Image provided by: Oregon City Public Library; Oregon City, OR
About Oregon City courier. (Oregon City, Or.) 1902-1919 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 1908)
OREGON CITY COURIER, FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, .1908 111 EXPERT0PIN!0N, Corporate and Government Man agement Clearly Contrasted. A Publlo AocounUnt Estimat of th Men Who HandU Our Great Busl net Enterprleea Intelligence, Econ omy, Honesty, at a Premium Such Qualitlea Often Lacking In the Ad ministration of Government Bureaus. By ELIJAH W. SELLS, C. P. A. The position of the public accountant iu respect to corporations and their management Is always an Independent one. Unlike the attorney, be is not expected to make out a case. The character of the service he renders Is Impersonal. All he can do Is to tell what the facts are, and they exist for his examination In forms so tangible and so subject to other scrutiny than his own that even if he were willing to prostitute his cajllng he would never flare to do so. It Is equally true that the knowledge he obtains of the af fairs of corporations Is necessarily ln Umate, accurate and substantially complete. We are told that the corporation man agers are dishonest, that they "exploit" the people and their utilities, that they put their own enrichment above their duty to the stockholding Interest or to the patronizing public and that before there can be a return of the splendid prosperity we were enjoying the cor poration must be regulated and the government must step In with a sharp eye and a big stick. My experience in the conduct of In dependent and Impartial examinations of books of account and affairs has covered many years and has been con cerned with the federal government, state governments and city govern ments. It has covered the field also of railway, street railway, light, pow er and other public service corpora tions. It has dealt with luduntrial cor porations, the so called trusts. It has taken me Into banks, trust companies and Insurance companies, Into educa tional and charitable institutions. I think I may say It has taken me pretty generally over the wholo field of pub lic and private business, and If I am to Judge by what my eyes have seen tt Is the unassailable truth that almost any. one of the men who stand at the head of our great business institutions Is far more competent to run the gov ernment and would run it more eco nomically, more wisely and more hon estly than any of those who aro in the business of running governments. I know as a matter of fact that the management of our great properties is generally Intelligent and economical and that the management of our gov ernment bureaus Is generally loose, Ir regular and frequently dishonest, and when I read the articles with which so many of our newspapers and maga zines are filled nowadays reflecting on the men whose genius Is developing the country's resources and when 1 hear the proposals of politicians from the most eminent to tho least for tlx) passage of laws to hamper and restrict the energies of these men on the theory that their Integrity Is open to susplclou my mind Inevitably brings up the con trast that I always observe between a corporation's way of doing things and a government's . as disclosed by their respective records and books of ac count. For the purpose of this comparison Incompetency and dishonesty need not be separated. Tutting them together, it Is my deliberate estimate that, Judg ed by the highest standards prevailing In the best conducted corporations, there Is less than 10 per cent of both among men In the management of cor porations generally and at leust 00 per cent of both among public officeholders, and I base this estimate upon my ex perience as a public accountant. The men Intrusted with the manage ment of the corporations are better fit ted to administer the affairs of such corporations and to cxerclso Judgmeut In matters concerning both the Investor and the public, which takes their prod uct or utilizes their franchises, than are those men who hold public ottlee qualified to fill even their own posi tions, much less to undertake admin istrative control over corporations. Tho facts that prove this do not deul with the mere matter of honesty and efficiency. The organization of a pub lic bureau Is much less compact, much less harmonious Iu Its operation, than the organization of a great railway or a great Industrial corporation. Tho men at the head of such business organizations In practically every case are experts, working diligently in har mony and ready to work to tho limit of their endurance, with full and direct control of their subordinates. On the other hand, nothing can bo more no toriousthe results are obvious to ev ery public accountant who Investigates