1
CITY MUST "ACT
PEOPLE WILL
WAITING MEANS DYINQ IN
THIS WATER MATTER.
3 MONTHS, NOTHING DONE
The People Will Not Walt Until
1914 for. Water.
A long petition, signed by 95
per cent of the business men of
this city (tho heaviest taxpay
ers) asking for a pure water sys.
tern, and immediate steps to ac
quire the same, was not taked up
at the last meeting of the city
council.
The unanimous resolution of
a special session of the Live
- Wires, asking that the city coun
cil at once take steps to have -a
competent engineer J Je
the available water sources w.ith.
in reach of this city, Was nottak
-en up at the last week's session tat
the city council.
The resolution unanimously
.passed by the Live Wires that the
compensation of the city health
officer be increased from the pres
ent salary of $10 per month to a
sum which would warrant him in
giving necessary time to the
work was ignored by the council.
And then the council went on
record as follows:
"Resolved that the council
go on record as favoring the
. installation of a hydro-clo-ride
plant by the present wa- .
ter board."
Now the "installation" of this
"plant" simply means dumping
chemicals into the present water
and telling the people to drink it.
Hut this "resolved" will nol
settle this water question any
more than a feather duster will
stop a cyclone.
It will never be settled until it
is settled RIGHT, and why CAN'T
the council recognize public sen
timent, when it falls over it?Why
will not it represent the people
who elected them? Why does it
play tail to the Live Wires and
have to be FORGED to do what
the people want? Why can't it
lake the initia1-'- "" can't it
represent lead.
Now the Courier editor knows
just what he is talking about
when he makes the statement
that this resolution of the city
council to dump some chemicals
in the Willamette water isn't go
ing to stop getting pure water.
He knows it because he knows
what every member of. that city
council ought to. know the sen
timent of the neopl on.lhia mat
ter. . The people want PURE, safe
water and they are going to have
it. They are going to have it if
they have to resort tothe initia
tive. They are going to have a
competent engineer make the in
vestigation of the water sources,
which the council has passed up,
they are going to see that it is
undertaken before next August,
and they will, if necessary, do it
with their own private funds.
And these two actions would be
as much of a rebuke and disgrace
as a recall.
The people are dead anxious to
to take the responsibility in this
water matter and the council
should at least permit it. It has
been over "three months since
typhoid broke out and we haven't
done a thing. This talk of going
slow and waiting until 1914 for
for a new water system is all
right for other towns between
here and Portland, but our people
are trying. If, as it was stated at
the Live Wirees, it will be 1914
before we can get pure water -for
this city, we won't have any
censils figures to crow over this
summer, and we won't break any
building records.
Where is there authority that
chemicals will kill disease germs
in filthy water? And even n iney
would, do you want to drink the
sewers from Eugene, Corvallis,
Salem and other valley cities,
even if the "vegetable matter
and germs are killed?
Do you want to drink dead sew
er juice? . ,t . .
New York city had the hydro
chloride system. Why did that
city quit it and spend millions
and millions of dollars for moun
tain water? Because it was un
healthy and bacause the people
rebelled
Today Cleveland drinks the
drugged water what little the
people drink and the people
are protesting. The water is un
pleasant to the taste because of
the drugs; the people have a prej
udice against it on the ground
that chemicals strong enough to
kill germs, which have to be boil
a half hour to kill, is strong
enough to injure -he systems.
So hundreds of families boil
their own water and hundreds of
others have the pitchers of beer
always on the table. This is true
of Chicago. That city does not use
chemicals, but drinks lake water
direct, and there is a pat saying
that only the dead people are
Chicago's water drinkers.
And now here's another point
we want to drive home to you. It
is on an altogether different line
of argument, but come alive to it,
let it soak in, heed it.
Did you read the two column
article that the Southern Pacific
publicity man gave out the other
day, and how he told of the big
development work Plannfd
the west side? He said a city was
going to build up across iu ,
that 100 trains would pass thru
here daily, and that big thing,
would come to pass over there.
Now again:
Do you remember last summer
OREGON"
30th YEAR.
when the general manager of the
Southern Pacific was before the
Commercial Club and how he told
the people the company had more
in store for thisx city than we
dreamed of?
