The Klickitat Sheep Inspector Scandal
After a costly and ineffective attempt to tax Oregon sheepmen, Klickitat County officials fire their inspector, sparking a local debate over governance and border control.
The Klickitat county commissioners at their recent session decided that they had no use for a sheep inspector in that county and declared the office vacant. This was peculiar because Klickitat faces the Columbia river and is the dividing line between Oregon and Washington and without an inspector the Oregon sheepmen could come over and escape quarantine. A. McReady, of Bickleton, throws light on the matter, however, by stating that the inspector was considered incompetent and they wanted to get him out. At the next meeting they will appoint some one who is better fitted for the position. Last year there were $7000 collected for taxes from Oregon sheepmen and it cost the county $8500 to do the collecting, leaving the county $1500 loser.
“Last year there were $7000 collected for taxes from Oregon sheepmen and it cost the county $8500 to do the collecting, leaving the county $1500 loser.”
This story highlights the historical friction between Washington and Oregon over grazing rights and tax revenue. It serves as a reminder that the 'border' between states has long been a site of administrative and economic conflict.
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