The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-01-09
ANOTHER PLAN
IS SUGGESTED
POr the Buildlag Of New Court
House In ClatsOp COnnty.
ITS FALLACY ~ FULLY SHOWN
business Men Do Not Believe that Too
Much Leniency Has Been shown
In Back Taxes.
ITS FALLACY is FULLY SHOWN

During the past week or ten days
considerable discussion has taken place
In the city amongst the business men
and others concerning the proposition
to erect a new county Aeurthouse. a
new plan has been proposed in the fol-
lowing letter sent to the Astorian:
January b.--IEditor Astorlan)-I see
there In much controversy both In and
out Of the papers on the question of
building a new courthouse for clataop
county and the manner of raising
means 60 do Il. and supposing the queH-
tlon open to all. will put my say In
your paper II Il meets your approval
md there 10 a strong feeling In favor Of
building now, especially ms Mr. c. W.
Fulton has advanced a plan that seems
feasible and by many deemed adVisa-
bic. that is to collect the delinquent
taxes and build with the proceeds To
this plan l object for several reasons.
In the first place not more than thirty
or thirty -nve thousand dollars could he
renliE a. and that would be insufficient
to build such building as We should
have. Then again. this money or a
large proportion Of Il IL due from small
farmers. who arr really unable TO pay
at this time. owing TO the extraordinary
times that now prevail, And to enforce
collections now would be hardship
and almost amount 10 oonhscation OF
their homes and small holdings which
they have labored long to accumulate;
and | don't believe the majority OF the
citizens Of the county would sanction
or be party to such a proceedlng for
We should certainly lose some of our
good citizens and their places be flled
by renters. Now as 10 our style" As
may be Judged by our present court
house. by strangers, let me say when
We lose one party who may wish To stay
with us. on account u style. we VIII
gain several nom the class that hrs,
ask as to our rate OF taxation and our
ability to pay, etc. Now ! say keep the
small farms and holdings In the hands
Of actual owners and tillers OF the soil.
and aid them In every way We can. for
on this depends the prosperity OF the
county As 10 the need Of a new court
house | viii say l have Just visited
the Offices and find the officers In good
physical and mental condition, no signs
Of suffering, no work undone on ac-
count Of lack OF room. everything right
up TO date: and II our very efficient
corps Of officers had even less room
the work would be well done all the
same, And | doubt today II they were
given the chance. that they would vote
to build new courthouse just now
But II we must have new courthouse
let us find means 10 build II without
working a hardship on a considerable
proportion OF our citizens. This, too, as
cheaply and as surely as Mr. Fultons
plan, that is, issue twenty-year bonds
and sell them for cash. and use this
In building We all know the delinquent
taxes due the county is safe invest
ment for the county, and is drawing
interest more than enough to pay on
the bonds, SO II would cost no more
and should do the debtor class IA favor
that would rebound TO our credit and
the delinquent taxes could be collected
as times grow better, and all be happy.
W.
without having seen this letter a
number OF business men have antlci-
pated this argument and make the
point that the property upon which
most of the taxes now delinquent were
levied has already been sold by the
sheriff, and that the farmers and orig
nal owners have virtually lost their
rights except the right to redeem, In
most cases deeds have not been passed
conveying title, but in the eyes OF the
law purchasers are entitled TO the same,
In the state OF Washington, particular
ly in Pierce county, there is much the
same difficulty over delinquent taxes,
The Post-Intelligencer says that "the
newspapers Of the state are coming to
the conclusion that 1t is bad Judgment
to allow too long time for delinquency
in the payment of taxes. Every coun-
ty is suffering from mistaken leniency
In this respect"
The majority of business men are
of the opinion that Clatsop's delinquent
taxes as they now stand are dead
loss to the county; that leniency enough
has been shown, and If the county can
procure a courthouse in exchange for
these delinquent taxes 1t viii be just
that much ahead of the game, No un.
due hardship will be made and from
every standpoint the county needs a
new courthouse but at the present can
not very well afford to impose addi.
tlonal taxes for it. Thirty thousand
dollars will build very respectable
courthouse at present prices, and a
fairly good beginning can be had or
that amount Of money. When we have
500, 900 people an additional wing car
easily be constructed.
| NANNY is the leading sailor and nm w,