Now once more and you keep
these points all in view:
Do you remember what the
Moody Land Company's repre
sentative gave out as to the city
that company intended to build
up over there?. And the Courier
is informed the Moody Land Co is
the Southern Pacific.
Now if these things come to
pass, and a lot of them are dead
sure to, the first move will be a
water system on that side, and
you may bet your life and not
take a chance that it will be a
PURE system that it won't be
taken out of the state sewer.
And when the pure svstem is
I installed and the city starts, you
w'ii serine residents of this city
wno i not tied down with homes
goinb across that bridge like a
strmg or sneep.
CAN T you fellows see how the
interests which own the west
side want us to continue our
present system? Can't you see
that such action would be the
biggest boom asset the west side
could ever hope for?
The Courier isn't printine this
column of protest to knock the
council no't on your breakfast
rood. It is printing it to try to
remedy the worst knock Oregon
City ever yet received typhoid.
we are in bad on this water
supply. We have got to right it
orchis city will take the count.
Mr. McBain told you something
at the Live Wires Tuesday and he
stated a literal truth when he
said typhoid fever had done more
to set back the city than the com
mercial club can do in 5 years .to
redeem. This office knows many,
families that will leave this city
unless the city speedily takes ac
tion to provide pure water not
a doctored supply, but absolutely
pure water.
The Live Wires realize this
situation, and the most of them
are working hard to remedy it..
Oregon City cannot do more to
drive the people across the river
and to other nearby towns, than
to stand pat on the present sys
tem or delay the remedy. And
the Courier knows the people of
this city are not going to act as
a West Side Aid Society w
know 6000 people are not going
to let 6 men stand between it and
pure, health-giving water.
Now move, or stand aside and
let some one move who will.
Since the above" was put-in type
the city council has held another
meeting (Wednesday night) and
the water matter taken up. '
B. T. McBain again urged that
the council take quick action in
the matter of proourring pure
water. He said the news of the
epidemic had spread all over the
country, and that even from a
business point of view we could
not afford to delay.
W. H. Howell, superintendent
of the water works, defended the
present system, said only one an
alysis had shown the water to
contain typhoid germs, and that
but one death had been proven to
result from water in this city up
to this year.
Dr. Mount disputed this state
ment, and a warm discussion fol
lowed. The doctor advised that
artesian water be procured if pos
sible, as this would always be free
from contamination.
The council did not take any
action, referring the matter back
to committee of Live Wires, Com
mercial Club and Council.
COURIER OFFICIAL PAPER.
Farmers Society of Equity names
It as Union's Offlolal Organ
The Courier was handed a
most appreciated recognition at
the county conventinon or tne
Farmers'. Society of Equity Sat
urday last, when it was desig
nated as the ofllcial paper of the
Society for Clackamas county.
This designation came without
any solicitation on the part of
the Courier, and it is all the more
appreciated for this reason.
This paper has played the far
mers' game because it believes
that the quickest development of
the rural districts will come thru
the game that will benefit the far
mers. It has stood with the
Grange on nearly all its proposi
tions, and we will always be with
the farmers on the good roads
proposition that will build roads
where they are most needed
roads from the farms to the rail
roads, i
The Society of Equity looks
good; it is having a phenominal
growth throughout the west .and
it looks as if it would become a
power. Its plans are practical, its
organization solid and if the far
mers will simply all get in, stay
in and play team ball, it is bound
to work out for their good, for
the merchants good and for the
consumers' good.
And the Courier will certainly
respond to the compliment paid
it, and it will do all it can to fur
ther this movement and build up
an organization of farmers that
will make the big hogs take not
ice. It can be done, and all that is
necessary is to unite, co-operate
AND STICK.
Money to Loan.
I have various sums of money
on hand to loan-on real properly,
for long or short periods of time.
WM. HAMMOND, Lawyer.
Beaver Bldg., Oregon City.
