East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-05-04
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want Of completion ana a reoan Pc
tition has been filed against the
county court Statements volclng
similar but less damaging charges
were heard from delegates from 9TH
er counties where hard surfaced roads
have been undertaken.
Experience elsewhere indicates that
under paving monopoly conditions
we shall be fortunate to set sixty
miles of first class road for $3.50, 600.
Those expecting to vote for the pro-
posed bond issue should be prepared
to double this sum in order to COM
plete the roads determined upon. No
further bond sales are permissible
without a constitutional amendment
raising the limit 1t follows then that
if the s9S0,O00 is not enough to COM
|plete the road, it can pe completed
only by special taxes; otherwise il
will be left unfinished as Columbia
eounty's road has been. our alterna-
tive then shall be tremendous tax
or the disappointment OF those left
without the expected road, Complet-
ed portions without connection with
the whole would lose much Of their
value, and partially finished portions
would fall into ruin
If home labor is TO receive full
benefit from permanent road construc-
uon, the building operations must be
distributed over long term Of years,
and the work done directly by the
county so that home labor can be Civ
en- the preference. A hundred thou
sand dollars each year for ten years,
to be expended for hard surfaced
roads would maintain a payroll all
that time and this constant payroll
would place a job at the disposal OF
many man who otherwise might be
out of work. At the end of that time
no more would have been spent than
is now proposed to be raised by bond
sales. A program OF this kind would
support labor and business constantly
it would be progressive, and it would
allow time to take advantage of new
economies, improved methods, better
road laws and the saving of royalties
through expiration Of the Warren pat
ents; also construction of roads
through our territory ny state or ma
ton within ten years IS probable ana
If this should not relieve us entirely.
it would open the way for cooperation
and divided cost.
An economic feature which merits
is the fact that ultimate.
ly producers and consumers must pay
all taxes. The merchant when in
with other merchants
subject to the same taxes as himself
passes the tax on to the consumer by
he simple process of marking up his
goods.
And this marking up process falls
with great severity upon the poor
rhe forehanded and rich will not sub
nit to it. They transfer their trade
% mail order houses located in the
big cities. Each successive advance
n prices by local merchants drives
additional trade to these mail order
houses. Having lost this big cash
trade. local merchants must advance
heir prices higher and higher in or
Ter to maintain themselves: and these
prices must be paid by those in debt
and without ready cash with which
% escape by way of the mail order
house.
During boom times when demand
exceeds supply. landlords shift new
AK demands upon their tenants by
'aising rents.
Furthermore, capitalists are reluct-
int to build houses for rent in taxrid-
len cities. People of Pendleton are
low living in shacks anG tents because
here are no better accommodations
o be had. At the same time local
)anks are loaded to the guards with
money on deposit, bearing interest at
he low rate of 4 per cent New con-
truction of houses for rent will come
'nly when rent raises 10 a point high
nough to make certain that houses
VIZ tAtAh a oltloAhNNOAN AACN AhCOihE va
he investment after deducting all ex-
'enses, including taxes.
Not many years ago the tax rate in {
'endleton was $12 on each thousand
ollars of value The landlord is max
ng calculations for building a house
0 rent figured that the tax would be
/ 90 per month on each thousand in J
ested Today the Pendleton tax rate !
5 $26 per thousand or value, and is
dvancing rapidly. Not only so, but s
,aving liens are an added charge IN !
II paving districts. The landlord
Who formerly raised MIS- rent 81 90 {
,er month on account of taxes for
property worth one Thousand dollars,
must now add $2.16 2-3 per month to
he rent to cover the property tax. {
70 cover the paving charge he must ;
make a further raise in the rent ac- !
.ording to the cost or pavement, rang !
ng up to $500 or SO per month
Property taxes already count up. am !
lzingly The simplest kind of mod
.rn six room house and lot will cost
wo thousand dollars, and this means
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