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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1907)
t 14 THE MORNING OREG0NIAX, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1907. LIE IS PASSED IN COUNCIL MEETING Warm Debate Over Mayor's Veto of Bill Providing Pay for EX-Detectives. NO MINCING OF LANGUAGE Wills and Vaughn Are Caustic in References to Each ' Other. Council Sustains Veto to Get Case Before Court. BIT OF HEATED DIALOGUE. Councilman Bennett I believe It is hlrt time to call his (the Mayor's) "bluff" by sustaining hta veto, and thereby ay, "It's up to you." Councilman Vaughn I belleva we should be consistent and vote with the charter. Councilman "Wills, who said he would have more respect for the Mayor If the latter should hold up the City Treasury with a sun than by discharging; the old detectives and making the city pay their back sal aries, voted to put Macdonald Into office and to pay him, when It was Il legal. Councilman 'Wills I want to say that It that windbag that sits to -my left says I voted for Macdonald'a sal ary, he la a liar. Mayor lAne Mr. "Wills, come to order. Wlll I have a right to speak. Keep your Democratic friends1 quiet, or I'll quiet them for you. Vaughs You can try keeping me quiet any time you want to. A. TC. 'Wills, president of the City Coun cil, called Councilman W. T. Vaughn a liar during a session of the legislative assembly of the municipality yesterday afternoon, emphasizing- the startling char acterization with -a tremendous banging of Ills hand upon the table in front of htm. The object of the epithet sat smil ing, without reply, until Mr. Wills told Mayor Lane to keep his "Democratic friends quiet" or that Wills would do so. Mr. Vaughn then good-humoredly said that Wills could try keeping Vaughn quiet any time he might wish. The belligerents finally came to order and Mayor Lane's veto of the ordinance granting back pay to four former police detectives was sustained by unanimous vote. In voting to sustain the Mayor's veto, the members of the Council did not do so because they believe their former action in granting the back pay was illegal, but plil stated, through Councilman Ben n ft, chairman of the judiciary commit tee, that they did so "to call the Mayor's bluff.' and force him to 'make good," " and also to prove by the courts that he Is wrons. Bennett Speaks for Committee. Immediately upon the call of the meet ing. Councilman Bennett arose and said he wished to explain his attitude, being chairman of the Judiciary committee, which recommended the payment of the former police detectives' salaries. He read a lengthy paper, detailing the hls fbry of the case, it being filled with ex cori.iting and caustic passages burled at Mayor Lane. Bennett said . he preferred to stand by the decision of the late Cir cuit Judge Sears and of City Attorney Kavanaugh. and characterized the May or's attitude as a "bluff" and as a 'po litical trickery, calculated to fool the public. When) it came Councilman Vaughn's turn to vote.' he arose and launched forth into a most caustic speech, aimed at the Republican members in general and at President A. N. Wills in particu lar. Mr. Vaughn evidently credited Wills with the "frame-up" of the Mayor's op ponents In the assembly to sustain the veto, "to put the Mayor in a hole." Vaughn grew louder and louder in his denunciation of "Inconsistent" members of the Council, and wound up by accus ing Wills of rank inconsistency in voting for back salaries of men who had never earned them and of voting to pay James Macdonald for a year's work as bailiff in the Municipal Court, when the -whole transaction was illegal. Immediately Councilman Wills was upon his feet, and thundered in trem bling accents against Mr. Vaughn: nebnte Grows Interesting. "I want to say that if that big wind bag that sits to my left says that I voted to pay Macdonald's salary, that he is a liar," shouted Wills, bringing his heavy fist down on his desk with a tre mendous crash. ' Instantly everything was in an uproar, but above it all, was heard Mayor Lane's demand for Wills- to come to order. Wills absolutely refused to comply, and kept uttering vituperative language to ward Vaughn, who sat smiling. "Mr. Wills, you're out of order; come to order at once," cried Mayor Lane. "You-" "I've got as good a right to speak my views as your Democratic friend," thun dered Wills, refusing point blank to cease. "If you rule me out of order, start first With some other." "Mr. Wills, you must come to order," shouted Mayor Lane, as he pounded with the gavel. "You must use decent langu age here." "I repeat that If Vaughn says I