The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1893-06-02
FROM 4 BENTON COUNTY POINT
OF VIEW.

A number of citizens of Benton
county have received notice of
Sheriff's assessment on Lincoln |
county property for 1898, after
the property had been regularly |
assessed in Benton county for
1898 and pror to any bill to create
Lincoln county, and also after the
taxes due on the Benton county
assessment had been paid i'll Ben
ton county. This has caused some
inquiry as to the rights of the
sheriff of Lincoln county to make
such an assessment. The GAZETTE
has, therefore, taken pains to as
certain the true status of the case
which is as follows:
In 1890 G. B. Crosno, of Toledo,
was elected senator from Benton
county, and in 1892 E. II. Bel
KNAPP, of Monroe, and s. L. JEFF
freys, of Corvallis, for representa-
tives, all of which offices expire in
1894. In January of 1893, after
the legislature had been in session
some time, it was learned in Cor
wallis that S. B. No. 119, to create
the county of Lincoln, had been
introduced by Mr.. Crosno. By
the terms of the bill the county
would be divided near the middle,
north and south. Citizens and tax
payers of Benton county made an
effort TO defeat the bill, on the
ground that it was not the wish of
the majority of the taxpayers in
that portion sought to be set off
and that it was not wise consider
ing present population, taxable
property and actual necessity to
make the division. But both rep
resentatives and the senator were
found to be in favor of division,
and, consequently, the bill passed
and the county was divided. That
taught Benton county people not
to send senatorial and representa-
tive offices begging for candidates.
Among other things the bill
creating Lincoln county provides
as follows:
SECTION 5.-The county clerk of Benton
county shall, within thirty days after this
act shall have gone into operation, make
out and deliver to the county clerk of Lin
coin county Transcripts of all taxes assessed
znpon persons and property within the said
county Of Lincoln which was previously in
cluded within the limits of Benton county /;
and all taxes which shall remain unpaid
upon the day this act shall become law
shall be paid to the proper officers of Lin
coin county. The said clerk of Benton
county shall also make ont and deliver to
the county clerk of Lincoln county, within
the time above limited, transcript of all
the cases pending in the Circuit and County
courts of Benton county between parties
residing in Lincoln county, and transfer all
original papers in said cases to be tried in
Lincoln county.
The county clerk of Benton
county was unable to comply with
the law in regard to the time of
sending copy of the 1892 assess
ment roll for several good and suf-
ficient reasons, and by agreement
with thexofficials of Lincoln county
did send the copy as soon as the
litigation then pending and the re-
suits of the state board of equaliz-
alton work and the state levy
could be made zap. It is due the
county clerk OF Benton county to
state that he kept clerks constantly
employed night and day at consid-
cradle expense until the work was
accomplished. 1t is further learned
that for the service thus rendered
Lincoln county, the clerk of Benton
had the satisfaction of finding his
bill, which represented cash
paid out, rejected by the Lincoln
county court. Truly, the consist
ency of some people is above un-
derstanding! The county clerk of
Benton county agreed with Com
missioner Stearns to forward cop
les of cases pending in time for
the Lincoln county circuit court,
which he did. But, having learned
from the rejection of his tax roll
bill that he need not expect pay
for his services, he took the pre-
caution of sending the work by
express, 6. O. D. The papers were