The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-16

A large majority Of the property own
ers OF Astoria are prompt in the paymen
E OF their street assessments, while thei
are number that take every advantag,
of every technality in law; in the pro
ceedings AMI in the laxity OF enforce
ment on the part of the city officials
either to escape their just proportion OF
street assessments, or delay payment in
order TO save few dollars in interest
and penalty over 100000 of the pres.
ent city indebtedness was accumulated
by the refusal OF property owners 10
pay their street assessments. Upon this
indebtedness since lS92, when this
amount was assumed for the improve
ment of streets, the taxpayers have been
compelled to pay $4,000 in interest on
the bonded indebtedness Of the city.
Every man that escaped paying his
street assessments has been compelled to
contribute his or her share toward pay.
| ing this interest The bonds bear six
per cent interest and have run for thir.
teen years.
The common council committed a mis-.
take when they permitted property
owner to come in after three or four
years and pay the assessment by throw.
ing off the penalty and interest. When
the system was once adopted every prop
erty owner who takes advantage of tee.
hnicalities or the laxity Of the officers in
making prompt collections has taken ad.
vantage of it. Some OF the street as.
sessments have run for three and four
years, the property owners having the
use of the money during all OF that time,
paying no interest, while the city has
been compelled to pay six per cent in.
terest on :heir indebtedness due the city.
II Is not treating the property owners
fair who are prompt in their payments. |
1t is not treating the city fair by keen,
ing 1t out OF money that rightfully be.
longs TO it. impairing the efficiency of
the administration Of city affairs and its
credit If these same property owners
have bill against the city they demand
immediate payment. The city is com.
PEELED to pay its obligations promptly.
why should not the property owners do
the same!
Warrants for the collection Of assess.
ments on over forty street improvements
have been placed in the hands Of the
chief of police for collection and property
owners will be compelled to pay for the
assessment and interest during its de.
linquency. Unless paid this week. the
will be advertised, sold and
they will have to pay the costs. This
ought to have been done three years ago.
When street is improved and the as.
sessment levied, it should be collected az
soon as the time for voluntary payment
has expired, and not wait three and four
years. Warrants should be placed in
the hands Of the chief Of police and il
the assessments are not paid, the prop.
erty should be sold This is the way the
county collects its taxes. The sheriff
does not give any man three and four
years to pay his taxes and throw of
the penalty and interest. A man Dor.
rows money at the bank, and he must
pay it when due, together with inter.
est. No bank throws off interest and
allows the note to run three or four
years, simply because it is not conduct
ing banking business on business prin.
ciples. No city will prosper that is lax
in its business principles
II is not to be wondered at that the
city Of Astoria has reached its limit OF
indebtedness when it has been compelled
to pay $4,000 in interest on money due
for street assessments which the prop
erty owners have succeeded in escaping
payment. II is not to be wondered at
that tax payers object to high valua-
tiOn and a low assessment when il re.
quires nearly all the money derived from
a lO-mill tax levy to pay interest on
bonded indebtedness. The city Of As.
toria is paying over $4,000 a year In
the county about $4,000, the
school district about $500 and about
$4,000 on water bonds, aggregating $27,. II
300 a year in interest alone. Is it not
,bout time the taxpayers were waking
Up and taking little more interest in
he management Of city and county
Ifairs! viii the voters permit hap,
lazzard, loose and lax method to obtain