Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-09-25
TAXPAYERS TALK
COMING BUDGETS.
Taxpayers League Discusses
Valuations and Expendi-
lures Tuesday Night
MUST REDUCE TAXES
It Is Decided to Work for a
Reduction of 60 Per Cent
In 1914 Levies

At meeting held in the CITY hall
tuesday evening to discuss possible
reductions of city and county taxa.
ton and attended by some 20 resi-
dents, the committee appointed by
the Chamber of Commerce was au.
thcrized to go ahead. examine the
city budget and submit a report and
committee consisting of w. ]. Pat.
terson, c. M. Weatherwax, John G..
Lewis, B. F. Johnson and John G..
Hogan was named by Mayor France
to make necessary recommendation
for shaving the county budget.
Mayor Eugene France was named
as chairman of the meeting and City
Attorney Cross as secretary. Mayor
France outlined the purpose of the
gathering, committee was named to
wait upon the county commissioners
at Montesano the day the levy for
the ensuing year Is to be made, and
instructions were authorized for the
committee from the Chamber of Com
merce.
An argument occurred between At
torney J. c. Hogan and Assessor Rob-
ert A. Wiley. This was brought
about by Attorney Hogan's declara-
ton it was time a halt was called
on county expenses as some of the
county department heads were rum
ming amuck with the peoples money
Mr.. Hogan pointed out where officials
with their expense accounts blow
money" with apparently no restric-
tions. He said one officials voucher
showed where he spent $6 for two
meals in Spokane, China pheasant
eggs were being purchased at the
rate Of $3.50 dozen or such a mat
ter, and no one seemed to be in con-
troll of the expenditures.
Assessor Wiley declared Mr.. Ho-
gan was full of civic righteousness
now, and in his remarks became per-
sonal.
The sparks had begun to fly when,
at a point of order, made by E. A.
McKenna, Mayor France called a
halt.
r. H. Fleet of Nontesano. repre-
senting the Chamber of Commerce of
the county seat, expressed the OBJ
lection of many he had interviewed
20 the expenditure of S143,00o for q
recruise of the county timber and
thought that in pruning the county
budget. the item should be eliminat-
ed. Mr.. Fleet then referred to the
hearing the state tax commission
gave the Montesano and Hoquiam
delegations and said he felt pretty
sure a rating of AZ per cent would be
given this county as result. At $685.
100000 he said Chehalis county was
assessed fourth in the state. He said
Nontesano would be run on $4,000
this year against $4,000 last year.
The time to reduce the taxation was
when the budgets are up for passage,
he said and urged all to be on hand
at Montesano when the county budget
was ready for adoption.
Chief Deputy Assessor A. c. Girard
defended the item in the budget for
a recruise. He declared there was a
difference of 3OO,OOO,OOO feet cut in
federal statistics and the county
cruise and as the difference means,
he stated. the little fellow must meet
the deficit, he thought the cruise
necessary in equalizing taxation.
Assessor Wiley said some cruising
was needed badly, but he did not ex-
actly advocate spending the $143,0O0
for the recruise.
Mr.. Hogan thought low valua-
ton was the first step necessary in
getting low taxes. Then economy by
county officers. was needed. In three
years he predicted most of the real
estate in the county would go for
taxes unless there was a radical
change.
A motion made by E. A. McKenna
was adopted providing for the com
mittee to seek to secure reduction
of go per cent on the tax levy as
whole.
Attorney Graham advocated a de-
tailed report by county officers at
specified intervals of their expenses,
~Nors cf he county. Mayor France
bought this an excellent idea. He
said Aberdeen was doing it now.
The meeting adjourned without a
date being set for another session.