Street Improvement Row Erupts in Kennewick

The city fathers had callers at their regular meeting Tuesday evening—property owners in the second ward came to protest the method of raising funds to pay for the improvement of Second street. The improvement is being made upon the immediate payment plan, and the whole assessment falls due May 26; if not paid, a five per cent penalty is attached. The property owners did not feel they should be compelled to dig down in their pockets to make full payment before the work was completed. City Attorney F. R. Jeffrey explained that the city officials had nothing to do with the manner of payment, but were following state law, which mandates that under the immediate payment plan, money must be paid in before work is finished. Mr. Jeffrey contended that this plan actually saved owners money by avoiding interest on warrants and contractor loans. The explanation cleared up many of the property owners’ misgivings, and they left in a much less turbulent state of mind than they came.