Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-06-11
ASSESSMENTS ARE UNEQUAL.

very much to be drawn into con-
troversies over public improve
ments, but conditions are such
that no public improvement can
be mentioned without causing ructions.
Yet it seems this cannot be avoided.
The Capital Journal, as it has repeated
ly said, and as it now reiterates, has no
feeling against any man in Salem, public
official or other, but one of its duties
as a newspaper is to give publicity to
all matters Of interest to its readers, and
TO voice for the public complaints
against what that public thinks unwise
or unjust measures. The community
paper, in a sense, belongs to the com.
munity. 1t is their mOuthpiece. 1t re-
ccrds their joys, their sorrows, births,
weddings and deaths, keeps them in
formed Of all that is going on in the
community. Through it they tell to
their friends Of births and deaths, mar.
riages and happenings, social events,
everything they care to let their
friends know about, and it is through
the community paper alone that they
are able to give their views on public
matters, and to voice their complaints.
If in doing these things, newspa.
per offends some, it cannot be avoided,
for men agree on few things.
Monday Mrs Rosa Markievitch ask.
ed us to look into certain street paving
affairs, anl help her to get relief, from
what she considers unjust treatment by
the city council, or its committees. The
lady says she has placed the matter be-
fore some Of the councilmen, and the city
engineer, but has been put off and
given no satisfaction.
Her complaint is in substance that
she is overcharged for street improve.
ments, and she makes this showing. She
owns property fronting on North Front
street, just south of Division street,
and on the west side of Front The lots
along the west side Of Front street, she
says, are all SO by SO feet. The corner
lot Division and Front on the south
side is owned by S. +. Hunt. The as.
sessment for paving against this lot is
$G95.sO. She owns the adjoining lot on
the south, II having the same frontage
as Mr.. Hunts, and her assessment is
$434.70. The lot adjoining hers to the
south, same frontage as hers, is as.
sessed at $3lS to 1897, she is not GER
tain. The next lot to that south Of the
latter, same size, belonging to G, s.
Rose, is assessed at $500. This assess,
ment she claims is unjust to her, and
II certainly seems to be on her showing
She cannot understand why the cor
ner lot the same size as hers is as
sessed at $205.SO, tho lot to the south Of
her property at $31s.50, while her prop
orty is taxed at $43A70. She is taxed
$l39.70 more than the lot adjoining he,
to the north, and about Sll5 more thar
the lot adjoining her to the south, yet
all three lots have the same frontage
Or the face Of the returns, she is un
Justly treated and has kick coming
and that is why the Capital Journa
cheerfully makes said kick for her Il
the conditions are as she claims thel
should be remedied, and II there is an,
real reason for this difference In charg,
for the same work, it should be OK
planned to her II is not probable thi
will be done 80 long as Councilman
Stolz is at the head Of the street com
mitteo, Tho Capital journal sent a re
porter TO this gentleman this morning
who told him the paper wanted to trea
him and all concerned with absolute fair
moss and asked him to explain the mat
ter. Instead Of getting any informa
tion, the reporter was told that TIL
Capital Journal was not fit for decon
people 20 read, which statement an,
oniniou Ia nrohablv what cauaes Conn