Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-12-30
APPROVAL
OF BUDGET.
IS DENIED
Polk Taxpayers Slash
Estimates of County
Expenses Right and
Left at Meeting

mtttee Tor the purpose Ol conSlu
ering the 1922 budget for Polh
county convened in the circuit
court rooms yesterday morning a
1920 with L. d. Brown, chair
man, presiding. By motion tht
budget was taken item at time
and not adopted as a whole. The
first two items approved by th'
tax payers who gathered, number
ing about 400 in all. were those
of election expenses and the sher
fff's office. Before the county
clerks budget was brought UP fol
discussion the clerk gave
lengthy review OF the work of the
nast four years showing a great
increase in the work, to justify
the courts action in making the
budget for the ensuing year.
Immediately after the explana-
tion on the part Of the clerk, II.
T. Hoffman of Independence, who
had made objections to the first
two items, began scoring the pre-
liminary budget for the clerks
office, asking for reduction OF
deputies, which brought on a
heated argument between the
county clerk and the speaker.
This started the flow Of eloquence
on the part of those gathered.
The items of the treasurer's Of
flee, treasurer, assessor and sur
yeyor's office were allowed with
out question, but when it came to
the county school superintendent's
office Mr.. Hoffman, who was the
leader for tax reduction explain
ed that the educational depart
ment was receiving too much
money and that steps should be
taken to reduce the expense. He
asked that the county superin-
tendent's allowance be cut down
$500. Fl. B. Elliott of Perrydale
and Il. G. kirkpatrick, ex-coun-
ty Judge. defended the budget and
asked that 1t be not reduced.
Representative p. 0. Powell was
called upon to explain how the
travelling expenses had been rails
ed from 5000 to $500 for the
county school superintendent at
the last legislative session and re-
ceived a severe criticism by Mr..
Hoffman for supporting such a
bill.
Z. G. A. Peterson, who lives in the
south side OF the county made
lengthy and enthusiastic talk up
on the money being expended for
education and stated that the
schools as are now being run,
particularly referring to the state
Institutions, we're beginning to be
a menace instead of benefit. At
torney G. o. Holman OF Dallas
criticised the educational system
and stated that unnecessary ex-
penditures were being made in
the way of amusements. atalet.cs
and fads in addition to educa-
ticn, A vote was called to allow
the county schoSl supef;nterd-
ents' budget which resulted in a
tie and the county clerk was ask
ei to cast his vote to decide tbs
cast Before casting his vote he
tr'narled thar he was fj;' riuca-
ton at all times and dec' lea 't.s |
ballot favorable for tho budget
\ bich was ti.eMed. The ss..'or
! s'iourned a. retr until l p'r .ock,
sItr whic' CIV Iteration u tfe
Etdget contilItc
Former C.Irty Judge H. c
K.~kpatri * msde strong and |
ci .husiast'; ptes .or the sl',w-
arce Of the county court AMI con-
mYsioners t'ite" .','s - d,s-
cussion had been presented the
item was cut 800. The budget
was then considered favorable un-
I'll the item OF the county agent 4
was presented, when strong
fight was put up to eliminate the
services of the county agent. At
ter nearly an hours discussion
and much oratory the appropria-
ton was voted contingently upon n
The retention Of the present coun-
ty agent, Mr.. Carpenter. Minor
ruts were then made in the bud
get items beginning with the aud
ting OF county books and when
I came to the enforcement OF the
prohibition law the item was
from the budget entire
". Many claimed that 1t was up
10 the government to use the
Millions of dollars appropriated to
,nforce the prohibition law and
hat the court should not levy a
AK for that purpose.
The seaier Of weights and meas
tres was the next item that was
tricken entirely from the bud
'et, even though the tax payers
ealized that 1t was a mandatory
Ak. but they voted against II for
he reason that they do not be-
EVE in the law and wanted to
how the legislature that the law
as considered unfayorable In
IFS county. III
When the item OF bridges and
irries was presented. $4,000
as reduced from the appropria-
on Of bridges and by a vote of
e people the ferries were elm
ated entirely for further consid-
alton. The county library for