than the fact that In nine cases out of ten the head of a public department sponds most of his time promoting his political Interests, and the employees generally, protected by the civil serv ice regulations, are looking to see how little rather than how uuieh work they can get Into their nppoiuted short hours. Wasteful Government. If we would only bring homo to the people the way iu which wasteful gov ernment bears upon them In their dully life, If we could only make them rwallze the way they are robbed by lu (fflclency and the fact that the taxes that are paid to support an extrava gant administration In. their tlnal In cidence come upon the poor, we should have everywhere recruits In the army of reform. Governor Charles E. Hughes of New York. What Is Best lor Indigestion? Mr. A. Robinson of Drtnuquin, On- tario, Iihs been troubled Jtnr years Indigestion, and recommend with Chamberlain's Stomach mid Liver Tablets as "the best medicine I ever used." If troubled with iiidi)ontitm or constipation give them a tiial. They are certain to prove beneficial. Thoy Hre easy to take and pleasant iu effect. Prioe 25 eeuM. Samples free at Houtley Uros., Oregon City and Molalln The Courlor. Is the paper that gives you the market report MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT. Oalesburg's City Waterworks Are Run on Business Destroying Prin ciple Water Less Popular Than Gas. A recent issue of Public Service con tained an article by William H. Hodge on the public works of Galesburg, 111., under the title "Ownership That Does fJot Pay," Although tho rates are high, the waterworks lose upward of $10,000 a year, with a liberal allowance for hydrants. Tho contrast between mu nicipal and private management is sharply brought out by the fact that for. every three families that use city water there are five that have gas stoves, gas being supplied by a com pany. The writer explains: "The city does not seek to encourage new business. Consumers immt deposit $13.50, or the full cost of a meter, be fore receiving service and keep the money on deposit as long as th'v k'M'p the meter. They are required to put In and pay for the lateral pipes, or eervice connections with the street mains, and no Inducement!! whatever are held out to them to encourage them to become patrons of the city water plant. If a patron becomes delinquent and moves away the city Insists ou some one paying the bill before the water is turned on for the succeeding tenant, thus forcing either the landlord or the new tenant to liquidate expenses belonging to others. "Even those citizens who wish to be come pah'ons are not permitted to do so in many cases because the city Is niggardly In extondlng mains. Scarce ly a council meeting is held at which unsatisfied demands and protests are not presented calling for new mains to newly built up residence sections. Numbers of these are without city wa ter and seem to be unable to get it. The last annual report of the water superintendent shows there are thirty three miles of water mains. In the year 1900-7 extensions amounted to only 4,105 feet of six Inch pipe, costing $4,525.99. "Those conditions and others make the water situation in Galesburg a curious study. The 190G-7 report of the superintendent shows 1,575 me ters In use, meaning Just that many water takers, or one to every 14.0 per sons, less than one in every three fam ilies of four Individuals. "There were, roughly speaking, more than 1,000 gas stoves In excess of users of city water In Galesburg at this time, which would lead to the conviction, if all other conditions were equal, that the gas stove In this town Is consid ered far more important to health, comfort and happiness than municipal water. The owner of a gas stove, however, has his service connection mado free, pays nothing for the use of the meter and a reasonable price for the fuel used, features, It is clear, which have not been lost upon him." The writer goes on to describe the municipal electric light plant, the rec ords of which are quite Inadequate. A low estimate,, however, makes the cost per lamp per year over $00 on moonlight schedule, which Is the equiv alent of about $80 to $00 for nil night service. Mr. Hodge also quotes the mayor as saying that ho doos not think munici pal ownership and operation can be made a success In the United States so long as present political conditions prevail. He thinks that public utili ties should be operated by private com panies under franchises fair to all con cerned and Is of the opinion that such a method contributes to the economy of the community and its development and upbuilding. ST. JOSEPH'S PREDICAMENT. The Political Plum Proves to Be a Pickle. The unseemly squabble In the mu nicipal electric plant of St. Joseph, Mo., Illustrates