The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1921-03-31
TAXPAYERS GATHER
At lone FOR C0NFAB
In a Lively Meeting There Saturday
Afternoon, Subjects Of Taxes, Roads,
County officials and Excessive Ex-
penditures Are Discussed.

taxpayers OF the various parts or Nor
row county at the rink in lone on Sat
urday afternoon Attorney Frank Rob
inson acted as temporary chairman and
he briefly outlined the object of the
meeting. Taxes which seemed unreas-
year, wasteful and unwarranted ex-
penditure Of the county funds, partic-
ularly with reference to roads the in
crease in salaries, etc, were topics for
lively discussion, and appeared to be
the keynote Of the speechmaking. And
Attorney Robinson stated that owing
to these conditions the meeting was
called to devise some ways or means by
which the situation might be remed-
led, and everyone present was ultim-
ately called upon to express their views
and present what facts and figures they
might possess that would give light on
the situation
d. S. Barlow the first speaker stated
In part that he believed most of the
expense was on the road work; that
en- before any actual work was begun;
the county court had no say in the
matter of the construction of Willow
creek highway; the state engineers
were doing the work as they saw NJ,
according to Mr., Barlow There has
been n great deal Of money spent al
ready on Rhea creek highway, and only
one mile and a quarter graded and sur
faced. and at the rate they are going
there will be no money left out Of the
$4,000. and this road about half finish
ed" was statement given by Mr. Bar
low. And he further remarked that the
foolish waste OF money in building the
Jordan Siding grade will cost the tax
payers Of Morrow county a big sum Of
money to put In n fll across the rail-
road crossing
The position OF Mr.. Barlow was sup
ported by Jason Biddle regarding tho
Rhea creek road we must do one Of
two things II this IA mile cost
$4,000. I say the money was not prop
erly spent and we should quit build
centage OF taxes are paid by the farm
ers; the county men are too extrava-
giant; the money Is simply wasted let
us do something"
Mr.. Campbell and Geo Bleakman are
good men to meet but not business
men" stated Bert Mason, lone merch
ant Il have known Mr. Rleakman FOR
n good many years, and he has tried
everything from herding sheep on up
and he's broke now, Judge Campbell
Is not the man for this road Job. These
men haven't the business ability. wei
are putting these men up by our mon
ey, they are getting poor pay, we will
admit but about all they seem to want
Is the honor Of holding office. There's
this road TO Spray via Hardman and
Monument About one or two, such is
Bob Carsner Is tbout all this road will
benefit There has been appropriated
the sum Of $4,000 for this road, and
II they proceed the way they have been
doing they will never get to the top
Of the Heppner hill. We should recall
these men and put in men who arc
capable of holding Office. ] say get a
competent man in there II II does take
little more salary; let's get him"
NJ. r. Morgan expressed his views as
to the present election. referring es-
pecially to the Legislature. BY our votes
we send man to Salem and put up a
measure and have it passed over the
wishes Of the people, the mrasurc be
ing the raising OF the salaries of coun-
~ officers I'VE are paying these men
big money and they ride around in au
tos. What are they good for. We used
TO get along on these roads several
years ago and they were kept up In
better shape and they received only one
tenth of the wages they receive now
We have got to put n stop to
this extravaganza or we will be in
solvent We must have men to work
for the interests of Morrow county.
These men we are paying to ride ar
ound in autos and not interested in
their work, ! say, take them out
There's County Agen Hunt for instance,
y
we understand he went to Spokane. All
this money, ladies' and gentlemen is
coming out Of our pockets; making our
taxes so high we can't pay them. wei
must do away with this kind OF peo-
pie. County Road Master McCaleb also
came In for his share of the criticism
c. NJ Schriver expressed himself as
being very much in accord with the
views of Mr.. Morgan, making refer
ence to what Mr.. Fred Ely had to say
concerning the building of the high
way around his store at Morgan, This
instance was only one more OF the
waste of money as the putting of the
bridge across the canyon at Morgan
cost the county some $1,000 In extra
money. There is evidence of waste
on every mile of this road
Mr., HARRISON, of Morgan, stated his
views on the John Day Irrigation pro-
ject. We must fight 1t, Never let 1t
get its clutches on you; because you
might as well sell out and pack up and
move out was the assertion OF the
speaker.
$4,000 is what 1t cost to grade
around the city of lone instead of us
ing the street as originally planned
On top of this was the construction Of
one bridge at $4,000 and another at
$4,000, All OF this unnecessary ex-
travagance was laid to some spite work
so stated Bert Mason The excuse Civ
en- was that the railroad company
would not let them build the road
across their right -of-way
There was more speaking along this
order and this will suffice to give the
trend of the meeting from this view
point.
Mr. Robinson emphasized the need OF
getting organized and getting around
among the farmers and get their SEN
tlment,
Mr. Biddle objected to too much ma