The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1916-03-31
MR.. BARRETT OPPOSES BONDS


Senator @. A. Barrett, who is OF
posed to the million dollar bondin
proposition, has submitted the TO
lowing statement for publication
the county papers:
10 the taxpayers and voters of Umt
tilla county:
There is an effort being made
place a $1,000,000 road bond issu
upon the primary ballot. and you wi
te called upon to approve or reject TN
at the coming primary election. Thl
rond issue is being put forward an
dvertised as the act Of the Exoutiv
Committee Of the Umatilla Court
Good Roads Association. This is no
true and is libel upon the Executive
Committee of that association, whlol
committee was selected at sn opei
meeting represented by regular dei
egates from each road district IN um
atilla county. The Executive Com
mittee, as it now exists and as 1t al
ways had existed. the majority, ars
opuosed to this bond issue as being
placed before the people, and now
challenge Mr.. Robinson, Chairman Of
the Good Roads Association. or any
one else, to show that any notice OF
REQUEST for this Committee to act on
any such matter as now presented Oh
represented by petitions nc" IN OH
oulatiop. The true facts are these
and I challenge Mr.. Robinson to re-
flute them: -
On February II, 1916, the follow
inc potice was sent out, not only to
The mem pers of the Executive Com
mittee and mem bers Of the Good Roads
Association, but to others; this is the
notice / received:
"Dear Sin: There will he a meeting
of the Umatilla County Good Roads
Association at Pendleton Commercial
Association rooms, Monday evening.
at 1880, February 21st. All good
roads boosters are Welcome. Com-
missioner Holman Of Multnomah
County will be the chief speaker.
Signed Roy W. Ritner,
Secretary"
see anvil hing said in this about
$1,000, 900 bond issue' did not at
tend this meeting owing to Illness
Now, what are the facts as to the
first act in placing this $l,O0o,oOO
bond issue on the ballot? After Mr..
Holman and others had finished thelr
talk, Mr.. Robinson and others, inolud-
ing the select committee from the Pen
dleton Comm msroial Association, got to-
pethsr and MIR. W. Il. Thompson
moved that bond issue Of $3.50, 900
ithe limit) Ee placed upon the ballot,
which motion was adopted, not ty the
Executive Committee Of the Umatilla
County Good Roads Association, Tut
ly the select committee from the Fen
dleton Commercial Association. Then
TO clinoh this and make it sure. be
moved that the county judge select by
appointment, seven delegates CATER.
ward changed to twelve on Col. hal-
ey's amendment) from different sec
lions Of the county, to meet at Pendle'
ton on February 29th, to agree on
tentative plans of distributing the
funds Of thu $3.50. 600 bond issue.
On February ~ this notice was sent
ont TO the Committee of the Good
Roads Association, Of which received
one:
"Dear Sir: There will To a joint
me.,l., VI the County Court and the
Executive Committee of the Umat1lla
County Good Roads Association held
IL tho County Court house Tuesday.
February 30, at 2 O'Clock p. m. to ar
,nnge the details of submitting the
proposition of bonding the County for
good roads construction. You are
urged 10 be present.
Signed, Roy W. Rituer,
Secretary. !"
attended this meeting and the Ex-
e,utive Committee found the twelve
hand picked delegates on hand led by
Col Raley, not member of the Exec
uiive Committee or even a member OF
the Good koads Association, to my
knowledge.
At this meeting the chairman, Mr.
Robinson, paid but little attention to
the Executive Committee, calling up
on Col Raley and the hand picked del
egates to do most Of the talking. AT.
tyr a mem ber of the County Court and
Nr. R.,lny had retired TO side room
aud evidently fixed the schedule, Col
Raley presented his rlan for the dis
tribution Of the funds to he securet
from the bond issue US now belnI
placed before you.
At that time / moved an amendmen
10 Col. Raley's plan of voting $9SO'Oo'
bond issue aud distribution as out
lined. My amendment substituted tn
two o-miil special millage Tax for th
next Ave years aud stated where th
money should be expended. My plat
included the improvement of the prin
cipal roads in all sections OF the ooun
ty. The two-mill tax would rHis
$1,000 each year, for i've year
$500, 1000. On the suggestion OF
hand picked delegate, tho Chairman
ruled NY motion out uf order, Aske'
for reasons for suoh ruling, the ohai
man, Mr.. Robinson, stated that 10
meeting would not consider anytbinl
else other than tho allotment OF tn
$3.50, 900 bond issue, as this apioun
had bean determined This rulin
from the chair, nevertheless tho not
ice sent out that the meeting was
consider the proposition Of bondin
the county for road construction
This motion ruled out of Older car
lied with 1t the allotment of the tota
funds, $500, 900, raised tv the millag
tax on the following roads;
PEND Teton TO Umatilla, 500, 600.
Pent Teton to Pilot Rock $45,O 900
PHO, Rock to Ukisb, $4,000,