Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-03-19
TAXES
o.A u
Discussed by the Judges.
Session Before the State Board
That Levied the Tar.

(, At ] O'Clock today the county
judges. NOrthup, Of MultnOmah, Ter
rel, q Marion, Potter, o. Lane, Gray,
, Of Clatsop, Wells OF Polk. and also
County Commissioner HOlbrOok and
Stone, Of MultnOmsh county. were be
fore the state On8cials who levied the
state tax 10 see II the counties could
not be released until the money was
needed.
The conference was informal and
conducted 10 the presence Of the gov
ernOr, Secretary Kincaid and Treas
urer Metschan, Judge Gray a. chair
man stated there was great feeling
among the people against paying oyer
the state tax to lie idly in the treas
ury. Out Of the twenty judges, only
six favored paying oyer the money.
They wanted 10 use this money 10 the
several counties that we're in debt.
Judge Northup was introduced. He
said theee was no desire TO antoganize
the state administration. The count
les we're a~uxlliaries to the tate. His
county vas in debt s2jU,OOO, costing
annually $4,000 interest. Other
counties we're similarly situated.
These COUNTIES were all loyal tc the
state and its interests. His county
was asked 10 pay TO the state
treasurer 100000 for which he
had no use The needs Of the
state for which the state tax OF
four per cent was levied had not been
met by the legislature. There was no
Money appropriated. The estimate
for 1897 was $4,000, but not over
$4,000 could be legally paid out by
the state. There would be a loss Of
20,OOO In interest TO Multnomah
county alone IL this money was paid
10.
Under existing Conditions no tax
money should be locked up In any city,
or state strongbox. II this
money was paid v 10 the state II
would o the people $4,000 to $50,
Interest unnecessarily. He hoped the
the state board would meet the coun- a.,
ties in the proper spirit Of considera-
lion for the already oyerburdened con- :
Of the people.
There was no law to compel the d,
treasurer 10 sue a county. The 4
did not compel him TO raise a =
1t remained in his just discre- q
ion. There could be no agreement to q
waive the law. The state treasurer i
under the law claimed interested at q
light per cent for the entire state
now due. There was also
penalty OF twenty per cent il
tate money was diverted from A.,
use. IL would ave the county
Multnomah $1,000 a month TO pay
yer no more money 10 the state treas :,
ny than was needed by the state TO :
AIRY OF It's government.
Governor: Would not his bondsmen :
q liable II he did not make a reason ;
BILE exertion TO collect the state tax. :
Northup; We want him TO make a,
very rear enable exertion to compel a,
5 to pay this money, except we don't "a
ant him TO u US. (Laughter.) 81
Judge Martin, OF Umatilla, spoke 81
the point that IL the counties could
e allowed 10 pay only what the state
eeded IL would be a great help TO the pl
1unties aAd a great benefit TO the m
lxpayers.
Judge Potter said nowhere did the
Nv give the state treasurer power to
lie the county 10 compel the pay ".
ent OF the state tax. he
Judge Nurthup: The duty OF the is
treasurer was safely 10 keep the M
lblic money The duties OF the re,
was liked by law. He could II,
u be liable nor the bondsmen liable be
lac fails 20 accoun for the
oney entrusted 10 him. Is
Judge Gray said the people expected IN
lis relief aud hoped the state oricials 10
ould not insist on paying over $780, on
. 20 lie idle aud be used as IL was ia OF
6s TO speculate with, instead OF
ing lnto circulation among the peo-
The county judges took the after
'on train for Portland. The state
icials have taken no action. "a.