THE OREGON DAILY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, WEDNE8DAY EVENING, DECEMBER 14, 1904.
TAXPAYERS LEAGUE'S
STINGING REPORT
State that the People Do Not Get the Highest Efficiency, the
Strictest Honesty and the Best System Possible
in the Office of City Engineer.
STARTLING FACTS PRESENTED MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Investigation on Which Statements Are Made Was Begun Long
Before Tanner Creek Scandal Appeared, So the
Members Say Report Is Free from Bias.
A special committee appointed by the
. Taxpayers' league to' Investigate and re
port on abuses practised In this city In
street Improvement work, sewer con
struction, and also In the tsarina; up of
pavements and failure to replace them
properly, has completed Us work and
. submitted a report to the league. The
committee' prefaces Its report wltk the
i statement that lta task wag set long
before the outbreak of the Tanner creek
scandal, and .therefore cannot be attrlb.
uted to any of the reasons assigned by
the city engineer to those whom he
claims would "take a fling at the city
engineer's department." It recounts
step by step the course taken by It In
following up Its investigation and ssta
out plainly the basis for eaoh conclusion
reached. The report follows:
"This Investigation was commenced
long prior to, the Tanner oreek sewer
trouble and was not even suggested by
i It. We make this statement at .the out
set ss we have noticed the city engineer
ha stated through the press that 'poll-
, tics' whs the main cause In that Inves
tigation, and that by reason of the stir
created by the report on that sewer,
everybody was taking a fling at ths
engineer's office.
Cutting Into Streets.
'The indiscriminate cutting Into
Streets has caused much criticism and
lias been a source of great annoyance
'to the property holder who one day
' pays for what he hopes will be a good
street, only to see It Irremediably dam
aged the next. The street when opnned
up vhould be restored to Its former
condition. That this Is not ths case Is
- known to every man. woman and child
In the city. The cause and a remedy
wrrr W 1 1 a l we wrio mnnt,. nm v, "
city engineer's office has charge of
this work ws took up our search for
the cauae at headquarters. We were
i advised that permits were required In
all cases. That It was Impossible to
' know when streets were cut Into unless
it hapoened to be reported. That Jn
the rase of hard surface pavements a
certificate from the contractor who laid
the pavement was required to show It
had been replaced properly. That the
council had failed ts pass ordinances
.prepared sneclslly to meet some of the
evil. That what was particularly de
sired was authority to compel a deposit
In money sufficient to put the street
tin. order. W think this covers t Usa
points advanced by the oiflce.
Bngtneer's Statement.
In answer to certain specific Inquiries
'the engineer stated In writing aa fOl
-WTrnand Gas company advises
1e city engineer's office t all times and
rlaces where the street la opened, and
report the ssme when the street Is re
paired.
The Water committee makes no re
pcrt of streets either open er repaired.
'The telephone company reports ver
bally that streets open hove bee re
paired, and that they wish the work in
spected and passed upon when com
pleted. "Special permits are granted to
plumbers only, on each piece of work
they may have for opening the streets,
and ther report the same to the city
engineer's office when streets sre re
paired. "Plumbers are under bonds for prop
erly replacing streets which they open
tip.
"The only rule of the rfflce providing
for toe renlaclng of the pavement In
proper condition that Is exacted Is in the
case of a hard surfaca street. When those
desiring to open the street apply for a
permit, they are required to first make
satisfactory arrangements with the con
tractor who may have constructed the
street and file an agreement from him
that the same ahall be replaced pfop
eiiy." It will be observed thst no claim is
advanced that any Inspection Is made
either while the work Is In progress or
after it Is finished.
roots Discovered.
We thereupon went to the law-making
power to ascertain what ground existed
for the complaint that the engineer's
office had been refused or needed fur
ther legislation, and found the facts
to be aa follows?
Ordinance No. HR2, as amended, on
page 47.1 of the laws and ordinances' of
the city of Portland, compilation of
112, provides umple authority for the
city authorities to protect the streets
In the matter of laying water, gaa and
i sewer pipes and mains and the manner
of excavating and refilling trenches
therefor.
