Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-02-18


two miles of macadam road and have
about fifteen thousand yards of stone
crushed to be placed upon the roads
this year.
II we were to hold the road ex-
pense down to what it was before
went into Office the taxes would be
materially reduced, but we feel that
the Increase in population and busl-
ness of the country demand larger
expenditure for road improvement
than It did in former years.
We are aware that taxes are high,
but think that it is not fair to cen
sure the county court for all of the
burden of taxation. inasmuch as al
most two-thirds of It is caused to be
levied by laws passed by the legls-
lature and by city councils and the
people in school and road districts.
over which the county court have no
control. Out IF the total taxes to be
raised this year the county court had
nothing to do, whatever with s21S,-
547.95 of It. All that we are respon-
slble for it $126,2S9.14, of which
sum $4,000 is for street improve
ment adjacent to the court house lot,
and $4,000 for court house improve
ment. We estimated that there would
be $4,000 rebate on taxes this year
and $4,000 for delinquent taxes that
would not be collected. Last year
there were expended for salaries of
county officers, and for coroners. JUS
tice and circuit court expenses the
sum Of $S1,737. A large proportion
of the remainder of last years levy
was for road and bridge improve
ment and Is an investment and not
an expenditure as some would at
first consider The total levy made
by the county court this year for all
purposes is nine mills, of which four
and ffty-five hundredths mills are all
that the county court is responsible
for. In addition TO the above levy
the city of Salem levied seven and
one-half mills.
As TO the court house improve
ment, will say that there has been,
we thought, a general demand for
several years last past TO have our
court house improved. The vaults
are very much crowded and by some.
considered not TO be burglar nor fire
proof. Many important documents
and county records are now stored
in the attic where they would be de-
stroyed II the court house would
happen to burn. and In such event
would be a great loss to the county.
Several grand juries have criticized
the county court for not making tho
county jail more sanitary and secure
and not providing for a lavatory for
ladies. We have been waiting TO
make such Improvement to such time
as we thought the times and business
OF the county would Justify without
creating any great burden upon the
Taxpayers, and to such times as all OF
the needed improvements could be
made.
We feel that the people were never
in a better financial condition 10
make such Improvement than they
now are II we have made a mis-
take relative 20 the good times, we
are sorry for Il. The levy has been
made and know OF no way that the
taxes can be rebated. Such is not
my opinion alone. but It is that OF
the district attorney and other COM
petent lawyers to whom / have sub
mitted the question.
Personally. we are not at all de-
sirous OF making any changes in the
court house because we feel that II Is
great responsibility TO do so. How
ever, we were prompted to do so,
feeling that It was the general desire
OF the people and that II is neees-
sary for a proper safe guard OF our
county records and, not desiring to
shirk responsibility, we gave notice
through the papers that We intended
TO improve the court house and gave
general idea of what that improve
ment would be. Several weeks after
the notice was given, we, having
heard no objections whatever, ar
ranged with a competent architect TO
draw plans and specifications for said
Improvement and made levy to COW
er the expenses of the same. After
the levy was made for that month,
an active effort was made. by few
people residing in Salem to have said
improvement deferred one year and
to have the levy that was made for
that purpose rebated. Such a re-
quest was made before any effort was
made to ascertain what Improvement
.... ....aaa 49, NARA