East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-01-11
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PORTLAND. Jan. 1.-THE oregon
Irrigation congress closed Saturday
evening its fourth and largest annual
session.
II had been a pacific and harmoni-
GUS congress until It's last hours when,
as II to race beyond all memory oi
differences in past congresses II end
ed with one grand. pyrotechnic cli'
max OF combative eloquence.
The millage tax for irrigation upon
which the irrigation congress at Ia
morning meeting had taken positively
approving position was the entire
cause OF the ruction. The delegates
voted then en- masse directing the re
resolutions committee. which Itself
had been in continuous executive ses'
sion for early "a hours, TO bring In
resolution asking the Legislature tc
levy a 1-2 mill tax enough TO produce
$500. 600 annually with which TO car
ry on irrigation in oregon.
A majority OF the resolutions ccom-
mittee brought in the resolution as pei
orders but recommended that It not
pass. Two members OF the commit
tee. O. Lauragaard and Frank Sloan
filed a minority report favoring the
tax. ifSas
Plan Is Carried.
The delegates were incensed. For
the first time in oregon irrigation his
tory an irrigation congress entered
the lists with its resolutions commit
tee on an important issue. The com
mittee's obedience was punished: the
proposition to levy the half-mill tax
was carried with but few scattering,
negative votes.
j H. Brewer. chairman OF the res
olutions committee, introduced c. c.
Chapman as champion Of the commit
tees position and Mr.. Chapman de-
clared that economy dictated adverse
~ to a millage tax for irrigation.
1T. Hinkle, member OF the legis'
lature and former secretary OF the
congress, called upon Joseph N. Teal
chairman OF the state conservation
commission. to answer and Mr.. Tea
said II was a false economy TO refrain
from tax no property owner would
feel when by levying It as much more
could assuredly be obtained from tho
federal government. NJ. ]. Lee oi
Candy said the tax would be unpop'
ular and William Hanley declared u
was a small way to go about DIS
business. Mr.. Hlnkle said Willamette
valley lumber interests would support
II because construction Of irrigation
projects would furnish sadly needed
market for lumber.
Porter ]. Neff OF Medford strong
" stated that southern oregon would
approve the tax. N. G. Hedden SPOKE
for Il: and Abel Ady against It, Some
one suggested that that matter OF the
government spending dollar for dollar
with the state under the taxation
plan. be included in the resolution
Mr. Teal retorted that he had reason
TO believe the government would d'
more. but that If. peradventure the
government did nothing, oregon ough
TO get ready right now to foot i
alone.
Each time local self-dependence II
carrying on irrigation development
was mentioned there was applause.
The congress passed an unusuall!
large number of resolutions, with Tho
one exception. making no changes
scarcely, in the report OF It's resolu
tions constitute the real purpose ant
! result of the irrigation congress. de
finlng as they do the general attitude
Of Oregon irrigation interests on legis
lation national and state, and voicinl
I the feeling OF the congress in organ
lzation. financing and administration
of projects.