Violations of the provisions of the
ordinance are made a misdemeanor pun
lahable by a One of not less than f5
nor mora than 126, or by Imprisonment
In the city Jail not less than two nor
mot) than id days, and further pro
vides that If any peraon shall maintain
or continue such violation after con
viction of the first offense, for each day
of such maintenance or continuance he
shall be deemed guilty of a separate, of
fense and on conviction thereof ahall be
punished to the full extent of the fine or
by Imprisonment provided in the sec
tion. This ordinance la so precise and full
It even prescribes In cass of macadam
streets for keeping the various materials
removed separate from each other and
prescribes how they shall be replaced.
We further found the following reso
lution passed by the executive board.
March 4, 1904:
"Resolved, That whenever any permit
shall be Issued by the city engineer for
the opening ths surface of a street where
a hard surface pavement Is laid or may
hereafter be laid and for the mainte
nance of which the city haa entered Into
a contract for a term of yeara. It shall
be the duty of the city engineer to re
quire from the peraona, firm or corpora
tion obtaining such permit, a deposit of
money In sufficient amount to pay for the
replacing of said pavement and that the
replacing of all auch pavement ahall
be done by the contractor for aald main
tenance, "The person obtaining the permit for
opening the street to notify ths city en
gineer when the same la ready to be re
placed, and the contractor replacing, the
same to be paid by the city engineer out
of the funds dsposlted with him for said
purpose." , ;
This resolution, so far as hard sur
face streets are concerned, seemed to
cover one of the recommendations of
the engineer's office, and accordingly we
asked If It had been enforced, and were
advised that It had not and that the
engineer's office knew nothing of It.
We thereupon examined the proceed
ings of the executive board and learned
from them that Knglneer KUlott was
present whan It was adopted.
Water Committee Explained.
The water committee was then com
munlcsted with, and Its explanation of
the complalnta had, and In answer to
the specific cases stated:
"First It waa impossible- to lay the
14-Inch water main on K us sell street,
between Oantenbeln and Kerby, two
blocks, before (the street was planked, be
cause the pipes did not arrive from the
east before the planking was laid.
"Second At Yamhill and Park streets.
the southwest corner, It was necessary
to make a cut In the bltullthto pavement
17x2 feet In order to extend a sIx-Thch
main on Park street and to place a fire
hydrant. The Warren Construction
company, contractors for the pavement,
were laying the pavement In the next
block, and at the requeat of the water
department they replaced the pavement
over said trench.
"Third In order to repair gate-valves
In the large main at Water and Hood
streeta, near Lincoln street, It waa nec
essary to remove the wooden covers
over them In two places, and In doing
ao a faw of the stone blocks wera re
moved. After the repairs were finished
new covers of hsavy planking, one 7
feet ( Inches by ( feet Inches, and the
other 4 feet 10 lnchea by I feet 8 inches,
were placed and the stone blocks put
back properly. In the same vicinity. In
order to furnish fire protection for the
Portland Lumber company, 74 stone
blocks were taken up, and after the
branch pipe wan laid the blocks were re
placed and the street left In perfect con
dition. Prom the facts aa found. In our Judg
ment: "1 There is ampls legislation and
It should be enforced.
"2 In the various city departments
there ahould be joint and harmonious
action, so that If possible all pipes or
other underground work should be laid
before the pavement.
"I We find no system of looking af
ter this work or Inspection thereof.
"4 That all employes of the engi
neer's office, such ss Inspectors, street
clesners. drivers, etc., and all policemen,
be required to notify the city engineer's
office of places coming under their ob
servation where any street Is being cut
Into, and that all persons he required to
notify the office when and where they
do this class of work.
"8 That a proper record of all such
work be kept.
" That the engineer's office require
the streets to be repaired properly.
"It will be remembered that last
spring there were rumors current
throughout ths city that men ware being
carried oa the pay rolls who did no
work. In order to guard against this
possibility the league requested the ex
ecutive board to pass a resolution gov
erning the making out of pay rolls. On
April I, 104. such a resolution waa
passed.
