The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1906-02-22
UNANIMOUS FOR
COUNTY DIVISION
MASS MEETING ENDORSES IT
New County Could be Administered
More Economically and With
Greater Benefits to Tax
payers.

The mass meeting called Saturday
afternoon for the purpose of forming
a permanent organization to work to-
ward the purpose of securing a new
county in the western end of Waseo
county was well attended and devel-
oped the fact that the movement had
backing from unexpected sources.
A vote taken to express the sentiment
OF the meeting as for or against it
was unanimously in its favor While
there we're some that we're opposed
to it, il it could be clearly demon
strated that it would cause taxes to
not be higher than they we're under
the administration OF the present
county, there we're many more who
favored the proposition even if the
taxes should be somewhat higher.
The argument of the latter being that
the increase in taxes would be offset
| by the revenue to be derived from
the location of the county seat nearer
at home and the sav ng of mileage and
the increased valuation of property
that would naturally ensue
BY full and free discussion Of the
question, however, it was demonstrat.
ed to the satisfaction of the great ma
iority pI esent that taxes would not be
higher aud were very likely to be
lower. The creation of Sherman
county was used as an illustration in
this contention by several gentlemen
who had lived in that part of Sherman
county when it was cut off from the
old county and essayed government
of its own. The deductions made
we're to the effect that if Sherman
county with smaller population and
. much less valuation at the time of
its creation than the proposed Cascade
county would have, could and did ad-
minister its affairs more economically
than WascO county had done, there
was no reason why the same thing
could not be done in reference to the
section to be known as Cascade
county.
The meeting was announced in the
Glacier to be held in the Opera House
at 2 o'clock and was called to order
shortly after that time by }. l.. Hen
derson, one of the Republican com
mitteemen who had signed the call.
The city and valley we're about equally
represented and the hall was well
filed. MIR. Henderson i'll few words
stated that the meeting had been call
ed to consider the matter OF taking
steps to create the new county and
asked what action the gentlemen pres
ent wished to take in the matter
Il. W. Angus made motion that
Mr.. Henderson be made chairman OF
the meeting, and as Mr.. Henderson
was temporarily acting In that capac-
ity, II. +. Davidson put the motion
after it had been properly seconded,
and that gentleman was elected, q
B. Morton moved that d. Mcdonald
be made secretary of the meeting and
the motion prevailed.
Chairman Henderson then stated
that committee consisting Of 2. s.
Davidson, S. +. Fouts and N. G.
Evans that had been appointed at
previous meeting to secure statistics
showing the cost of government of
the new county, had finished its work
and submitted the report and asked
to be relieved from further duty.
The secretary was instructed to read
the report, selecting those proper
tions of it which gave the informa-
tion desired. 1t was substantially
the same as the summary published
in the last issue Of he Glacier
Mr.. Morton moved that the report
be accepted and the committee dis
charged and the motion was second
ed, but ii. f. Davidson moved as All
amendment that as the committee
was familiar with the work in hand
and had worked well In the cause,
that 1t be continued and work in con-
junction with the chairman and sec,
retary of the Cascade County Ascot
alton. Mr.. Morton and his seconder
having accepted the amendment, it
was carried and the committee con-
tinued.
A. /. Mason then moved that in Or
der to get the sentiment of The meet
ing in regard to the matter in hand
that | "be the sense of that body
that the new county should be ere
ated. :"
The chairman then said that before
he put the motion he would like to
have some expression Of opinion on
the question.
Mr.. Roberts said that he thought
that wPs a step in the right direction
and that it would be best not to take
definite action too precipitateIy,
That he was in favor of the new
county If it could be shown that it
was good business proposition, and
asked for information on the subject
p. s. Davidson, as chairman of the
committee on statistics, then explain
ed to the meeting how the figures sub.
mitted had been arrived at. Explain
ing that the estimates OF salaries of
the new county officials had been taken
from the bill which was presented in
the Legislature by A. A. Jayne at its
last session for the purpose Of accom-
plishing the same end as was now in
view. That the amounts we're small,
but that he thought that it Was advis-
able to start the government of the
proposed county modestly. That
there we're two items of expense that
had been left out of the estimate.
Namely, that of County Superintend-
ent OF Schools and County Treasurer.
The former Office had not been in
cluded owing to the movement now
being made to nsolidate the school
districts in Hood River valley into
one district. 1t would not be easy to
estimate on a salary for this office
under the circumstances, but even if
it was added to the amount it would
not very materially change the esti-
mate of l7J9 mills for the running ex-
penses of the county. AS to the posi-
tion of treasurer, he had had assur.
ances that the office would be accept
ed by an officer Of either of the banks
for the use of the money with NOM
inal salary of 81 a year, or whatever
amount was necessary in order to have
their bond accepted.
"If," said Mr.. Davidson, "the