The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1913-02-07
LAW WILL AID VALLEY.

OF vital Importance to the people of the
Okano"an Valle' is the measure relating
to the organization and government NJ
irrigation districts now pending before the
Legislature, in the judgment of j. f. sam
son, secretary of the East Okanogan Val
ley Irrigation district. The proposed piece
of legislation carries provisions greatly
needed in the proper promotion Of irr'ga-
ton under the district system and cor
reefs defects of the present legislation on
the subject which have developed under
its operation, according to Mr.. Samson.
who is enthusiastic over the bin pending.
1t had its first reading in the house of
present; tives January % upon being il
troduced by Representatives Adams.
Brown and Picken, the latter from Ollan-
ogan county and one of the directors Of
the East Okanogan Valley Irrigation dis
trict. The proposed measure is known
as house bill No. Pa.
This bin Will clear up many questions
on which there has been doubt. say
Secretary Samson. For instance on the
question Of who shall be entitled to vote
for or against the creation of an iIrig;,-
ton district, the measure provides .hat
any. person Of the age Of u years, who l.
citizen OF tire teu states and resi-
dent OF the county in winch am" of tue
lands of the district may lie, and who
holds title or evidence of title to land emf
braced within the boundaries Of any lrr
cation district or proposed district ~
the case OF an election for the OrganiZa-
ton thereof. shai oe ent.led to vote at
any election held therein. called for to
ing required by the general election laws
of the state shall NOT ply but it is pro
vided that there shall be no denial of tie
right to vote in the precinct in which he
in the district shall vote in the precn t
nearest his place of residence"
Heretofore only holders of title or cvi-
dence to tue of lands embraced IN the
district who actuallv resided i'm the dis
triCt could vote.
The bill also provides for the election
nf AZ
one. the term of one director expiring
each year. 1t also provides that directors
shall take office in January instead %
May as under the existing law, curing
the Objectionable feature Of the old law
which is likely to bring about a change
of administration and policy during the
busy irrigation season and causing niue
confusion and possibly loss to the water
users.
Under the proposed law the incoming
member has ample time to settle with his
rigaton season begins. Two directors
constitute quorum for the transaction
of business. whereas. under the old law
nothing could be done without the pras
ence of all three members.
Perhaps the most important chanGa
proposed in the bin is the making Of the
county treasurer the tax or assessment
collector for the district. This change
places the irrigation bonds in the same
class with county, school district aaG
municipal bonds. makes them a much
safer investment and will, ! believe. ma
terially aid in the disposition of the rri-
cation bonds.
This provision, which is an amendment
of section 6i3S of Remington q Balin-
gers code specifies that the assessment
upon real property shall he a lien against
the property assessed, from the first Mon
day of March in any year, and that su, n
lien shall be paramount and superior to
any lien heretofore or thereafter created.
whether by mortgage or otherwise ev.
cept lien for prior 'reessments and for