The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-01-30
COMMITTEE OF THIRTY
Devising Means of Economy
For the City.
PLAIN TALK BY JOHN HAHN
The Real Difficulty is to Get the
Rich Men to Pay Taxes, Mr..
Hahn Argues.

The committee of thirty met at the
council chambers last evening to con-
fer with the members of the council
in reference to the matter of reducing
expenses in the city and making the
tax levy as low as possible. Judge
Taylor, who was in the chair, said the
committee did not come there to find
fault nor to criticize, but to talk over
and consider the question in all its
bearings, and to get the city levy low
enough, so that with the state, county,
and school tax, the people could bear
the burden. AS a committee they rep
resented a large number of taxpayers,
with whom they had come in contact,
and realized that unless taxes were ma
terially reduced below the last levy,
a large proportion would be unable to
pay their share. "These are not or
binary times" the speaker said, "and
while the committee knew that reduc-
NlOllo III luC CApCiioCo vi lnC Olty ltl0
been made, as we'll as an increase in
the revenues, heroic treatment was ne
cessary in the way of reduction of
taxation"
The committee looked over the esti-
mates Of expenses for the year pre-
pared by Auditor Osburn, and saw that
a tax of 81 mills would meet the run
ming expenses. without reducing the
floating indebtedness. They therefore
recommended that no provision be made
this year for anything more than the
needs of the government for running
expenses.
Judge Bowlby said that in Eugene a
tax of 5ls mills was to be levied, and he
thought that that amount was suf1i-
cient burden upon the people Of this
city. There was feeling that some
Of the large holders of real estate
should either be compelled to pay heavy
taxes or forced to let someone elce
get the property, but the burden was
felt by the small holders as well as the
large. Neither could afford TO pay a
heavy tax, and there was no use COM
pelling the city to buy in the property.
S. S. Gordon asked if city warrants
wluld be accepted as payment for
taxes, or would cash be demanded.
Judge Taylor expressed the opinion
that the city would have to accept the
warrants.
Mr.. Barker said there was an ordi-
nance providing that certain per-
centage of taxes could be paid in war
rants, but that the council could take
whatever action seemed best.
B. Van Dusen said the other MEM
bers of the committee had expressed
his sentiments. He thought the tax
should be as light as possible.
Pat O'Hara said the best way was to
borrow the money in the hands of the
water commission and build no water
works this season. The sally raised a
laugh.
VIM. B. Adair thought the tax should
be as low as possible, and that If the
floating debt could be carried over for
the year it would be a good plan.
Mr.. Lewis said the committee on
ways and means had already been dis
cussing the matter. and contemplated
levying as low tax as would be sufn.
cient to meet the needs of the govern
ment economically administered.
Mr. Bergman said he would vote for
the tax of 5h mills. as recommended
by the committee Of thirty.
Captain ]. H. d. Gray thought that
as the recommendation for 5l4 mill
tax was based on estimates furnished
by the auditor, 1t was proper one.
He would like to know If any Of the de-
linquent taxes could be collected. Cap
tain Gray said he had spoken with the
owners of different papers who had
been crying out about the correction Of
abuses, and afterward attacked the
committee for doing just what, they
advocated. and had reminded them that
the committee was acting strictly IN
line with the sentiments expressed by
the papers,
Mayor Kinney was glad to have the
committee present, There were some
things that he would like to urge.
.Your committee" he said. had in
yestigated the city's affairs. and had
found that during the past four years
the expenses had fallen considerably,
and the government had been very
economically administered We could
get along. probably, this year IL the
debts were not paid, with very small
tax No statement Of the change in
AFFAIRS had been made by the commit
tee, and he considered that credit
should be given where it was due. The
mayor suggested that Auditor Qsburn
Give the meeting some statistics.
Captain Gray said there had been a
Great change in the affairs Of the police
sena-tment, and credit was due 20 shf