The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-01-30


himself claimed as much credit as any
one for the change which had been
brought about, and he thought a re-
port should lie made which would shOw
clearly in what manner the improve
ments in the conduct Of the itys af-
fairs had been accomplished.
Judge osburn said he was not pre-
pared 70 make a statement off-hand, in
reply TO any verbal .emarks.
Judge Taylor remarked that the SUI
preine court had decided that every
man must pay a tax, and that before
any person who refused to pay taxes
because such appeared exorbitant could
gain astanding a in equity, 1t was first
necessary to tender a reasonable
amount If the business of collecting
taxes were properly attended to, he
saw no reason why all the delinquent
taxes could not be collected. with the
exception of those due from persons alb
solutely unable to pay.
John Hahn, chairmon of the police
commission, said he had been listening
to all that had been said The running
expenses of the city would be $4,000,
to be made up Of fines, licenses, and
taxes. The committee proposed to raise
$4,000 by the 5h mill tax, but If the
saloons conbinued@ to close as they had
done during the past few months, there
- IN "a
amount raised from licenses. IF the
rich men," said Mr.. Hahn, pay their
taxes, the poor man will raise enough
to pay his. The rich man hired the
police to protect his property, but the
poor man, who usually paid most of
the fines, supported the police depart
mentv Mr.. Hahn said that in 1888,
when the population was 1900, and
when he (the speaker) was mayor the
fines collected amounted to $500. In
1890 the total amount thus realized was
$1191. so; in 1891, $1136; in 1892, $2,S77.20;
in 1898. $41S6. From licenses in 1890,
there was collected $13,9S45O; in 1891,
$1S,O44.5O; in 1892 S24,5S2; and in 1893,
$40, ,1y2.50s In 1890 there was paid the
police force $4,000; in 1891, $4,000; in
1892, $5,7OO, and 1893, $500. On fines
and forfeltures the years 1892 and 1898
showed q balance on the right side
Of $4,2557O; and for licenses in those
years the amount received was $11, 1850
in excess Of what had been collected
for 1890 and 1891 (Mr. Hahn made no
allowance for the increase in the cost
Of saloon licenses which went into eff
feet in February, 1917
Councilman Young said he was chair
man of the ways and means committee,
but he would not say whether he would
favor tax Of mills or one of 10 mills.
The committee, he said, would make a
closer investigation of the city's affairs
and how to cut down expenses, than
had the committee of thirty He did
not propose to stay in the council if
they had no money to run the city's
affairs.
Councilman O'Hara remarked that
business could not be carried on with
out money, and that during the past
two years the city's affairs had been
conducted as economically as possible.
IF any mistakes had been made they
had been caused through ignorance, for
every member of the cuncil had hon-
estly tried to do his duty according to
the best Of his ability"
The meeting then came to a close,
after which the members Of the council
had an informal discussion. The con-
clusion reached was that five-mill TAX
would be levied, ard that the committee
of thirty should be held to their pr M
Use to see chat the delinquent taxes
are collected.