Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-07-06
BRIDGE NOT To Be
BUILT THIS YEAR
UNLESS EMERGENCY

Unless something unforeseen happens
to make it absolutely necessary it is
pretty safe to say that there will be
no bridge built over the Willamette
river to replace the old structure which
has long since served its usefulness
and has been the source of continual
and extravagant expense to the coun.
ties of Marion and Polk and the tax.
payers of Salem, is unsightly and con
sidered by many to be unsafe for trav.
Ell. This announcement was made bv
County Judge Bushey, who states that
it will be very inconvenient and i'm.
practical to build bridge this year
on account of the lack of funds in Polk
county.
Special Election Not Necessary.
The question was raised, in view of
the Bingham tax levy limitation law
which limits the tax levying power of
the county courts to not to exceed six
per cent increase over the highest levy
Of the preceding two years without
calling special election, whether the
bridge could be provided for and con.
strueted without calling a special elec-
tion. County Judge Bushey, however,
dispels this belief by stating that the
expense of special election could be
avoided by declaring an emergency, in
view of the unsafe condition of the
bridge. Anyhow, he states, there is no
probability of the bridge being con.
structed this year as, although Marion
county has plenty of cash on hand in
the general fund to more than pay for
its share and that of the city Of Salem:
Polk county is not financially situated
to bear the expense at this time that
special levy will have to be made next
year.
School Levies Are Voted.
Again referring to the Bingham tax
levy limitation act it develops that
number of the school districts of Ma.
rion county has already gone ahead ana
made their levies for the year 1915
without giving the required notice by
publication or before the property valu.
ations of the districts have been re-
eeived from the county assessor and
practically all of them will have to be
made over again later in the year /
Some Of the school districts, notabl, /
Silverton and Stayton, greatly exceeded .
the six per cent increase limitation
without 30 days notice and special .
election, as specifically provided in the
Bingham act, and these levies have
have automatically nullified and will
have to be made again and either low .
cred or special election provided /
for.
The levy made by the Silverton
school district for the year 1915 was |
eight mills as compared to six mills l
last year and four and half mills in 4
1913. While the Stayton district did 1
not send its levy in to the county de- 1
partments for this year it is understood Il
that a meeting Of the school board was
held and levy of III mills made, as
compared to four and half mills last
year and five and half mills in 1913.
When the story came out in the Capital
journal about 10 days ago, calling at
tentiOn to the disposition to ignore the
provisions OF the Bingham law on the
part Of the majority Of the rural school
district boards and the illegal effect Of
the leEies so made, there was great
scurrying around and representatives of
several of the districts which had made
illegal levies made a special trip to
Salem to inquire into the matter and
returned very much chagrined and dis
appointed.
School district boards having al.
ready made levies, practically all Of
which are void for one reason or an.
other, showing the amount of levies for
the two years preceding, follow:
tuIE 1ntt