The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-01-29
THE PARK FUND IS LOST
MON EY COLLEC TED FOR
PURPOSE DISAPPEARS.
Was Probably Converted Into
General Fund Through Of
fetal Negligence.

The regular meeting III the Push club
was held last evening, Judge Frank J.
Taylor officiating ds president In the
absence OF President Allen. Some time
ago George II. Hines, secretary Of the
| Oregon Historical association, request
ed that 800 copies of the book OF AS
toria be sent him Tor distribution, and
the Push club decided last night to
| grant the request 10 the extent OF 100
books, provided the Chamber Of Com
merce, 10 which the request was p.ade.
wound send 80 copies. A greater num-
ber cannot be spared.
The report OF the special committee
appointed TO investigate the status Of
the city park fund was an interesting
one, In which the association was urg-
ed to guard against official negll.
gence" IN matters Of the kind. The
report is as follows
ITO the Astoria Progressive Com
merciai observation-disclosures Your
special committee appointed 10 lnvesti-
gate the present condition OF the city
park fund would beg leave to report as
follows:
AT general city election held on
December 10. 1901, 1t was decided that
levy OF l-2 min for park purposes
should be made. Subsequently the
board of park commissioners ordered
that such .ety be made This.act was
formally presented to the county clerk
In writing by the clerk Of the board,
on January 8, 1902. The county clerk
extended this IL mill levy on the tax
roll, together with the 10 mill levy for
the city, and here the park tax levy lost
It's Identity and became q part OF the
10 i-2 mills collected for the city. The
amount shown on the tax roll at this
tIIne that was to be collected for the
city on this 10 IL mills was sl6,S72. As.
OF this amount the park fund levy Of
lie mill would have amounted to sS03.4 As
II paid in full. Through discounts
and uncollected taxes, however. it is
estimated that about $50 was collected
on this account.
LAS the money was collected ii was
turned over to the county treasurer and
by him TO the city treasurer in the reg
ular course of business, and was cred
tied TO the general fund Of the ity. In |
this way the money that was levied |
for park purposes never reached the |
fund which it was intended TO estab-
lish, and which could be used for no
other purpose. The error started by |
a separate account not being opened |
for the park levy on the tax rolls. and |
there was no legal right to include 1t
with the regular levy made by the city
council. as it was by law ordered by
distinct body organized for that pur-
pose. The money, or the greater rart
OF it, has been received by the city and
applied to the general fund.
las this is not a matter for this as
sociation to rarrange, but for the board !
of park commissioners, your commit
tee would recommend that the secre-
tary be instructed to draw the attention
of that body to the condition OF its af-
fairs, in the hope that the work Of this
association to secure the benefits of
parks for Astoria may not be wholly
lost through the negligence or careless
ness of public officials"
The report of the committee was
adopted. and the aark commission will
be urged 10 attend to the important,
matters which have been left. to its
are.
John d, Manciet vas last night elect
ID to membership in the club.