voted for Macdonald's salary, he lies Is that plain enough for you," continued Wills, as. he turned and faced Vaughn. Then turning to Mayor Iane, Wills said: "Keep your Democratic friends quiet, or I'll do it for you." "You can try'keeplng me quiet Just any (line you want to," said Vaughn, In' a quiet tone. "I'll look after myself." Mayor at Last Brings Order. Meantime. Mayor Lane was still pound ing with the gavel, and finally brought order out of chaos, but not before he de livered a scathing lecture to Councilman Wills, cautioning him and others that personal references must stop; that he would greatly dislike to call any one to order or to put them out, but that order must henceforth be maintained. Before the vote was finally taken. Councilman Wills declared the language of Mayor Lane's veto on the ordinance "indecent." and said he would vote to sustain the veto only in order to force the Mayor to "make good his bluff, and to take this little thunder out of the Mayor's pocket." In order to sustain his allegation that Wills had voted for the payment of the Macdonald salary, Vaughn de manded the reading of the vote on that ordinance, but it was not read. . Vaughn Has His Say. After the sensational scene. Council man Vaughn, in referring to the re marks made against him by Wills, eald: r "There are two classes of people ! . i io wnom i never pay any attention. One is a drunken man, the other aj a n tool.- The sustaining of Mayor .Lane's veto was one of the occasional surprises that come at the sessions of that body. It was evident at the outset that every last Republican member present had an understanding on the matter, and that the veto would be upheld was ap parent. No one had previously antici pated for an instant that euch would be the case. Councilman Rushlight was the only absent member, he being un able to attend owing to the recent death of his mother. . That Mayor Lane's veto was a purely political act, and that he did it merely because he thought that the Council would over-ride him, thus making an opportunity for a big political play, was the outspoken sentiment of sev eral members, but the Mayor assured them that he was sincere, and that he still believes he is right. The former police detectives Involved are Joe Day, Frank J. Snow, L. G. Carpenter and J. F. Resins. At a re cent Council meeting, they were al lowed back pay to the amount of $3600. This they must now sue for in the courts, if they care to proceed fur ther. If they do, it is thought the mat ter will go to the Supreme Court of Oregon for final decision. The Coun cilmen declare if will be decided In their favor while Mayor Lane contends he will win the point. Text of Bennett's Speech. The opening speech of Councilman Bennett, which started all of yester day's fireworks, was probably the most caustic ever made before the Council, abounding as it did with many of the most personal of references. It was as follows: To the Members of the Council Gentlemen: r desire at this time to explain my vote upon the veto message of the Mayor; and in order to do so It will be necessary to go into the facts as they have been presented to me, as chairman of the Judiciary committee, and at the outset I may state that the message Just read seems to be Intentionally misleading, to say the least. As to the legal phase of this matter, I much prefer to rely on the judgment of the late Judge Alfred P. Sears, who" decided that the attempted discharge of" these men was illegal, rather than on the "legal knowledge"' of the Mayor, who claims to believe adverse ly. As a matter of fact the executive de partment of the city admitted the Justice of that decision when they failed to allow the Judgment to be entered promptly, and to appeal from the decision to the Supreme Court. Further, I am Informed that the Mayor himself has admitted, in this room and in the presense of members of the Council, that he had made an error In these proceed ings. Based upon the decision rendered by Judge Sears, the Justice of which I say has been admitted by the executive department, the City Attorney, after a thorough and impar tial examination, has submitted a wrlten opin ion to the Judiciary committee, which Is on file herein, in which he states that In his opinion the city is liable for this indebted ness, the Mayor to the contrary notwithstand ing. In this 'opinion he has cited decisions in point rendered by the courts of different states, including one by the Supreme Court of our own state, and which has recently been followed by Judge Cleland In the Everman case, all of which would seem to bear out this opinion. The City Attorney is elected