OREGON
COUNTY
JUD
SAYS COUNTY COURT HAS FOLLOWED PRECEDENT IN BRIDGE MATTERS, AND THAT THESE
BRIDGES WERE BOUGHT. AS CHEAP AS BENTON COUNTY. GOT ON $70,000 CONTRACT
SAYS W, F. HALDERMAN APOLIGIZED FOR HIS LETTER AND SAYS HE WAS FOOLED IN OLDS
Says Mr Olds Never Observed the
Work In This County.
Editor Courier:
It has not been ' my policy to
pay any attention to "Jabs"
handed to me by irresponsible
parties through the press, taking
it for granted that the good
pdople of Clackamas County were
well aL'.'s to judge for themselves
as to the merits of the charges
and being always willing to sub
mit to their good judgement. But
I now feel that in justice to the
County Court as well as to the
taxpayers, a brief explanation is
due.
In so far as a compliance with
section 6368 L. O. L. is concerned
I have to say that in my humble
opinion we have complied with
the spirit of the statute and that
we have followed very closely, if
not absolutely, precedent estab
lished by this Court, in fact Hon.
G. B. Dimick informed me only a
few days ago that while he was
County Judge the Court had fol
lowed exactly the same course
that our board has followed,
when the commissioners and
himself purchased the steel brid
ge which now spans Milk Creek,
at Mulino. I find out also that
many of the County Courts, of
other counties of our state are
following the same procedure in
the purchase, of their bridges and
the erection thereof, and feel
when doing so, that they are act
ing entirely within their rights
arid as laid down in Section 6368.
The first steel bridge bought by
our board was purchased under
the following conditions, to-wit
The old bridge across Clear Creek,
at Fisher's Mill had been taken
out by high water. The bridge site
was visited by myself, Commiss
ioners Matoon and Blair, Mr.
Sears, of tho Coast Bridge Co.,
and Mr. Severance, who was rep
resenting some other bridge Co;
measures were made, the length
of the bridge determined and we
returned to Oregon City, the com
missionrs went to their hotel and
I to my home. Sometime after my
arrival at home Commissioner
Matoon called me over- the tele
as to the cost of any of them. I
make this statement on the au
thority of Mr. F. W. Greenman,
who was clerk of the County
Court during all of the time Mr.
Olds was bridge foreman. If this
phone and requested me to come
ISN'T THIS NONSENSE?
Why Spend $1,000 and Then Have
to Continue to Boll Our Water?
At the Live Wire session Tues
day it was stated by several that
the chemical proposition the city
council has recommended for the
present water system is only a
temporary expedient, and that in
vestigations for a pure sourde
will go forward. In answer to a
question as to whether it would
be necessary to boil the water
after the chemical plant had been
installed, B. T. McBain answered
YES; that while filtering and ap
plying chemicals would lessen
tho danger this would not make
the water absolutely safe.
Now we all know, and every
ical authority backs it up, that
boiling WILL kill all germs, if
boiled long enough.
If we have got to boil the water
AFTER the chemicals are put in
to kill that one little per cent oi
typhoid and filth that has dodged
ih filler and ducked under the
hypos, WHAT is the use of spend
ing $1,000 to put it in-7
WILL SOME ONE PLEASE.
ANSWER?
It. was stated bv two or more of
Wires Tuesday that we
could not do any satisfying work
in locating springs and water
sources until the weather had
settled next August and it would
nrohablv be 1914 before we could
change our water plant.
Men can do anything tney wani
to do, when the situation is of
enough seriousness ' and public
sentiment demands.
We COULD have pure water
here in 60 days.
Let the city give public notice
it will eive a franchise to any pri
vate company to put in a system,
and see if it will take unu( ian.
It has been over three months
since typhoid broke out here. It's
time to ACT.
Winter In Oregon.
For those way back East: The
nearest to winter the Willamette
VoIIpv has. seen is one inch of
soft snow which lasted one hour
after daylight. Apples are yet
hanpinor nn the trees: picking of
grapes has just been finished;
the grass is as green as in spring
and the shrubbery is full of buds.
Clackamas Not In It
With both houses of the slate
legislature represented from this
county, yet in the list of places
given out at the opening of the
sesion, this county does not get
even one little, lonesome Job.
