Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-02-05
BEFORE
COUNTY
COURT
Taxpayers League Asking
Rebate on the Tax Levy
For 1906

Monday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock
the committee appointed Friday ev-
enlng at the Taxpayers League meet
ing held at the city hall went before
the Marion county court and present.
ed the resolution offered by d.
Fry and adopted.
Senator Kay, as chairman, stated
the substance of the resolution to be
that the improvements on the court
house be deferred one year, and the
county tax not required for that i'm
provement to the extent of one and
one-tenth mills be rebated to the
taxpayers. Mr.. Kay stated that 1t
was the unanimous sentiment of that
meeting that the north and south
wings be not added to the court
house at this time. although he
thought the great majority of that
meeting were in favor of the court
house being improved on the inside
on the plans presented by the county
court. All the committee present
agreed with him in his statements.
Could Remove Sheriif's Quarters.
Senator Kay stated that the night
watchman could be made the Jail
keeper. and the rooms now occupied
by the sheriff would give the county
court room for all needed improve
ments and additional vault room
Mr.. Kay said the night watchman at
the court house should be under the
control of the sheriff. and should be
a regular deputy. as, under the pres
ent system, the night watchman could
not even arrest a prisoner II he was
seen In the act of escaping.
VIII Consider Rebate.
Judge Scott said the county COM
missioner's court would take up the
matter of giving the taxpayers a re-
bate although he doubted IL that
could be done. Mr.. Fry said that the
taxpay RS were called upon to pay an
unusual amount on account OF the
raised valuations, and the high state
taxes and the high city taxes, and
that a year hence they would be bet
ter able to stand the court house i'm
provement Judge Scott stated that
year from next June he and Com
missioner Needham would go out OF
Office, and he would not care to un-
dertake the improvements needed II
they were put OF year. He thought
this was the best time to undertake
II.
How 10 Gain Room.
George Pearce said that a good
deal OF space could be saved by the
cutting out of one stairway and the
large landings in case an elevator
was put in. He thought the improve
ments should be deferred and the
rebate granted. II IT could be done le-
gally. He asked II a legal opinion
had been secured? The only author
ity for the rebate he had heard came
from Scott Riggs, who once had been
county commissioner or POLK county.
Judge Scott said the rebate must be
made. II made at all. after the taxes
are all paid, through the county
clerk and treasurer. and meant al
most as much work as collecting the
taxes. However, they would consld-
er the proposition. an make an an
swer to the committee. Judge Scott
again said no plan of improvements
had been adopted, and they would be
glad to receive suggestions. The
court house needed remodeling bad
ly, from sanitary and business
standpoint. There was hardly a
on any floor for a wo-
man. and the basement was in an
unsafe and unsanitary condition. II
the sheritf's quarters were moved |
Dut of the building more room could |