'The directions have been, as we are
advised, absolutely Ignored, the only ex
cuse given being; that the foreman would
not. Or dad not, turn In the reports. The
method employed Is aa follows:
"Each of these superintendents keeps
a 'monthly time book' wherein ha Is
supposed personally to keep an accurate
record of the names of all employes
under htm, the daya and fractions of
days in each month worked by every em
ploye and the amount thereof in total
time, rate of pay and total pay earned.
At the and of each month the sepa
rata account of each employe Is extended
from said time book to a form called
"time calendar," giving details of labor
performed by such employe during that
month. This statement la designed for
signature by the employe, but Mr. Shan
non says that for several years post
such signatures havs not been made.
Prom the data on said tints calendar.
Mr. Shannon makes up the monthly
payroll of employee of the city engin
eer's department, which he delivers to
the city auditor each month, and from
which warrants are drawn.
Kxeoutlve Board Ignored.
It will thus be seen that the object
of the resolution Is thwarted and the
orders of the executive board Ignored.
"Such actions we cannot approve, aa If
each employe la to be a law to himself,
discipline order and afflctency cannot be
maintained.
The contract price for the First
street bridge waa I49,(39.0. the ac
cepted price l9,38 ID. The difference
arises In the amount pf estimated work
and that actually done, the chief Itcma
of which are aa follows:
Bstlmates.
200 cubic yards concrete.
200 cubic yards excavation.
2,000 cubic yards embankment.
Accepted.
1.519 cubic ya.lt s concrete.
2.2(9 cubic yarda excavation.
2. 878 cubic yards embankment.
"The engineer's explanation of the
difference Is in effect that no one can
tell in advance how deep an excavation
will be required and that In thla In
stance It was necessary to go 43 feet
for a secure foundation.
"We of course understand exactness
In such matters Is Impossible, but we
submit to any reasonable man whether
or not on a bridge of this character
closer estimates than the above should
not be made.
"Moreover, It can readily be seen how
such variations could be worked to the
advantage of favored contractors.
"We. however, wish to be distinctly
understood as not desiring to oast any
insinuations "ion. the amount or character
of work done in this Instance, but cite
the case as an Illustration of at leaat
one estimate from (hla office.
Salmon-Stroet Improvement.
"The contract price of this Improve
ment was 310.S3S.44. Thla street wss
accepted from the center line of Second
to the east line of Fifth. October 21,
l04.
"Wo are advised that after carefully
looking Into the matter the council came
to the conclusion that the pavement was
laid under the city engineer's special di
rections, and that the contractors should
he paid for repairing the block between
Fourth and Fifth streets, snd for any
repairs during the life of the present
pavement resulting from defective, con
struction. On November 12 the council
sdopted a report recommending that the
executive board be requested to advertise-
for bids for relaying said blocks.
I "By unanimous consent the auditor
was directed to advertise for bids for
the repair of the block between Fourth
and Fifth streets and the auditor waa
further directed to notify the council
that tha executive board will keep in
repair the pavement laid on Salmon
street from Front street to Fifth street.
"As It was observed the city engineer
was doing the work, inquiry, was had as
to the reason snd the city engineer
stated that on or about -November 25.
1904. the members of the street commit
tee of the executive board In the city,
at that time consisting of the msyor and
Mr. Boise, held a meeting and directed
him to do the work. He suggested ss a
reaaon that If advertised and let by bid
ding the cost would have to be paid by
abutting property owners and not from
the atreet repair fund. Just why this
is so ws cannot aee. However in this
Instance we And a sub-committee of the
executive board overidlngthe council
and board and directing the work to be
done under the supervision of the man
whom the council had found caused the
difficulty In the first Instance.
Double Charges.
"Complaints having been, made that at
times Intersections would be charged
for twice, and that the errors In esti
mates of work done occasioned not only
trouble, but additional expense In the
audltor'Office. we looked this up and
found, aa we believe from the records,
either inaccuracy or carelessness In fig
uring upon the part of deputies or em
ployes. As to Curbs.
