railroad
A public hearing will be held by
grade by construction of levees, the hydroelectric commission of
tide gates, pumping plant and in- Oregon on Saturday. February 24,
terior drainage. The work is to bo beginning at 1:00 o’clock p. m. in
accomplished under supervision of the Beaver Homes Grange hall
the U. S. Engineers, the funds to near Goble to consider the pre
be made available by this govern liminary petitions of voters of Col
ment agency, without cost or ex ombia county for the formation
pense to the landowners.
of a peoples’ utility district to be
Plan^ of the engineers provide known as the Columbia River
that the levee will be constructed Peoples’ Utility District. This dis-
trict would embrace an area of
approximately 190 squore miles in
the northeastern portion of Colum
bia county.
The proposed district would not
embrace incorporated cities and
towns, says Charles E. Stricklin,
secretary of the hydroelectric com
mission of Oregon.
The Oregon State Hydroelectric
commission held a public hearing
here Saturday at the Odd Fellows
hall to consider the petitions for
the formation of the Clatskanie
Peoples’ Utility District.
The hearing was conducted by
George Joseph, Jr., chairman of
the commission, and those favoring
the proposed district and those
opposed were given full opportunity
SAS4. »Stu. W>wt*<T st 4M,
.he highway against six deaths
while walking on the left side. Jay
walking, or crossing streets between
intersections, took 13 lives during
the year.
Fcrty-two percent of the ped
estrian fatalities of 1939 involved
persons committing some obviously
In the vicinity of Clatskanie
imprudent action at the time the
$114.18 was cleared for the bene
accidents occurtd, it was revealed
fit of the Infantile Paralysis fund.
today by Earl Snell, secretary of
Thirty dollars and 83 cents was
state.
taken in the collection boxes placed
These unsafe actions inclejed
WORRY
in the various business houses. The
jaywalking, crossing intersections
1NSURANCE-
Junior Maccabees conducted a pin i
against traffic signal or diagonally
¿K&pU Regular Ad
sale and went from house to house
crossing major highways without
as well as soliciting in the business
taking adequate precautions, walk
In This Newspaper
section and turned in $17.33; $2.93 ing with traffic instead of fa’cin
was sent in from the Clatskanie it on highways, stepping off curb *
irst looking both
schools and the Quincy schools sent ings without
in $1.94. The dance netted $61.15 ways, walking into the side of pass
ing cars, stepping out into the
or the fund.
treet from between parked cars
or playing in the roadway.
Forty-nine percent of the ped
estrian fatalities occured while
persons were crossing streets or
highways, Snell’s figures showed.
This figure indicates the necessity
of
taking every precaution when
ONE YEAR AGO—
starting across a busy highway or
Completion of the Treharne street, Snell declared.
Expert Refrigerator
bridge under construction for the
“A common error made by ped
Service
past two and one-half months by estrians is to start across a street
Household
and
Commercial
the State Highway Bridge Repair without looking for cars before
stepping off the curb,” Snell de
crew was completed this week.
BERT EASTMAN
Students of the high school senior clared. “Studies of pedestrian ac
Paterson’s Furniture Store
class motored to Salem to visit cidents have shown that nearly
half the pedestrians killed are
the state legislature in action.
■truck before they are more than
PAINTING
FIVE YEARS AGO—
three steps away from the curb,
PAPERHANGING
The S. P. and S. Railroad Co. indicating that they did not look '
CALSOMINING
has reduced its freight service to for cars coming from their left
Vernonia to twice-a-week. Under before stepping into the street.”
BOB MORRELL
the new schedule the train comes
------
Vernonia
He urged persons to look to the 376 B Street
■ n Tuesdays and Fridays and -'ft be "ore stepping off curbs and
eaves Wednesdays and Saturdays. then to the right before reaching
Mrs. William Briot has taken he center of the street.
Dr. U. J. Bittner
•harge of the soda fountain in
Illustrating the danger of walk
Mac’s Pharmacy and is serving ing along the highways with traffic
Dentist
light lunches.
instead of facing it, Snell’s figures
M. E. Turkington, who conduct showed that 14 persons were killed Joy Theatre Bldg.
Phone 662
ed a cafe here for several years
and moved to St. Helens in 1931,
has returned to Vernonia to estab
lish a cafe in the Shamrock beer
J. E. TAPP
parlor owned by Myrtle Layer.
The proposed Scappoose-IVernonia
All Kinds of Wood
road is under consideration as a
?WA project. Investigation of the
Prompt Delivery
V. F. W
route is being made by William
Pringle, Sr., county commissioner
Meets First and
Phone 241
and U. W. Clark, road .foreman.
