The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1910-04-22
RSOF|MPORTANCE
Two Vital Measures to Be
Voted Upon In Oroville
Next Monday.

Next Monday a special election is to
be held in Oroville. Indeed it may be
baid to be a double header, as two
Questions are to be submitted to the
people for their adoption or rejection.
Dne question to be decided is that of a
ystem of water works, the other local
option. Whatever opinion this paper
may express on these subjects is that
bf the publishers, but it is based upon
What they sincerely believe to be for
he welfare of this community as a
whole.
There would seem to be little rea-
ION for division of sentiment upon
he effort being made to secure full
hnd complete water system, covering
ell portions of the town. There may
be an honest difference of opinion as
10 the plan that should be followed in
Securing this indispensable municipal
convenience, but it is the first plan
he council has been able to agree upon,
hnd any practicable system not so eX-
pensive as to be beyond reach that will
insure an ample supply of water is bet
er than none. The proposition pre-
Bented to the voter is certainly an at
ractive one, and could supply of
water be secured by means of an ar
esian well the people of Oroville, now
hnd hereafter, would have reason to be
thankful. Everybody realizes the ne
eessity of complete water system, a
necessity more apparent every month
Rs the town grows. 1t is now up to
hose directly interested to decide as
TO whether it is to be, or not to be.
Upon the question of local option
here is a more marked division of
public sentiment. Granting that many
pf those who favor local option are
that the enforcement of this sumptuary
aw makes for propriety and morality,
hey should weigh well the situation
before permitting their zeal to lead
Them to support measure that may
be fraught with much danger to the
Town, or at least to the business Mter-
ests of the town, and if business is
Crippled the people in all walks of life
must suffer. Moreover if the step is
pnce taken it cannot be recalled no
lnatter what may be the consequence.
There are those, no doubt, who would
vote for local option if they knew its
success would paralize business, kill
livery prospect of advancement, and
make the town dead one. Such peo-
pie escape the tax that must be levied
bn those in business if the license rev.
enue is cut off. They really care not
whether the town goes ahead, or lags
behind. They are willing that some
pne else pays for the experiment.
Where are others inclined to support
the measure who are more reasonable,
Ind who will understand, when they
give the matter careful consideration,
hat this is an inopportune time to
orce local option upon the town.
"A This paper believes the question has
been sprung prematurely. Oroville is
Dot as yet fairly on it's feet. 1t is slow
" advancing, and anything that will
bllght, or retard, that advancement
should be carefully guarded against.
So far the luxury of municipal govern
ment has not borne heavily upon the
v Individual resident. The property
|2holder has never been called upon to
pay taxes. The revenue from license
so far has been sufficient to meet run
ming expenses. If that income is cut
Xoff there are only two courses to pur-
Sssue, disincorpOrate or raise money by
ftirectly assessing the business man.
The latter course will be adopted, and
<every man in business must be mulcted
ITO meet the deficit. The business men
&of this place are in moderate circum-
&stances. None of them can afford to
Bmeet this extra drain. A license tax
$50 levied would be severe burden,
<when it is considered that by closing
Keight or nine saloons large patron
fage that the business men now enjoy
would be cut off. Looking at the ques-
tion from purely business standpoint
local option would be calamity just
at the present time.
If any proof of these statements is
needed it may be stated it can be said
that within the past few weeks parties
coming from towns where local option
has been put in force have located here,
driven from their former homes on ac.
count of falling off in business. Fur.
thermore these men are not patrons Of
saloons, and hence their position is not
influenced by the question of temper.
ance.
1t is for the reasons set forth that il
is held that the question of local option