Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-04-15
Commercial
Club Fayors
Schools Tax

0NuVVN x0Al
Reversing the action OF the Marion
County Taxpayers league short
time ago in rejecting the higher ed
ucational millage tax and the min
public school measure. the CONNER
cial club, meeting in regular month";
ly open forum last night, not only
endorsed these two much discussed
measures, but voted unanimous sup
port of four others. The amendments
and measures. that will appear on the
ballot May 21, and as were voted up
on by the club follow:
State road bond limit measure; Col
lege millage tax measure; Elemen-
tary school measure; Blind school tax
act; Soldiers aid tax act; Road right
of way measure. The Crook and Cur
ry bond limit measure was submit
ted for the approval of the members,
but upon the expression of several
that it appeared as though the club
would be interfering in another mans
OuSihSoo the HieoSule Was sHelNeu
without vote.
Stewart is Speaker
The above measures were submit
ted to the Salem Commercial club by
the state chamber of commerce, with
the request that action on them be
taken at once, and the result be for
warded to Portland tooay.
James S. Stewart, Familiarity known
throughout the state as the preacher
of the gospel of good roads,, attend
ed the meeting, and spoke in favor
of all the measures that came before
the organization. Mr.. Stewart said
that the state road bond limit meas
ure would make s20,OO0,0OO avail
able for the state at once to build
more roads, and that the burden OF
expense would fall upon the motorists
and auto owners.
In the discussion for the. college
millage tax the action of the Marion
County Taxpayers league in opposing
the measure was bitterly scored. one
speaker declaring that their action
gave to Marion county and Salem a
"black eye." William Hamilton, James
,Elvin, Walter Winslow, ]. F. Hutcha
son and others spoke in favor of the
measure. No one opposed it.
Clash Livens Session
Mr.. Stewart and Ben F. West, coun-
ty assessor, locked horns in the dis
cussion of the elementary school sal
ary question. After Mr.. Stewart had
said that there are three million and
a half dollars worth of lands in Ma
rion county that is not assessed for
school purposes, Mr.. West arose.
I'D like to know where you get
that three and half millions, that is
mot true"
MAY I have a minute to answer
this mani" Mr., Stewart inquired, turn
ing to Robert c. Paulus, president
Mr.. Stewart went 60 the front. and
looking directly at West drew papers
from his pocket, and read state
ment wherein superintendent Church
| i'll had made the statement as enun-
ciated by Mr.. Stewart
IF anyone is lying" Mr.. Stewart
said, 'it is State Superintendent
Churchill. l have facts and figures
bearing out what l say"
Club Not Dabbfing
The spirits of more than a score
of politicians and office seekers were
rudely moistened at the meeting
when T. E. McCroskey, manager Of
the club, said:
81 wish it perfectly understood
that these meetings are not called for
political purposes. There are two
things that this club will not dabble
in-they are politics and religion.
wish to correct statement made in
a paper here several days ago that
the Commercial club endorsed can
didate for mayor. That is entirely
false. So long as l have anything to
say about the conduct of this club
there shall be no candidates endorsed
for election"
Mr.. Stewart was again called on
"the carpet" by Bruce Cunningham,
who said that he would like to know
the why and wherefore of the $1O,-
900 additional cost of state highways
over the roads laid by Marion county
Mr.. Stewart replied, centering his ans
wer around the assertion that "the
county gets what it pays for" He
pointed out that, the quality and
thickness and in some cases the
width of the state pavement is great
er than that of the pavement laid by
the county.
A suggestion by J. F. Hutchinson
that a resolution asking the county
court to better the grade Of pave
ment it is laying, and lauding the
state highway commission for the
construction of such good highways
was dropped without zcilon. This
suggestion was made when it was
said that the pavement laid on the
Silverton road by the county las
year is already cracking and break.
/ ing.
There are now 736 members in the
Commercial club, Of which about coo
are active members, it was announc-
ed at the meeting.
{ verden NJ Moffitt. traffic officer
was loudly applauded when he furn-
ished part Of the entertainment By
singing Mother Machree" and I'm
Always Chasing Rainbows." Even af
ter singing these two songs he wal
called back. but declined. Prior to th'
war Mr. Moffitt sang in churches her'
Miss Joanna James also sang sn'
was well received. Misses Heller
F1eenor and Ruth Bedford acted a
piano accompanies. Following tn
meeting sse club members were fetel