CITY
CITY, ORE., FRIDAY, JAN.
E BEATIE ANSWERS I
AND EXPLAINS THE COUNTY
.Law He now Claims Is Violated, and Scores Hi man dHis Bridge
Says In no Instance did he ever Report Cost of Bridge Work.
down to the Court House, stating
that Mr. Severance wished to talk
with the Court about the bridge.
I came as requested and met Mr.
Matoon, Mr. Blair, and Mr. Sever
ance making no reference to the
bridge whatever I then brought
up the bridge question myself,
and the bridge question was dis
cussed for sometime, no refer
'ence was made by Mr. Severance
1 about submitting plans and spec
j ifications or naming a price for
'which he would be willing to
do the work, I then asked him if
he desired to do so and his reply
was that ha did not know wheth
er we desired hint to make a bid
or not, I replied that., the road
was open to him or any one else
and that what our court wanted
was quick action as the bridge
was imperatively needed and that
we were going to build at once.
The status of the bridge question
was, I am satisfied thoroughly
understood by Mr. Severance, and
why no bid was received from him
I am unable to say. Mr. Matoon
says that he never told Mr. Sev
erance that the Judge had let the
contract. Mr. Sears of the Coast
Bridge Co., at once furnished
plans and specifications and sub
mitted a bid thereon. The com
missioners and myself made a
trip to Marion, Linn, and Benton
Counties where the Coast Bridge
Co., had erected a large number
of steel bridges, made an examin
ation of the bridges and pur
chased, a few (Jays after, the du
plicate of a one hundred foot span
which the company had erected
for Benton County" after first
having submitted to us the con
tract which these counties had
signed with the Coast Bridge Co.,
which contract set out the prices
paid by these counties for their
steel bridges. We were given the
same price on the bridge we pur
chasd, that the other counties had
paid, notwithstanding the fact
that some of theolher counties
had purchased more than $70,000
worth of steel bridges at one time
our idea being that if we could
get the same price on a small
purchase that the other counties
had on' very large ones, that we
were,' to say the least, doing very
well. We have followed the same
plan in air the purchases we have
made from this company and
CLACKAMAS AT SALEM
This County Has Already Started
Something at Legislature.
Thn state legislature at Salem
has opened and members are
crawling over each other to get a
pet bill into the scramble. From
the first day, almost from the first
hour, they commenced, and they
range from studied heavy weight
nponoail.inn ci f state wide interest
down to the trivial "freak" variety
of placing a tax on all bachelors.
Clackamas CQunty is already in
the limelight and it will be more
seen and heard of later.
Representative Schuebel has in
troduced his water Dower and
water tax bill, and he has several
other county and state-wide bills
of general interest ho will intro
duce.
Senator Dimick is in with three
bills, one to abolish the state
malitia, one to abolish the school
supervisor law, and one to abolish
ihn r.nnnt.v veterian law. and he
wilr work hard to get them thru,
and they say he has some other
matters he is noiding d&ck on.
Representative Gill has a good
roads law that is being taken to
pretty friendly by Clackamas Co
unty, and there are good chances
of its passing.
W. S. U'Ren of this city, was at
the opening of the session and it
is said he has some amendments
in thn initial ivn which will be in
troduced. One is to put tight lines
on the paid petition solicitor ny
providing that any man who se
cures over 200 signatures must
have authority by apointment
from the governor. Another to
make the acceptance by the sec
retary of state of an initiative
petition final, and no court have
a right to dislodge it.. A third
provides that there must be a neg
ative argument to every propos
ed measure and if none is filed
that the attorney general point
out the weak spots, while the
fourth nrovides for second and
third choice in voting for govern.
or ana v. . oeimiur.
Senator Dimick has introduced
a bill for a flat eight hour law in
Oregon.
nunrmmniai iv Rhnliel has in
troduced a bill to repeal the law
for the publication oi ine iax
sales.
Senator Dimick, with Senator
Thompson, Treasurer Key ana
others have lined up for the
passage of three of the bills' the
imvornor vetoed two years ago,
and will try to pass them. The
ntifnmo will nhow "who is who"
and is being watched with keen
interest.