by the people, the same as the Mayor and the Council, to perform certain duties for which he draws his salary; and one of those duties provided by the charter Is to advise the Mayor and Council In any matter In which the city is interested. This he has done, and we have a right to relp upon his advice; and I for one believe that he is thoroughly competent to be our adviser. Had. the Mayor followed the charter, which he outwardly professes to hold in such great awe, he would have con sulted the City Attorney In the first In stance, Instead of every Tom, Dick and Harry, and these detectives would have been prop erly discharged had the charges been sus tained upon trial, and this money would thereby have been saved to the city. Question of Legality of Ordinance. As to the legality of an ordinance passed by the Council authorizing the payment of an Indebtedness against the city, paragraph 20 of section T3 of the charter would seem to give us that right; and in this also we have acted under the advice of the City Attorney as provided In the charter. Explanatory note 5, which prefaces the charter as offered to the voters by the Char ter Commission, of which his honor was a member, reads as follows: "To prevent the city offices from being used as pawns in the state and National political game, the pro posed charter provides most stringent civil service rules. That theee rules may be abused or evaded by bad officials is certain, but even under a corrupt administration they will serve as a great deternrnt to evil courses and under a good administration they will work for un questioned good for the city." Just watch the political game. Section 183 of the charter provides how members of the police department may be suspended, but the charter was In this in stance Ignored and these men suspended by the Chief upon orders from the Mayor; and the Executive Board quickly falls Into line with the Democratic administration and ratifies their dismissal without a trial, as Is evidenced by the following extract from their report: "Therefore, since in .the-cases of the six detectives wo are satisfied that the charges above specified are well founded and f f.THE PUBLIC TOOK ALL MY BUTTER AND' x , SkSs SO I HAUTNT ANY FOR THE S HOW mw-y mwmkr : J T.m .. AM ,jj JIMKV.t 1 V I'HWIlM -. I II mroisav "BUTTER FAT (tGET m6reT Y gLZol Jp, BECAUSE. I SHIP UwVK immmu mm m w .j m that the action of the - Mayor and Acting Chief of Police GrKzmacher was and is jus tified by the facta, and should be ratified." To bpister up his acts and..to make himself solid with the people, the Mayor, in his mes sage, cites section of .-the charter and says: "If there was any question at that time in the minds of these gentlemen as to the method or the justice of their dismissal, they had the right of appeal to the Civil Serv ice Commission as provided by the charter." The Civil Service Commission In that case Is an appellate body or court; and since they had been denied a trial by the Executive Board, their court of first resort, how could they appeal? Judge Sears held that It could not be done. Quotes From Mayor's Veto. The Mayor continues in the following lan guage: "Quietly accepting their dismissal, however, they neither appealed their cases to that Commission nor reported for duty at the police station, but 'laid low and kept dark," and afterward took their cases . Into court and not on any question relating to the Justice of their dismissal. 'but upon technicali ties, regarding the method which had been employed In dismissing them." While under suepension and until final Judgment was en tered, they could not report for duty, and I do not suppose they rushed Into print with their tale of woe: but let us examine the record" again and see if the above is a truth ful statement of the facts: The order of sus pension was published by Chief Grltzmacher on August 25, 1!)06, and ratified by the Ex ecutive Board August 31, 1906, in the report wherein tt was stated they would not be granted a trial. The order was made effect ive as to Day and Relslng from August 26, as to Snow from August 27 and as to Car penter, who was out of the city on official business, from the date of his return, which was September 10, 1606. Under an agreement by all of the parties and in order to save expense, it was agreed to try one as a test case, since all were of the same nature, and on September 18 the Snow case was started. On September 28 the case was argued by R. E. Moody for the men and by Thomas G. Greene, Police Commis sioner and representative of the Mayor, and submitted to the court, and on September 29 Judge Sears decided In