We received complaints shout the
curbs laid on certain streeta paved with
bltullthlc pavement. On locking Into
specific cases we found the complslnts
were well founded, although In every
Instance the worji had been accepted by
the city.
The complaints came from streets
where the contractor for the street had
sub-let the curbing to the city engin
eer's brother. The manager of the con
tracting company advtaed us that his
sub-contract called for the best qual
ity of workmanship and material, and
THE BEST TIME TO BUY
House Coats, Dressing Gowns
and Bath Robes m
J t?:i9L!ti!
The displays are now at their best and il vou
maKe your selections early you'U have the advan
tage of vnbroken stocks and more careful attention
1 than is possible when the great rush commences
next week.
HOUSE COATS (or Smoking Jackets) Two-Toned Golf Cloths,
$5, $6, $6.50, $7.50, $8.50, $9. $10, $11 and $12.50.
DRESSING GOWNS (or Lounfting Robes) $8.50, $10, $12.50,
$15, $16.50 to $30.
BATH ROBES $3.50, $4, $4.50, $5, $6.50 to $15.
Special Attention to Mail Orders
FARMER REPORTS
HE WAS ROBBED
J. B. Haverly Says He Lost
Money and Jewelry While
Drinking with Women.
HE SIGNED TWO NAMES
WHEN MAKING CHECKS
Watch Supposed to Have Been
Stolen, la Later Found
His Room.
in
J. B. Haverly, ' farmer of Dufur,
Or., appeared at police headquarters
this morning and stated that he had
been robbed of $90 and a gold watch
and chain at the Orpheum theatre.
He said the money was in an en
velope in the inside pocket of his
waistcoat, and had been abstracted
by a, girt with whom he had taken a
few drinks. He requested that
secrecy be observed by the police in
making an investigation.
Detective Hartman was assigned
on the case. Early this afternoon it
was learned that Haverly had not
only spent a large amount of money
at the Orpheum, but had given three
checks, to one of which he is accused
of appending "J. H. Donahue" in
stead of his own name.
The three checks were drawn on
the French Banking company of The
Dalles. One rirst National bank of
Portland and two Ladd & Tilton
blank forms being used, the firm name
being crossed and that of the
French Banking company substituted.
Haverly's name was signed to two
checks, one for $5 and one for $10 and
the name of J. if. Donahuer to an
other one for $30.
I he books of the proprietors of the
Orpheum dhow that the girl with
whom Haverly had been drinking: had
$33.05 due her last night on percent
age, about $18 of this money being
for wine bought her by Haverly.
At- a late hour this afternoon
Haverly's waUh was found in his own
room at the Perkins hotel.
SUGGESTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS
IT PERPLEXED LET US HELP YOU OUT OF
THE DIFFICULTY. HERE ARE A FEW SUC- 1
CESTIONS EOfc CHRJSTMAS CIFTS. ANY
ONE OF THEM WOULD DELIGHT THE
RECIPIENT.
DIAMCHDI A IT TOTTDET
OUT GX.AS8 TOILET CABB8
KtUTAIT BRUSHED
(0 IHAIBS
cvtt btjttow s k-rxmuira
OPERA VASUS SILVER BfOTBX.TEM
CLOCK rxATTjre SETS
WATCH rOBS
BRACELET 1TYBGLA88E8
LORGNETTE KKIVBB AND FORKS
TEA SET BAIT MOOIIS
Brushes. Bonbon Spoons, Trays, Thbnblss. Match Bom. Ha
Kings. Oyster Forks. Pis Knives, Fish Knives, Barry Spoons,
Crsara Spoons, Cheese Spoons, Butter Knives, Oncumbsr Forks,
ll(U Bowls, Bnttsr Dishes. Sugar Shslls. Dessert Spoons,
Tabls Spoons. QravyBpoons, Cream Fltchors. Cracksr Jars,
Fountain Fsns.