COUEffiM
17, 1313.
OLDS' LETTTER
have always felt that we got good
value, and I am sure of one thing,
that the bridges have all been as
represented and that every one of
them is a splendid piece of work.
As to the letter of W. F. Hal
derman which was published by
Mr. Olds, in his communication in
your paper, I wish to say that Mr.
Halderman came before our court
at the term just closed and in
1 open court apoligized for the let
ter and made the statement that
he had been mistaken as to the
kind of a man Olds was, and that
he was sorry he had even been
.connected with him in any way
! and wanted the court to distinct
ly understand that there were no
further relations of any kind be
tween himself and Mr. Olds. .
The people "of this county no
doubt remember thfit Mr. Olds
was for quite a long time bridge
foreman for the former County
Court arid that he constructed
several bridges and in no instance
did he make a report to the court
statement, js doubted by anyone
let them go to the County Clerk's
office, where Mr. Greenman is
now employed, and inquire of him
or look through the records and
satisfy themselves.
I am informed by some of tho
men who worked under Mr. Olds,
while he was bridge foreman,
when he built the bridge across
Parrot Creek at New Era, after
the bridge was completed and the
bills for labor paid by the County
Court, Judge Dimick, then County
Judge, asked one of the men if the
bill for labor on that bridge was
not entirely too much, he was in
formed by the man that the bridge
could be built for less than one
half the amount paid. This is
rather over 20 per cent and I
think M,r. tax payer will quickly
see how much over. Other cases
of like natur could be cited
along this same line-but I think
Mr. tax payer' knows of them all
ready.
In conclusion I do not wish to
cast any reflections on Mr. Olds,
but "He who lives in glass houses
should not throw stones," and
"Every crow thinks his own crow
ing the whitest."
Yours respecfully,
R. B. BEATIE.
MASS CLOSES TAVERN.
Sheriff Gets Goods .on .Famous
Night House and Closes It
The Milwaukie Tavern, which
has had much fame of the kind
taverns do not usually desire for
two years past, is closed; Sheriff
Mass has the keys in his pocket
and Arthur J. Burns is under ar
rest. Sheriff Mass did a pretty piece
of work, for which this county
will thank him, in closing this
night house. He knew tho place
cnw.n.ui hml hut lie couldn't KCl
direct evidence. When the night
auto accident nappenca nisi wee,
he wont after the matter. He
learned where the auto party was
from and that it was bound for
the road house and after mid
night. Following up ihe clues
and getting live evidence he then
nnhhnrt the emDloyes of the tav
ern, brought them before the
grand jury, and wnen mey suw
mqqu hnii thn iriuiils on them, then
they "snitched" and told all. Then
the sheriff arrested uurns, anu u
do a good job while ho was at it,
he closed the tavern. And tho
nonnlfl of the county should give
him a vote of thanks.
After indictment by tho grand
jury, Sheriff Mass went to Mil
mniiUin Mnnrlav niirht. closed the
place and brought Burns to this
city under arrest, uurns u
clares the court has no jurisdic
tion in the case, and he will no
doubt plead not guilty to viola
lions of the liquor law.
This place has had a decided
ly unsavory reputation for some
time and it is the place where the
governor took the militia and lore
down the high surrounding fence
But it has
been very hard to get any direct
evidence on which it was safe to
make an arrest
it tha naaa r.ninpn to trial, and
it is very likely that it will and
will be tried hard, h is pruuicicu
that' several matters in connec
tion with inv rides and midnight
drinkings, including some of the
.,...;noni miin and less nromi-
Lll UllllllVIIU ...... -
nent women of Portland will be
brought into the affair.
George C. Brownell and fceneca
Fonts will defend uurns.
Why a Legislature?
"Why a legislature in Oregon"
is a question asked by the Port
ion ivowa with the initiative,
referendum and recall in the
K.nri. nt tho vnlprs. this is the
question that suggested itself to
the Courier editor on his arrival
in Oregon two years ago and he
is yet asking It.
BRIDGE
MATTERS
No. 36
KEEP TO THE REAL WORK.
Let the Politicians and the Place
Hunters work their Owu Plays.