favor of these men and against the city, less than one month af ter the ratification of the Executive Board. Is the Mayor's charge borne out by this record? These men could have been returned to duty on that date and again suspended under proper charges, according to the charter, but no. the matter Is allowed to drag for nearly nine months thereafter without action, and before the entry of judgment, at the request of the Police Commission. Is this delay, at so much per month, conserving the city's in terests? Politics In Elscharge of Officers. I have no excuse to offer for these men: we may be better off without them, as he says; but I do believe their discharge was for the purpose of paying off the political debts of the Mayor with the people's money, and in violation of the charter. Let me read an extract from the sworn tes timony of Mayor Lane to show with what great caution the people's money is guarded: "The city, in my opinion. Is entitled to - good and clean work, and honest work from their services for the people, and In many ways that service Is of much Importance to 'the welfare of the people: I didn't ask that these men be punished: I was willing as far as I was concerned to pay them a salary and give It to them; I thought It cheaper to pay the men a salary even than to have them work ing as detectives for the city." Well, may be that's right, but it seems to me that f.'ioOO is too much to spend that way. The Mayor Is endeavoring to gain polit ical prestige throftigh pure "bluff" in telling the people what he, would do, and by im pugning the motives of the Counctl. I be lieve It is high time to call his "bluff" by sustaining his veto, and thereby say "it's up to you." PRANK S. BENNETT. Chairman Judiciary Committee. PLAN MEMORIAL - SERVICE Former Subjects Will Honor Dead Swedish King's Memory. Memorial services for the late King Oscar II., of Sweden, will be held in Portland on Wednesday night, December 18. The place for holding the services has not been decided upon, but It is likely that one of the large church audi toriums will be secured in order to ac commodate the large number of Swedes and Norwegians who will attend. At a meeting of the Swedish-American National League of Oregon held Wednes day night a committee composed of the officers of the organization was delegated to Invite like committees from other local Swedish - American societies and the ministers of the various Swedish-American churches to form a part of a gen eral committee to have charge of the ar rangements. The funeral of the King will be held in the royal palace in Stockholm on next Thursday.' It was thought next Wednes day would be the most appropriate time for memorial services In Portland. The secretary of the league has notified all Swedish-American societies and churches of the action taken on Wednesday night In order that they may participate in the exercises. 2-year case, 16-size watch, Elgin or "Waltham movement, $9.75, at Metzer's. 342 Washington stxeec Sidelights on OREGON PS5 MEET Postmasters of the State Form an Association. JOHN W. MINTO PRESIDENT General Convention to Be Held Xext Year, When Postmaster-General . and Assistant Will Be Present. Xante Executive Committee. Like most of the states in the Union, hereafter Oregon is to have a postmas ters' association. Yesterday in the Im perial Hotel 58 Oregon postmasters met by previous appointment and formed themselves, with the consent of the de partment in Washington, into the Oregon Postmasters' Association, and elected the following offlcers: President, John W. Minto, of Portland; vice-president, J. L. Page, of Eugene; . secretary and treas urer, B. W. Johnson, of Corvallis. Sometime during the coming year a general convention of all the postmasters in the state will be called to meet, prob ably in Portland. The matter yesterday was left to an executive committee com posed of Mirito, chairman; E. Hosttler, of The Dalles, and Squire Farrar, of Salem. Postmaster-General Meyer and First Assistant Postmaster F. H. Hitch cock have, it is understood, promised to attend and to deliver addresses on postal matters. The convention will be called to meet their convenience, so as not to conflict with similar appointments before other state conventions of post masters. The Oregon convention will last at least two days and will be of great benefit not only to the visiting post masters themselves, but indirectly to the whole public, as it is thus hoped to great ly benefit tb,e mail service in this state. "At present all the Oregon postoffices do not work in perfect unison. Each postmaster- follows certain rules according to his own