NOW, IF YOU'RE DECIDED ON ANYTHING.
COME DOWN AND LET US SHOW YOU
HOW PRETTY IT IS. THE PR-ICES WILL
BE ALL RJGHT. REST ASSUR.ED
Mm
HEP
sssssss
as a city Inspector waa overseeing the
work, had supposed It had been dona
according to contract. He has agreed
to replace the defective curbing.
We have taken up no cases where
charges of fraud against tha office or
any employe have been made, but sim
ply confined ourselves to Investigating
those touching the general operation
and competency of the office.
"Sot Getting Bast Bervloe."
Your committee would have preferred
to have made a different report, but we
did not make nor change the facts.
When a gjtau accepts a public position,
he does JK knowing what his duties
arc. and taxpayers havs a right to de
mand that he does his duty snd that
'they get value received for their money.
If this office has the expenditure of 11.
416.000. as It Is claimed this year, then
It Is only the more Important that there
be the highest efficiency, the strictest
honesty, the best system and organiza
tion possible. Wn cannot, In our Judg
ment, ssy we srs getting It, and the
public explanation of the city engineer
does not cover the criticism we make.,
All that we can do at the present time
la to present "our conclusions to the
mayor and the executive board, who
ftlensj hsve power to remedy what we be
lieve to be a bad state of affairs. '
We therefore recommend that this re
port be sent to the council, the mayor
snd the executive board with such rec
ommendations as you choose to make
for their consideration.
BOMBARDMENT OF PORT
ARTHUR IS EFFECTIVE
(Journal Special Serrlee. )
Toklo. Dec. 14. The commander of
the naval artillery at Port Arthur re
ports that the Japanese bombardment
on I e. em tier 13 was principally aimed
at the arsensl, the torpedo depot at
Tiger's Tall and the steamboats In the
vicinity. The depot wss sblttae for an
hour. Three ships were destroyed and
one aunk, and the buildings greatly
damaged.
An Indirect bombardment of the bat
tleship Sevastopol, outside the "nit,..!,
was suspended owing to bad Wsuu
Togo reports thst torpedo boats at
tacked the Hevnstopol on the night of
December 12 and December IS. The re
sult Is uncertain. Knur torpedo boats
were struck by the Sevastopol's firs.
MAKING PLANS
FOR GOOD ROADS
Convention at Salem Fills Its
Second Day with Brisk .
Discussions.
PROMINENT MEN ARE
AMONG THE SPEAKERS
Governor Chamberlain Explains
His Modified Views on Sub-,
r ject of Convict Labor.
-.. 92-7 ISptclsl Dispatch to Ths Journal.)
Salem, Or., Dec 14. Tha second day's
session of the Oregon State Good-Roads
association convened at t o'clock this
morning. The first matter of Impor
tance on the program waa an address by
H. H. Thleiseu. secretary of the Oregon
Oood-Roads association His- subject
was; "Wanted Educated Roadbullders."
The addreas waa Intently listened to by
the delegates, who heartily concurred in
the Ideas advanced by the secretary.
He was followed by Dr. James Wlthy
combe, of Corvallls, Or. Dr. Wlthy
combe occupies the position of director
of the United States experiment station
at the Oregon Agricultural college. He
chose for his subject "Roadmsklng as a
Branch of Instruction In Colleges." His
remarks wera enthualastlcally received.
The next on the program waa Prof. P. V.
Campbell, president of the Oregon State
university at Kugene.
Ths afternoon session opened at 1:30
o'clock, with an address by Hon. Lionel
R. Webster, county Judge of Multnomah
county, Portland. Judgs Webster dis
cussed "A Needed State Road for Ore
gon." His remarks covered every phase
of the topic chosen, and elicited much
favorable comment from all present.
Other speakers of prominence occupied
the remainder of the afternoon session.
The conveptlon meets at I o'clock this
evening, when Tom Richardson of the
Portlsnd Commercial club and ex-Qov.