Business
Professional
Of Past Years
Directory
LODGES
Third Friday* of
TEN YEARS AGO—
C. Y. Bowers, vice president and
jeneral manager of the Washing-
ion Gas and Electric Company,
vhich company recently purchased
he Columbia Utilities company,
row known os the Oregon Gas and
Electric company visited in Ver-
lonia, consulting with George Ford,
superintendent of the local plant.
Month.
Each
8 P. M.
Expert Tonsorial Work
John Grady, Commander
BEN’S BARBER SHOP
Vernonia F. O. E.
Vernonia, Oregon
Legion Hall
(Fraternal Order of Eagles)
L' gion Hall
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO—
Vernonia
The men interested in drilling
for oil between Banks and Buxton
Friday Nights
will start action at once.
8 o’clock
A -2,000,000 paper and pu'/>
mill is to be built in St. Helens.
Wednesday’s freight train left Roy Barnes, W. P.
11 empty cars to accomodate Ver ! Marvin Kamholz, W. Sec’y.
nonia shippers.
Your Face
Looking And Feeling
Fit With This New
Gillette
bafford bros .
Pythian Sisters
and Fourth Wednesdays
Each Month
Nehalem Chapter
153, O. E. S.
Regular Communi
cation first and
third Wednesdays
of each month, at
Masonic Temple.
All visiting sisters
and brothers wel
come.
Sara Drorbaugh, W. M.
l|40
Mrs. Helen Dewey, Secretary
A. F. & A. M.
OW-PRICE blade users
e everywhere are switching
to the new Thin Gillette. And
no wonder. For this precision-
made blade fits your razor ex
actly ... give» you better shaves
and lots of them at a real saving.
Buy a package of Thin Gillettes
from your dealer today.
L
Thin Gillette Blades Are Produced.
By The Maker Of The Famous »
GiJIette Blue Blade
¿A 5 For 25c
Roland L. Treharne
Expert Automobile Repairing
Meetings:—I. O. O. F.
Hall, Second and
Fourth Mondays Each
Month.
Order of Eastern Star
At Vi Price!
Attorney at Law
Bank of Vernonia Bldg.
Phone 231
WELDING
ROLAND’S
SERVICE STATION
Vernonia Temple No. 61
Vernonia, Oregon
Meetings:— I. O. O. F. Hall
Second
LESTER SHEELEY
Lodge No. 116
Vernonia, Oregon
Knights of Pythias
Harding
J. W. Hunt, Columbia county
clerk, suffered a fractured hip when
he slipped and fell while at the
Gordon Thompson farm near Deer
Island last Sunday. X-ray pictures
taken last Tuesday in St. Helens
General hospital revealed the frac-
ture. At first it was believed that
Mr. Hunt was merely severely
bruised. He will be confined in a
cast for a number of weeks to
come.
PUD HEARING
HELD SATURDAY—
FACTS
»0*» lhl»|M
CLATSKANIE AREA
COLLECTS $114.18—
J. W. HUNT BREAKS HIP
X-RAY PICTURES REVEAL—
Clatskanie
hilj walking on the right side of
to be heard.
According to notice of the meet
ing, the commission made a report
of this preliminary investigation as
well as hearing the evidence for
and against the district.
Vernonia Lodge No. 184
A. F. & A. M. meets at
Masonic Temple,
Stat
ed Communication First
Thursday of each month.
Special called meetings
| on all other Thursday nights, 7:30
p. m. Visitors most cordially wel-
come.
Special meetings
______
_ nights.
Friday
Roland Treharne, w/jl.
Glenn F. Hawkins, Sec.
General Plumbing
Vernonia
Nehalem Valley
Motor Freight
Fran k Hartwick, Proprietor
Portland - Timber - Vernonia
Sunset-Elaie-Seaside
Vernonia Telephone 1042
CASON’S TRANSFER
LOCAL
and
LONG
DIS
TANCE HAULING
SEE US
For Your Old Growth
16-INCH FIR WOOD
AND CEDAR SHINGLES
Roland D. Eby, M. D.
PHYSICIAN and
VERNONIA
POST 119
AMERICAN
LEGION
Meet. First and
Third Wednesdays
AUXII IARY
First and Third Mondays
SURGEON
Town Office 891
NEAL W. BUSH
Attorney at Law
Joy Theatre Bldg., Phone 663.
In Vernonia Mondays and
Tuesdays