, 1864-04-29
Ciuizens' Meeting.

w ALA assembled IN mass meeting on hurs-
day evening, to take into consideration the
propriety of levying a special tax, to remove
distractions from the cross streets.
The meeting was called to order by Mr..
l. T. Reese, and, on motion, Gen. Otis L.
Bridges was elected Chairman and r. r.
Rees, Secretary.
The Chairman briefly stated the object of
the meeting to be as above; that, under
misapprehehsion that the law passed by the
Legislature of 1923, authorizing the levy
of special tax of five mills, was still in
force, the City Council had made a second
levy of such tax that the legality CT this ac
tion upon the part of the Council had been
questioned, and as the law clearly conferred
no such power upon the Council, and as the
faith of the city stood pledged for the pay
ment of considerable indebtedness which
had accrued in the purchase of the cross
streets, which could not be paid without lev
ying special tax, the interested citizens
and property holders Of the city had been
called together to determine whether the
Council should be sustained in their action
or not.
Mr. A. L. Brown was then called upon,
and responded in earnest advocacy of the
tax. He presented report of the financial
condition of the city, showing an indebted
ness S4, ,ll2 90, which had mostly grown out
Of the purchase of the cross street property,
which he satisfactorily demonstrated could
be paid by levying the special tax, and leave
balance sufficient to carry on the city gov
ernment.
Mr. r Guichard was then called upon,
and advocated the tax, after which he offered
the following preamble and resolutions,
which were unanimously adopted
WHEREAS, The Legislative Assembly Of
Washington Territory of 1923 did, by a
special act, authorize the Common Council
of the city of Walla Walla to levy special
tax upon all real and personal property
within the limits of said city for the pur-
purpose of purchasing certain lots and i'm
provements thereon, to thereafter be used
as cross streets, and
WHEREAS, In consequence of differences
of opinion as to the legality of a second levy
of said tax, dissatisfaction exists in the
minds of certain persons, who seek to have
the Council repudiate its action in levying
said tax, and
WHEREAS, The City bas already made
heavy advances upon the real estate which
its authorized agents have agreed to pur.
chase, and pledged its faith to other parties,
on the suppostion that the tax levied would
be promptly paid by the property-hoders of
the city therefore, be it
Reso7Ued, BY the citizens of Walla Walla
city, in mass meeting assembled, that we
are in favor of opening the cross streets of
city nO,o, when the property can be pur-
chased at a low figure, and that we pledge
ourselves to cheerfully pay our respective
shares Of the amounts necessary to open
said streets-hereby waving all informally
in the law authorizing the levy of said tax
as we believe we have the right to do, being
the only persons interested in the matter
And be it further
Resozoed, That if there is any person now
living within the limits of our city, enjoying
all its benefits aud protection, who is toe
parsimoniOus to pay his mite towards this
laudable object we will not seek to change
his views, but will make up for his derclic
ton of duty by still heavier drain upon
our own pockets.
Resolced, further, That the Clerk of the
City Council be requested to furnish, fol
publication, the names of all property hold
ers in the city, with the amount of their as
sessments, who refuse to pay their proper
ton of the special tax levied, that the public
may see who are not interested in the pros
perity of the city.
Resolced, further, That the City Counci
instruct the City Collector to proceed to col
lect the amounts due Immediately, and tC
return the names of all persons who refuse
to pay to the Clerk of the city council.
TIn justice to those who objected to pay
ing the tax, or questioned its legality, we fee
authorized in saying that upon obtaining a
proper knowledge of the condition of the
city and the object of the tax, they waived
their objections, and so far as we know there
is now no one within the city limits who will
not cheerfully pay his proportion Of the spe-
cial tax-EDs.
ODD Fellows CELEBRATIoN.-Th Odd
Fellows Celebration, which took place III
this city on Tuesday of this week, passed
off in excellent style. The procession Of
the members of the Order was much larger
than we expected to see. Indeed, the turn
out was very creditable as was also the order
of exercises throughout The procession
moved from the Hall, headed by the Brass
Band, up Main street and down Alder to
the NJ. E. Church, where an Address-pre-
pared by Mr. Charles Bertram, was, by re-
quest, read by Hon. e. P. Oliphant. Mr..
i. i. Bridges next read the Eulogy
upon the life and character of P. G.. Sire
Thomas P. Wildey, which recounted the
labors and services of that parsonage through
long period of years as connected with
the rise and progress of Odd Fellowship on