The Courier editor is a member
of the Live Wires and he thinks
well of that body of men and re
alizes that the organization has
considerable power and influance
in the matters it undertakes.
But the Courier believes that
body will coserve its strength and
influence if it confines itself and
its work to the things that it was
organized for and passes up the
matters -that are, or should be,
outside the reach of its cabletow.
When the Live Wires go to
indorsing politicians and propo
sitions, and requesting that our
representatives work for this and
that which are outside our city
and for the good of place hunters
and commissions, the organiza
tion makes a mistake.
For instance the last meeting
passed a resolution asking our
representatives at Salem to work
for an annual appropriation of
$25,000 or the bureau of mines.
Now in Ihe judgment of the
Courier editor this action is en
tirely out of place in the Live
Wires, for the reason that the
Live Wires are in no sense the
representatives of the people of
this county, and they have no
right in passing a resolution for
our representatives to work for a
certain project unless the Wires
have authority from the people to
take such action. The Wires are
but a small proportion of the vot
ers of tho county, and they should
not presume to instruct repre
sentatives.
Tho real object of the Wires is
to work for the the building up of
our city and adjacent community,
and when we go beyond that and
take a hand in politics, we will
weaken ourselves and lessen our
reputation to do things.
At least this is the Courier s
view of it.
COMINQ TO THE FRONT.
Courier Is Fast Adding to Its List
of County Subscribers.
Thn Courier doesn't give any
premiums, trading stamps or pull
the buttons off your coat in an
appeal to take the paper.
This naner stands on its own
bottom and its doesn't buy or
beg subscribers and it is the
only foundation on which a per
manent Hubscriplion list can do
built.
And we HAVE the subscribers.
We are (rettim? them every day
and we re going to have a lot
more of . them, for Clackamas
county is a splendid field for a
newspapers that will not knuckle
and the people are beginning to
think that the Courier will nol.
Tho Courier covers this coun
ty pretty well now, and it is going
to cover it a great deal tnicKcr.
If von want to reach tho people
that surround this city, this paper
s the medium. W e don t bluil,
we make tins good, uur suu
soriplion list is open to anyone
that is interested. And tho real
vnlnn of the list is that it is a list
of LIVE ones, not a padded list of
deadheads.
Good for Senator Dimick.
Iditor Courier:
Hurrah for Rnnalor Dimick; he
hnu Dm riirhl. view of the lax pay
ers and we hope the exponsivo,
useless, grafting laws of this
state will be repealed, we neneve
in the greatest good to the num
ber and nol for a select few.
We are informed that huperm
tendent of Schools - Gary has a
Kitition circulating to tne i.egis
ninrn in increase his salary. Now
we believe the laborer worthy of
his hire and if Gary was doing
the whole of the work he should
ave at least $1,500 per year, nut
clerk to do his office
work and 3 school supervisors to
lo his Visiting scnoois, so in
niinr i divided and nay enough.
Wo lump nlmi Unit he called a
school institute right in tho busy
session of school term and me
ax payers have to pay the teacn
rs for the lost lime with no bene
fit to the schools.
II. S. Cl.vi)r..
Robbing Oregon Demoorats.
President Taft Tuesday made
appointment to offices of about
everything that was open, as per
the list that our Williams handed
him, including postmaster and
collector of customs at Portland,
U. 8. Marshall for Oregon and col
lector of customs at Asl.nria.The
seale says it will not confirm and
the Republicans say if it does not
they will block future legislation.
Great doings over political pap.
8enator Dimlck's Suggestion
Senator W. A. Dimick has a
sham f.oneue. around to tho keen
edge of sarcasm, and when he
says anything bo doesnt.majy)
any apologies.
When he introduced his bill to
repeal the state mililia he sug
gested that if it pass General Fin
zer and George Shepherd should
sing a requern, while the navy
department take the cruiser Bos
Ion to a point between theAlen
tian Island and Shanghai and
sink it.
Regarding the county veterin
arian law the Senator says all it
is good for is to draw $400 from
each county. "If I have a sick
cow I will get a veterinary and
pay him and so will you."