interpretation of them, and this often causes confusion and needless fric tion anV delay, especially in the money order department. FAVORS PARCELS' POST Thinks It Will Benefit Rural Mer chants and Farmers. TURNER, Or., Dec. 11. (To the Editor.) I notice in a recent communication from a Mr. Lynch that he seems to be of the opin ion t hat "no one favors the parcels post except the mall-order houses and large de partment stores." I wish to call the attention of the public. Including the commercial interests, to the fact that there Is a large class of citizens of the United States called farmers. They are found on every one of the 36,000 rural mall routes in our country, and they are unanimous in their demands on Congress for the establishment of a parcels post as out lined in the report of Postmaster-General Meyer. Now, are these same farmers the chattels of the express companies- and the. commercial Interests, having no rights which said interests are bound to respect? These same farmers hammered away at Congress for years and finally secured the enactment of rural mail delivery. It was opposed by some country merchants and others who op pose all reform and lawmaking In' the in- l terest of the masses and who opposed the conduct of the United States Government for the "greatest good to the greatest num ber." I live at Turner, where the first rural mail delivery system was started In Ore gon. "VN'e have a rural telephone here ftjso, and it was opposed by the same people who opposed rural mail delivery and for the same reason. The farmer feels the need of a regular dally service by the aid of which he can send to and receive from the village or town small shipments, the most important items among which are grocers supplies and extras for his farm machines in har vest time. He can give and receive orders by telephone, but cannot make delivery ex cept by breaking into the regular "work of the farm. A cheap parcels post is, In fact, the log ical outcome of the rural mail service, and is the one thing needed to make it self supporting. The carriers, who are now get ting $3 per day and carry only 40 cents worth of mall, would doubtless, with the rural parcels post, carry enough additional matter to increase the income of the Gov ernment 2 or more cents dally for each family service, and thus wipe out the pres ent annual deficit. The rural parcels post will give the country merchant a daily de livery to the surrounding country, free of all cost to him. and under such favorable conditions a3 to give him a big advantage over any mail-order house or any other long-distance competitor. If the farmer must buy In quantities at long intervals and provide for delivery at great cost and Inconvenience to himself, why not buy direct from the wholesaler, rea;ard less of distance, who will lay down the goods the Dairy Show Special sale of Silk Waists, all kinds and styles, in cluding kimono sleeve effect, strictly tailored, fancy plaids and nets, in all the latest styles on sale today, one-third off. Prices from 3.95 to $50.00 GEVORTZ , 141 SIXTH STREET NEW STORE at the farm at the least cost? Continue the present conditions and the country mer chant Is doomed, so far as the larger part of his rural trade is concerned. Establish the parcels post with dally delivery to the farm and the retail country merchant has at the very least a flKhtlnft chance to not only hold his own, as the matter now stands, hut to regain the position he occupied before the combination between the express com panies and mail-order houses threatened him with destruction. W. M. HI LLEARY. MRS. GLASS BOUND OVER Court Holds Her on Charge of Kill ing Her Husband. Mrs. Elizabeth Glass, accused of shoot ing and killing her husband at 229 Elev enth street on the afternoon of November 11, was bound over to the grand jury by Municipal Judge Cameron In the Municipal Court yesterday afternoon, and after the hearing allowed to go on her own recognizance. Though there Is not much disposition on the part of the authorities to prosecute the woman, Judge Cameron thought the question of her guilt or innocence should be settled by .a jury in the state court. Minom Glass, the husband of thewom an was found dead with a bullet wound In the back, immediately below the left shoulder blade within a few minutes after the shooting. In the room with him at the time was his wife. Because of the peculiar position of the wound, it was thought by Coroner Finley that the man could not have shot himself, and ac cordingly, Mrs. Glass was held for the shooting. Most of the time since the tragedy the woman has been living at the Mercy Home, at Sixteenth