The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-08-07
Site TAXES MUST BE PAID.

The state supreme court has rendered
a decision which makes it obligatory
upon county treasurers to pay the state
taxes out of the first moneys collected,
exclusive of taxes levied for the main
tainance of the public schools and pub
lie roads. The case decided is one be-
gun In the circuit court for Multnomah
county by the courty judge to compel
the county treasurer to pay outsta I'D
ing county warrants prior to the pay
ment of the state tax. 1t was avered
by the plaintiff in the case that the
law contemplates the payment of only
such moneys to the state as arise from
the levy for state purposes, and that
all moneys collected from the general
levy should not be applied to the pay
ment of the state tax in preference to
the ordinary obligations of the county.
On the other hand, the defendent held
that under section 2S13 of Hills code
he was compelled to pay the state tax
on or before fixed date, out of the
first moneys coming into his hands.
This view is concurred in by the
supreme court and in its decision sets
up this principle of law governing the
case:
1.-THE section referred to requires the
county treasurer of each county to pay
over to the state treasurer by Il certain
time the entire state tax apportioned
to and charged against his county, and
it would be absurd to say that the leg
islature expected such payment to be
made only from the money collected
on account of what is commonly de-
nominated the state tax, when, in the
very nature of things, it could not all
be collected and paid into the treasury
by the date named Certainly if an
entire change in the policy of provid-
ing state revenues had been intended
by the amendatory act of 1854, it would
have been clearly expressed and not
left to mere inference and conjecture.
The evident purpose of the amendatory
act was to extend the time for the
payment by certain counties of the
state taxes charged against them and
not to change the fund out of which
such payment should be made"
Most of the countries had paid their
state taxes, either in part or in full,
prior to this decision, but Multnomah
and few other counties had refused
to pay their Indebtedness to the state
until decision of the supreme court
had been rendered. And now, that
the supreme court has rendered its de-
cision, there is no alternative but for
the counties to pay the several
amounts due the state. Since this is
the ultimatum, there will be boarded up
in the state treasurer's Office Tor at
least is supposed to be) about $500, 900
In state taxes, not applicable to the
payment of any claims against the state,
except it be fixed salaries land that has
yet to be determined by the supreme
court) 80 virtually all of the state taxes
will be withdrawn from circulation.
This will, beyond doubt, cause scar
city of circulating medium in Oregon,
and it behOves the governor to call an
extra session of the legislature so that
the general appropi iation bill may be
passed, and the money taken from the
people as taxes be returned to them
through the regular channels of pay
ing state expenses. The senatorial
contest, though.a matter of Importance,
should be made of secondary consider
tion, and if the Legislature is recon-
vened, be not considered until the gen.
eral appropriation bill is disposed of
and the state placed in a position
where it can go onto cash basis.
Sentiment, political preference and
claims of any individual to the right to
represent the state in the United States
senate are Insignificant when com,
pared with the interests of the tax
payers, and should be SO considered
by the governor and the legislators.