the meuuee of politics Iu such plants. Some mouths ago City Electrician Stewart, who hus charge of the plant, was Indicted by the grand Jury. A thorough investigation by ex pert accountants resulted iu quashing these ludlctmeuts, as there was no evidence that he had been guilty of anything worse than tho "loose book keeping" which is so. essential in mu nicipal plants if they are to make a good showing. In spite of bis vindication Stewart was removed by tho mayor, who ap parently thought It a good chance to put a friend of his iu the position. Stewart refused to surrender the plant on the ground that the mayor had no power to remove hhu except for cause. For some weeks both meu have been at the plant, neither drawing any sal ary, and the case Is before tho courts. Meautlme a flank attack has been mndo by the mayor's party by Intro ducing au ordinance to abolish the of fice of city electrician and create that of superintendent of the electric light plant, thus gettlug rid of Stewart and enabling tho mayor to appoint his own mau. The St. Joseph Tress protests against such tactics In un editorial headed, "Save tho Electric Light Plant From Politics." Such protests are futile so long as "practical politicians" are In charge of city affairs, for to them mu nicipal plants are the plums which make otBce worth striving for. Berkeley, Cal., Rejects M. O. J. V, Mendeiilmll, town clerk, writes ("hat the citizens voted against the proposition to Issue bonds to rstabllsb an electric light plant In connection with an Incinerating plant, for which I lie proposition to Issue bonds was oIno defeawd.-KU'ctiical World. The public Is liest scrvid where the corporations are most prosperous, and the corporations are most prosperous where the public Is best served, Everett W. Uurdett. How's This? We offer imo hnndred dollars reward for liny esse nf catarrh that cannot be cured hy Hall's Catarih Unro. . J. OHKNKY & CO., Toledo. Ohio. We, the undersigned, have known F. J. Cheney for tho Inst 15 years, and believe him perfectly honorable iu all business transactions and tinau eiwlly able to carryout any obliga tions mado by his tirni. YValding, Rinnan it Marvin, Wholesale drug gist", Toledo, (.). Hall's Oatarrh Cure is taken inter nallv, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surf twos of the system. Testimonials sent free. Price 750 pi r bottle Sold by all druggists. Take Hull's Family Pills for constipation. 1 llira The "BROOKS" Cold Tire Setter Compresses the Metal COLD No burnt or charred felloe sur face to wear away but a hard wood surface instead. It gives just the amount of "dish" re quired; no guess work about it. We Guarantee our work and re fund the money if not satisfac tory. Give us a call and see the machine in operation. SCRIPTURE & BEAULIEU Oregon City, Oregon Clever Housekeepers Buy their groceries here because they know the qualities are always the highest. That does not mean that the prices are the same, however, The Prices of Our Groceries will compare favorably with any We invite your especialj'at- tention to our Brand of FJour "SEELEYS BEST." Every pack guaranteed satis factory and better than any other brand on the market today. Made in the most up-to-date mill of the choicest Washington Hard Wheat. The largest sale of any new brand of flour in Oregon City Include a sack with your next order and be convinced. Price $1.40 a pack or $5 20 a barrel. SEELEY'S TSi Peoples' Store Main Street OREGON CITY txcrci:e Ccfcrc Fc.-ling. Tlio exer; ', .' ;.i v: liel'ore fouling should not be ui:,'lM-t: !. They enn he worked with nit kr; i r; to within a week or ten tlins li" r e fouling, pro vided they re lum.llc.l cir.-efnily. After they have l een t:il;en nr.t of harness lie sure that they g.-t n nc exercise each day and do nut feed hii;:e qiuinlltles of nutritious irrain. nx (Ms will tend to stimulate the milk I'ow too soon and may emise mill: fever or n had udder. I also believe there are many eases of scours la eolts caused from this error. The quantity of grain should be gradu ally reduced and the amount of bran tncreasod. Professor H. C. Obrecht, University of Illinois. Excellent Health Advice. Mrs. M. M. Davidson, of No 8U7 Gilford Ave., San Jose, Cal , fays: The worth of Electric Ei.teis as a general family remrdy, for hendacl e, biliousness mid lor per of tin' Iivtr ami bowels is so pronounced that I tun prompted to say a word in it favor, for tlio benefit of those set king relict from such ulllictions. There is nioie health for the (tigestivo organs in a bottle of Eltctrio Bitters than m any other remedy I know of. " St id un der guarantee at Jones ltng Co. 's drug store. 