TRYING TO SAVE
SUPERVISOR
LI
AND BOOST SALARY TO $1,600
PER YEAR.
SHUEBEL TELLS US TO ACT
Every School District Should
Call Meeting at Once.
Eldorado. Jan. 14.
Editor Courier.
I would like to call attention to
a few things that happened at the
meeting of the school directors
in Oregon City last Saturday that
to my mind should demand our
attention at once.
A special effort was made to en
dorse the present school super
visor law, Mr. Alderman and Mr.
Gary both favoring same, altho'
Mr. Gary said fiiends of his were
circulating a petition in the mills
which was lo be presented to the
legislature to raise the salary to
not less than $1000 per year. He
also had a petition at the meeting
lor the same purpose. A resolu
tion was run through, without
giving anyone a chance to say a
word against it, to raise his sal
ary. It was done very much as
the old time convention did busi
ness. While some very good things
were brought out, and I would not
for a minute think of kicking
without a cause, but to my mind
the taxpayers are now over-bur
dened with useless commissions
and extra salaried officials and
every other manner of holding up
me people ana plundering ine ac
tual producers of wealth in so
ciety, that if we do not call a halt
soon, we will be perfect slaves.
I will give one argument used
there in favor of the supervisor
system, which will show the kind
of slush they dope out and ex
pect us to swallow. For instance
one parly said suppose a farmer
would go out and hire a lot of
unskilled labor to work on his
farm and start them to plowing,
sowing, etc, and then leave them
to follow their own inclinations,
caving them to do the work
without any supervision, what
kind of work could be expected?
Now this is no comparison at
all. We hire only teachers as
have passed an examination be
fore a competent board of exam
iners, who decide that they are
up. to standard before they are al
lowed to teach. Now they are
not all first class, expert teach
ers at once, but are supposed to
be especially prepared for such
work. And they . may need coun
cil occasionally, which to my mind
should bo supplied by the super
intendent, and if the board of di-
ectors would co-operate with the
teachers and the superintendent,
I am satisfied the new teacher
would get along just as well with
out the extra supervision. T am
satisfied they have done no good
whatever in our district and I
hear the same reports from other
districts.
Tho tendency has been all al
ong the line to create too many
political jobs for pets in politics,
until we are very near the limit
of what the taxpayer can stand.
Anothor argument used in fav
or of supervisors was that the
city paid out as much as $2.50
per scholar for supervision ami
tried to make it appear that was
the cause of better schools in the
city, which is also an eroneous
position to take. Tne city scnoois
are better simply, because the
have more money to spend and
so can specialize and hire better
qualified teachers.
Now when you taKe tu cems
from each scholar for supervis
ion in the country districts you
have taken away that much from
their fund, which is already too
hnrt. to heirin to compete with
city schools, it is simply anoth
er case or "money manes mc
mare go" and nothing else. They
will always tell you they aro do
ing this for-tho good of the coun
try school. Tho gold brick man
with his fake school charts will
tell you the same and it seems
the suckers will bite.
Now I would like to see every
school board call a meeting in
every school district in Clackamas
county, take a vole on the matter
and report the result to the mem
bers of the legislature and head
off, if possible, this schome that
Mr. Gary is tiying to put over on
us in this session of the legisla
ture. ,
At a meeting hold in Eldorado
schoolhouse on the 14th of Jan
uary a vote was taken and result
ed as follows:
In favor of supervisors, 0.
Against supervisors, 14.
In favor of raising superinten
dent's salary, 0.
Against raising salary, 14.
Number of legal voters in dis
trict 1 not. nresont. 4. '
Chairman Board of Directors.,
Down Goes Another
Ti,n TTnitoH Klalp senate has
found Judge Archbald guilty of
misconduct in oince in piwt:i
terms of being a grafter and he
has been unseated from one of
the highest positions in our na
tion and ever debarred form
again holding public office.
He will not De punisneu im vi
olating his solemn oath of office.
A little man would bo sent over
tho road for tho long term, but no
doubt the senate thinks dishonor
is enough punishment and it is.
A prison that would hide this man
would le.ssen his punishment, for
he can't hide himself.