T. T. Oeer wilt be the speakers. At ths
close of their talks the delegates will
adjourn In a body -to the Willamette
hotel to participate In a smoker thst Is
being provided by two Fort land rirma
The attendance Today shows sn Increase
over that of yesterday. The convention
closes Its- work tomorrow.
Governor Chamberlain at yesterday's
session said:
"I was at one time In favor of using
convicts on the state highways, but I
have found thst this theory Is not prac
tical." He said that 76 per sent of
those Irt the penitentiary would require
armed guards by day and steel cagea by
night. Governor Chamberlain spoke of
the reform school road and said that he
believed some of the convicts could be
worked under the walls of the prison.
BSSQ
Umbrella Sale
AT
WEll
AND
PAIR Allesina's Factories
LCOVER
FINE UMBRELLAS AT JUST THE
PRICE OF THE HANDLES
We msde up an extra large number of fine umbrellas last summer for
our fsll trads, but ths weather hss been so fine that we have not sold
half of them, so we ara now having a
Special Holiday
Umbrella Sale
Tou csn buy fine umbrellas of us during the next 10 dsys at Just tha
price of the handles. Sals prices are from $1.60 to $00.00 each.
ALLESINA
WashlngtoB Street.
Two raotorlesi
WHOLE FAMILY POUNCED
ON HIM, HE STATES
Alleging that his whole family,
composed of his wife, son and
daughter, had pounced upon him and
given him a terrific beating, J. H.
Leader appeared before Justice Reid
this morning and swore to a com
plaint charging them with assault
and battery.
Warrants were issued for the arrest
of Martha Leader, wife; Arthur Lead
er, sou, and Augusta Leader, daughter
of complainant.
Leader lives a short distance the
other side of Troutdale. He said
that he had trouble with his wife, whs
struck him; his son and daughter
went to their mother's assistance as
soon as hostilities began. A goodly
number of bruises and scratches were
exhibited by Leader as proof of his
story. ,
CONDUCTORS "wiLlT
MEEf IN THE ARMORY
The Armory has been selected as
the meeting place for th biennial
convention of the grand division.
Order of Railway Conductors, in IQ05.
The convention will open May 9, and
end May 17.
"The question of headottarters has
not been settled," said Grand Secre
tary Maxwell this afternoon, "and we
will not be able to decide it on this
trip. It will be left open for settle
ment by correspondence. Owing to
'ic absence of Manager Bowers, of
1 lie Portland hotel, who is out of the
city, no definite proposition has been
received from this hotel."
Messrs Clark and Maxwell will
leave tomorrow evening for the east.
COWARDICE AVERTS
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY
Police Say John Owen Was to
Die with Mrs. J. B.
Coggin.
Detectives have discovered whst they
stats Is positive evidence of an attempt
at a dual tragedy In connection with
ths attempted suicide yesterday of Mrs.
J. H. Goggin. 41 H North Third Street.
The woman and John Owens are said
to have entered Into an agreement by
which both should end their Uvea.
Goggin Is first cook at Vancouver
barracks, and Owens Is his assistant.
Goggin lived with tha womsn and Owen
became infatuated with her. She re
ciprocated his sffectlon. It Is claimed,
and tried, but failed, to escape from
Goggin. Thsy decided upon suicide, and
ths womsn kept her part of tha non
tract. 8bs swallowed laudanum. Owens,
however, balked, and horrified, ran for
assistance when he saw what the woman
had dons. Owens has been arrested.
Have you
thought
about it?
THERE'S NOTHING MORE DESIRA
BLE FOR CHRISTMAS THAN A SUIT
OF CLOTHES. OVERCOAT, FANCY
VEST OR "A PAIR OF TROUSERS
MADE TO ORDER BY
Nicoll, 6fte Tailor
If you haven't got his measure bring his old
suit we will do the rest.
Largest stocks of woolens on the Pacific
coast to select from.
Satisfaction Guaranteed in all cases. Gar
ments to order in a day, if required.
:08 THIRD STREET.
J esl ' ' nu. sjun k.b-j i ei HVS.KV . . Pt?JtB