60c. Horso Collar. Siould l-it. A badly lilting collar makes tho young team horse troublesome, it is of the greatest Importance that the collar should lit perfectly, so that tt does not cause discomfort to the animal nor wring ov hurt Its shoulders. The shoal-, dors often become mors or less tender at first through the pressure of the col lar against them, and In order to hardeu the skin on them it is a good plan to bathe them with a solution of salt Iu water (or alum in water) when the young horse has finished Its work for the day. vt THE CITY'S SNAIL SERVICE. Th Slower the Work the Steadier the Jeb Has Been the Rule In the Public Worlti of Boston. In Its latest report to the mayor the finance commission deals with one of the most flagrant abuses in municipal lervice that has yet come before it. The item of labor is about the heaviest that has to be met by city appropria tion, and a great deal depends upon lm efficiency or Inefficiency. It is a mat ter of common observation that the city employees are time killers. The sluggish pace at which they perform their labors Is a popular Joke, but It is no Joke to those who pay tho taxes and for every dollar contributed re ceive but the fraction of Its value in service. Any one watching the per formance of a gang of city men in any particular line of work can be con vinced that we are supporting an army of drones. The principle by which they are governed is not a fair day's Work for a fair duy's pay, but the smallest amount of work that can he accomplished without endangering a position. Unfortunately positions have been only too secure under recent condi tions, because they have not depended upon values, but upon pull, It has been even probable during the last few years that a man was more iu danger of losing his job from being too active than from being too inert. Ac tivity endangers the opportunities of a larger number of men. The more the work can be made to hold out the greater the number of places for the benctit of the political contingent. We have not needed au Investiga tion to prove all this to the average citizen. The proof is patent wherever city work is carried on, but the finance commission has rendered a service by showing through comparison with the work of private corporations to what exteut approximately the city Is be ing defrauded and to. what extent It has lost ground In eUicicncy during the past thirty years. Under the system of fewer hours there has been more than u proportional loss Iu accomplish ment. Tills Is not only demoralizing to nil holding city Jobs, but it is embar rassing to the claim of labor organiza tions that as much work could be done in an eight hour day as in one of nine or ten hours. Thus they are not only cheating the city, hut they are doing au injustice to the great industrial body for whose good faith they are in no small degree responsible. The figures furnished by the commis sion: are eloquent. They Show thnt in a sewer department Job the highest average number of bricks laid per hour was seventy -eight, whereas the lowest average upon metropolitan work was 1G5 and the highest 3S4, or nearly five times as much Iu the latter case. If this discrepancy exists In skilled labor, where some pride of cnlllug may be supposed to exist, to even a greater ex tent is It likely to be found In those In ferior lines where the deficiencies of a single worker are concealed in those of tlio whole number. -Posron Transcrlnt. The discrimi SLOAN'S For spavin, curb, splint sweeny, capped hock, founder, strained tendons, wind puffs and all lameness in horses -For thrush, foot rot and garget on cattle and sheep For hog distemper, hoq cholerOi thumps and scours in hogs For diarrhoea, canker and roup in poultry - AT ALL DEALERS - - PRICE 25 .50. I $ I.0O Send for free book on Howes. Cottle, Hogs end Poullry-" -Address Dr.Earl S.Sloan. Boston. Mass. NO MAN WILL EVER WEAR A MORE THERE'S DISTINC tion in it; Gives a man a "so - different" look; high-toned.. You' 11 miss a good thing if you don't see and wear THESE CLOTHES THE NEW FABRICS are very fine; browns with rich stripes in har-' monious colors; grays of vrious shades and kinds. We can fit you perfectly in these goods; and they are All-Wool, perfectly tailored. L. 1 'm 99H3HSESBHBQSB9I FOR SlLLUoflB - 1 rf v" ft w f f kV- f 1 1 . - V IK:. sr $ - ' I Just Completed All modern improvements 7 Rooms, Hot and Cold Water, Electric Lights and Bath. On one or two Lots. ROSE CITY PARK Portland's Fast Growing Addition. On the Main Street to New Driving Park. Terms. EASTHAM, SMITH & CO. OREGON CITY, nannq STYLISH SUIT Than Our HART SCHAFFNER & MARX "Varsity" Sack Suit fl11 i J y Copyright 1900 by Hart Schallner & Marx ADAMS 'Oregon City's Busy Store" ASK FOR RED TRADING STAMPS rn IN PORTLAND farmer keeps a supply of LINIMENT We'll sell you a Suit or an Overcoat here at the right, Price Bunsa OREGON vfc. v . - j-.- : kvvj 'si , v. "; 4