The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1878-11-23
THAT INCORPORATION.

to say much more upon the same
subject, feeling assured that the
time Will come when majority
of the taxpayers in that place
Will think it expensive to keep
up city government in order
Il al a aslngle individual may spec
u.a-e in "city" lors, aud in utter
disgust, throw up the Charter se>
cured through the circulation Of a
/" iition to the Legis ature after
business hours and among a cho>
sen few.
Dnrlng tue we 'k Il gentleman
by the name of McKlnnon, gave
US call Land expressed himself as
dissatisfied with our course with
this regard. lie went even SO
far as to IntiInare that we were
under the control of certain
mar or certain inhuence,an that
after all that has been SAID, we
were arguing against something
from selfish motives. Why should
this be true when the good peo-
pie of Oakland have always g.v-
eli US warm support, aud in
Calapoola precinct alone nearly
two hundred copies of this paper
are weekly circulated? Certain
ly it is to cur interest to cont nue.
In favor with the people who
tnus show for US warm friend
ship. and to oppose the placing
on their shoulders the burden
of costly aud useless city govern.
ment. Mr.. McKinuon and oth>
er advocates of the incorpo-
ration Act, claims that the citi>
zens of Oakland were at times
disturbed by the dlsorderly cons
duct OF whisky. drinking ruffiaus,
and hence there must be city
government at any cost. Well,
fitty-fve citizens taxes were
doubled. So far so good. But
whom-of the number OF incor>
porators will have the cheek to
deny that two constaDles, elected
as provided by the Statute with.
out Incorporation and its expene
ses, could have maintained good
order N the town, ana compelled
the ruffians aforesaid to pay the
costs OF their wrong-do!ng with>
out an increase III the amount of
any citizens taxes? The town
lot owner will not argue on this
point even; and i. he admits this
much, who can contend further
that a useless increase of taxation
can possibly be public benetit?
Another point raised was, who
are the Taxpayers ? Without
personal leehng, aud taking the
county rec )rds for proof, we find
the following
Copy of assessment roll OF Douglas, 1877
page l00-M.J. Mckinnon, railroad addi-
tinn TO Oakland:
In lot 3. block l6, value of town
lot. .......... ............$l 500 W
One horse, value.... ........ 30 90
Two head cattle. value. -. -. 20 90
Household furniture. pleasure earri>
ages, watches, &c. .... so 90
Gross value of all property. ..... $50 90
CaNTRA CIR.
Indebtedness within ,he State $50 90
Exem ptlOn. n............. .......... lou
Total...... ............... 2SO 00
Now, Was Mr.. McKinnon a vo'.
ter? Thejudges Of election said
not; according to the Assessor
returns, Mr.. McKinunn no" pays
poll-tax only. Under such cir,
cumstances he IAN afford to sup>
port city government tor the
benefit OF friends, since 1t can
cost HIM nothing, and he can
gru,nbIe on the same plan, since
he has nothing to lose.
The truth told concerning the
matter is: One man wants TO sell
town lots He thinks the name
''city" will enhance the value OF
his property. Like one about to
commit a bad deed, he goes about
in the night and secures a petit
tiou with names thereon some are
the signatures of non-taxpapers
and "a boy]. His plan works
well. and he is happy-because
it costs him but a small sum.
Tie railroad pays the taxes, aud
unmproved town property under
his control advances IN value.
For one mans benefit 81 are to
work hard; for one mans IN
crease of wealth 81 are to con-
tribute more than fairness de-
mands; because one man says so,