Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-30
TAXPAYERS OBJECT
TO BERRIDGE BILL
Think the Bill ExOrbitant and
Question States Right to
Create Debt for County

The county court of Marion county
today Offered Arthur Berridge $3.50, a
sum in proportion to the cost Of ex-
porting the county books in former
years, and the offer was refused and
the opinion was expressed that test
case would be made of the law requir-
ing the county to pay bills contracted
by the state. The original bill was
for $l523l1 and was 0. KID by Insur-
ance Commissioner Ferguson, The
county court of this county refused to
pay the bill and Mr.. Berridge has ap.
peared in person before the county
court in support of his claim The
opinion of the taxpayers meeting last
night was that the bill should be re-
duced and the $3.50 offer Of the coun-
ty court was the result. Although it
is practically certain that suit will
result it is doubtful if the matter will
be pressed until after the legislature
has adjourned.
The Marion county taxpayers who
met at the county court house last
night to consider n number Of public
questions were almost unanimous in
their objections to the bill Of $l523.1 II
presented by the Arthur Berridge com.
pany for exporting the county books.
Their objections were based upon two
grounds-first the constitutionality Of
the law permitting the state to con.
tract bill to be paid by the county,
and second the bill is excessive for
the needs Of the county Officers books.
The consensus Of opinion was that all
the taxpayers Of the county wanted to
know was If the county officers had
rendered an honest accounting for the
money which had been handled BY
their respective departments, and that
the taxpayers cared little for old rec.
ords which We're dug up in detail at
the rate Of $40 per day.
Mr.. Berridge was present at the
meeting to answer questions and to
make u plea in his behalf. He stated
that he and his accountants had been
obliged to follow the instructions Of
Insurance Commissioner Ferguson and
had prepared their work according to
the schedule sent out by Mr.. Ferguson,
and that they had no choice in the mat.
ter but to make their research accord
ingly as they were working under the
instructions Of Mr., Ferguson.
Judge Bushey stated this morning
that no action had been taken at the
meeting but that It was his opiuon
that il established dangerous precc.
dent for the state to contract bills for
the county to pay and that there was
no limit TO the amount which the state
could wish upon the county IL the right
We're admitted Judge Bushey was of
the opinion, however, that the county
must pay the bill but was within It's
rights in holding up a bill as largo as
the one presented by Arthur Berridge
when the work had been done in for.
mcr years Ot ouc.fomth the cost
Mr. Berridge denied that $40 per
day was nm cNorbtunt rate when the
question was put to him by one OF
those present, and said this sum was
the usual price for the work Of an ac
credited accountant in this state, The
opinion Of the meeting was that the
bill should he smaller regardless OF th,
Insurance commission and the other Gle
.ment that entered into the case, anC
the fact remained that the hill was TO,
large though no particular blame wa
attached to Mr. Bcrridgc, whose met
were evidently working under the Ia
structious Of Mr.. Ferguson
A resolution was adopted urginl
that an effort be nude TO secure The
passage of bill through the next leg
islature arranging for q steel bridg,
across the Willamette river at this city
aud authorizing the respective eouutic
to pay for more or less than an cQua
amount Of the original cost of tn,
structure. The belief was cxpressct
that if the bin could be passed earl,
In the session that the contracts fol
the bridge could be let this spring an,
the structurc completed before mex
winter To pay Marion county's shar,
Of the bridge, warrants could be draw
and provision for their payment mad
In next years tax budget Judg
Bushey was appointed to confer will
the Marion county legislators to pre-
pare the bill for the legislature.
The following men were unanimous
" elected to complete the board o( al
recturs Of the League; George Knight
Hubbard, Seyfnour Jonpa SAlen. Hon