and Couch streets, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, and will remain there probably until after her trial. At the hearing yesterday, Mrs. Glass denied that she had done the shooting, but when asked who did do it evaded the question. Mrs. Glass was represented in court by Henry E. McGinn. CALLS SPECIAL SESSION Mayor Lane Notifies Council to Meet Next Thursday. Mayor Lane will call a special meeting of the City Council for next Thursday at 2 P. M for the purpose of disposing of a large amount of business that has ac cumulated during the bank holidays. This was decided upon several days ago and was officially announced at the adjourn ment of the Council yesterday afternoon. The bank holidays have been in force so long that H00.000 of street improve ments and considerable other business has piled up and must be given attention. It has been announced that Governor RFfrViTkfvr A pEESEl HOLIDAY SALE Of Silk Petticoats for Today Only $12.00 SILK PETTICOATS FOR $5.95 If you wish to select a practical and useful Xmas gift, then get one of these Petticoats. They are made of a splendid rustling taffeta silk, finished with deep flounce, cluster of tucks, silk dust ruffle, in colors of white, light blue, rose, Alice, gray, reseda, brown, champagne, red, emerald, navy and black. $12.00 Petticoats for Our special sale of Suits and Coats is still on, and every Suit and Coat in the store is reduced. We open charge accounts. Open Evenings Until 9 o'CIock Chamberlain will lift the bank holiday ban Saturday, December 14. The law requires that a call for a special Council meeting must be advertised two days, and the earliest date possible for the extra session, therefore, will be Thursday, De cember . 19. Concert at Forbes Church. A concert will be given under the au spices of Theta Kappa Epsilon class to night at 8 o'clock at the Forbes Presby terian Church, corner Sellwood and Grant streets. The programme follows: Piano solo, selected. Miss Ethel Barkes dale; vocal solo, "A Chain of Hoses" Her mann lohr). Miss Zeta Hollister; reading, selected. Miss Eugenia. Craig; vocal solo. "The Violet" tMlldenberg). William C. Borchers; piano solo, "Hark, Hark, the Lark" (Schubert-Liszt), Miss M. Chamber lain; vocal solo, "Kosalle" tDe Koven), Miss Gladice Grenler; reading, selected, Claude Hicks; vocal solo, "Life's Lullaby'1 (Gerald Lane). Mrs. Reno Hutchinson; vocal solo, "When Song Is Sweet" ttians-Souci I, Miss HEAT SHI In the Right Place At the Right Time That's it where you want it when you want it and if you only knew how easy it is to carry from room to room and how much cheery comfort you can have with a PERFECTION Gil Heeler (Equipped with Smokeless Device) II in ine Kignt Fiace 131 You would no longer be without "No smoke no smell" this ferjiction maxim. Because, me UCVllC ft- ail(UIVeiC&3 VUU 1. .1 . 1 - I direct, glowing heat trom 01 oil. Brass font hums 9 hours. An wnprp-linicnt in B XL Lvery heater warranted. The R&SfO Lamp tyZ HOTS M piper H gives a bril liant, iteady light. Equipped with the latest improved central draft urner. Made of brass, nickel plafed. Every lamp warranted. Write our nearest agency (or descriptive circular if you don t fend the Perfection Oil Heater or Rayo Lamp at your dealer's. STANDARD OIL COMPANY &i ii i ''in k- r)tv..yis?:s U I --2- f I' ' I J I S W?m 1 VmM r - - - - .. t r KahtvWr 739-31 jtvaavap jftfaSGy D.D Opposite Oredonian LITTLE PRICES Grace Gilbert; piano solo, "Rondo a Caprlc clo" (Beethoven). Miss Winona Bressler; vocal solo. "Let Me Love Thee" (Liugl Ar ditl). R. W. Elwell; reading, selected. C. H. Bressler. t WHITTIER, PATRIOT POET i In the magazine section of t The Sunday Orrgonian, a most t attractive epitome of the life t and the works of John Green- , leaf Whittier, with illustrations, t The hundredth anniversary of 1 .11. T-v 1 . nis Dirm occurs L'ecemDer it. i This article commends itself I alike to youth and to those be- jond middle life. I k;--iJ MJ . 1 1 Jl H Hl.l S one. is the smoKeless jg Call XiaVC :jjr;:r-vsis.r-Mr.,-cr i.-.. '. it... 1', n , U7 every ounce sH ' f 'ij mm mm mm holds 4 quarts "'i'y-A ornament any- C-CSiX'?lV ianan an A niclr1 mm B (Incorporated) BRAND College Clothes are easily separated from the general run of so-called "college clothes" because of their genuine cus tom look, their dif ferent styling, and their perfect .fit. "Seniors" class with clothes of the custom tailor i n everything but price Seniors sell at lower than half his charge. Eastern Outfitting Co. , anuiiuu Qin-n, vororr lenlD. Send 10 rrnt In ktamiM for art of Clevof Cullrne 1'osters ready lo frame. MimaMn, lifts inMai)Tr t