The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-10-13
Seeking IA TAX LEVY
FOR THE WORK
THE CHAMBER or COMMERCE
WANTS TAXPAYERS TO HELP
PAY PUBLIC EXPENSES.

34I $500
AT the regular meeting of tbs
Chamber Of Commerce last night the
Nllmipg l~solutioa WIS offere ~
Zen II Mad, and was adopted
"Whercas, we believe that tie
benefits oE municipal advertising,
publicity and promotion are shared
generally by the community and ior
thas reason il, would be just for al
property II any community carrying
Oh such work u bear an equal por.
ton of the expenses therefore be \
"Resolver. That this organization
lis in isvor Of submitting to.the peo,
pie Ak the December election the
proposition of voting 4 two-mill tax
to carry on its present advertising
publicity and promotion work end
helping 10 secure additional factories
and that a committee Of three be ap'
pointed ~ the president, duly NJ
|thorized and empowered 70 take such
steps as are necessary TO prepare The
proper initiative measure
In accordance with the terms Of
the resolution. q committee of three
was appointed, as follows; B. Z.
Ward, A. r. Cyrus and R. NJ. Gas
ton.
Efforts will be made to acquaint
the people Of the city with the neces,
sity Of adopting the measure, for the
purpose Of carrying on the work Of
the Chamber Of Commerce, Hereto
fore all Of the expenses Of the or.
ganizatin have been met out Of the
pockets Of the members OF the asso.
citation, and there is a disposition 10
feel thar inasmuch as the Chamber {
work is a direct benefit to the whole
city that therefore ali should join in
to pay te cost Of the work Of upbiuld'
ing the town.
Not alone will the efforts be made
to have the city give aid BY taxation,
but ii IS planned 10 have the county
assist. To this end letters have been
written by the manager Of the
Chamber, Mr.. Whyte, to every mem.
Der Of the Oregon state senate, ask.
ing that law be framed and passed
permitting counties 10 levy taxes
for the purpose Of assisting in such
work. While it Is said that legally
there is no obstacle to city grant.
ing such public aid now. that the
laws will have to be amended to
bring in the counties The legisla-
ture will be asked to adopt law to
permit not only Clatsop county, but
every county in the state, to levy tax.
alton for this purpose.
President Scholfeld was not able
to be present at the meeting last
night and Mr. Wingate, the vice.
president, acted as chairman Of the
session Announcement was made
that the requisite number Of sigma
lures had been secured for the Port
Of Astoria bill to place it before the
people at the coming municipal elec.
ton. The next step will be to place
the bill in the hands Of the city
auditor.
The question Of the excursion to
Spokane was also discussed favor
ably, and it IS probable that such a
trip will be made when the time is
ripe.
II was suggested that it would be
highly desirable to secure options on
sites that would be available for in.
dustrial plants that might be secured
for Astoria. Experience has proven
that as soon as there Is a plan to To-
cate some business plant here the
prices Of available sites jump up al
once, and therefore il was deemed
good plan If II could be arranged t.
secure options. But il was agreed
that it is probably impracticable tc
secure options that are worthy any
thing in this relation, for the ordi
nary man is not going to grant ar
option on his place, tying i up, I'm
less he Is well paid for it and unless
it is limited for a short time,