Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-05-16
Difference in Taxation in Linn
and Marion Counties.
Marion Paying a High Price
for RepubliCanism,
Speech OF Editor Smith at Turner
Saturday Night.

Rousing Union Meeting in Republican
Stronghold-Able and Interesting
Talks by Candidates Marsh, Dur
bin. Simeral and Hein-Republican
Mismanagement Brought Under the
Searchlight.
An enthusiastic meeting was held
at the town hall at Turner, Saturday
night in the interest of the Union
candidates. Regardless of the threat.
ening weather the attendance was
good and lively interest was mani
tested in the speeches, The principal
speech of the evening was made by
Hon. j. S. Smith of Linn county,
editor of the Albany Peoples Press
and formerly member of the legisla
ture. Short talks were made by q.
Marsh, Union candidate for commis-
soner, Frank w. Durbin, the nominee
for sheriff, G. j, Slmeral, the candi-
date for treasurer and Chas. K. Helm.
one of the Union nominees for repre-
sentative.
The meeting was ably presided
over by Green B. Cornelius who first
introduced Mr.. Marsh, who in the
brief time he was talking clearly ex-
plaine5 the duties and grave responsi.
blitles of a county commissioner and
graphically related the history of the
financial management Of county af-
fairs, which for several ea'+'has been
growing worse and worst. lie gave
the debt of the county last month in
round numbers to be 100000 with
en- ugh claims in sight to. bring the
amount to $4,000.
As court would meet once a month
and the judge was in constant session,
no one could prophesy how much it
would be by the end of the year. He
admonished the people to look after
these things, and pledged himself, If
elected, to remember that he was
placed in this station Of resp lnsibillty
by the Marion county taxpayers, and
that their interests were his. He
told of the serious disadvantages Ma
rion county and Salem were laboring
under 10 being governed by three cor
rupt Republican rings: The state
ring, the county ring and the city
ring, each surprising the other in the
magnitude of their CRAFTS. He also
explained the system by which the
Salem police court gang worked the
county, by securing the country for
miles around for hobos and charging
up the expenses to Marion county.
These claims had all been paid under
the present Republican administra'
tion.
Mr.. Durbir followed. He told how
the nomination had been rendered
him unsolicited, and pledged himself
to- perform the duties of the office
faithfully and impartially sif elected,
recognizing that he would be sheriff
of the whole county and not OF a par
ticular clique or party. he believed
he was competent to fill the office
himself without shiftidg the respon-
sibilities upon deputy.
Mr.. Simeral, the candidate for
treasurer spoke next. He said IL
made a vast difference to the tax
payers whether man was treasurer
for the entire people, or merely held
the off ce in the interest OF some oaBK
and went on to explain the method
of stamping warrants mot paid Tor
want of funds" and forcing them to
be "shaved" at a bank, while they |
were all the time drawing per cent
interest. He believed the treasurer
should be compelled to do as the Pop
ulist treasurer had voluntarily done,
make monthly statement showing
the people exactly where their money
was.
Mr.. Helm, candidate for Repre-
sentative responded to his name and
said If elected he would to the best
of his ability carry out the pledges OF
the Union pla;f form and would zeal
ously labor to reduce expenditures
and taxation in both state and county.
When Mr.. Hein concluded, Mr..
Smith was introduced. He stated
that he believed that II there was a
spot in Oregon that needed a discus
sion over expenses, IL was Marion
county. He came from Linn, Pop
ulist county. A county as large as
Marion, which had as much wealth
aud about as many people; a county
which was building as many roads
and bridges as Marion and was doing
that kind Of work just as well! yet