University Eugene, Ore jt j & jt jt j v j jt j jt jt j jt & Special meeting of stock- J holders and directors of Coun- J 9 ty fair Wednesday, April 8, J J court house, Oregon City, at ! PirPlllotmn The Courier has the VII UUIdllUII largest circulation of any weekly newspaper between Portland and Salem, and the best ad vertising medium in the valley. ci f. M. M. J. Lee Secreta irv. J fcj J t) $ 3 t tin i? v58 31st YEAR OREGON CITY, ORE., THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1914. No. 47 OREGON CITY COOKER Postoffice Will Move Saturday The postoffice will move into Its new building opposite the court house Saturday and Sunday. The new building is complete with new equip Third Doctor to Mount Firm Dr. Frank Mount, of the St. Luke hospital of New York, will soon come to this city and join Doctors Hugh and Clyde Mount as a firm. Dr. Mount is a graduate of Columbia uni versity and the University of Ore- The Fishermen's Paradise The salmon run has commenced and in about two weeks the river will be fairly alive with these gamiest of fish, and sportsmen from all over the world will come here. Some fine catches have recently been made, the largest one reported 65 pounds, and many weighing from 20 to 40. Writers Please Remember After candidates have been plac ed in nomination a newspaper must exercise great care that letters crit icising them are signed by the writ er. The right of criticism is not de nied, but the corrupt practice law holds that the criticised has a right to know the critic. Sign 'em. Former Editor Dead Frank Redner, once editor. of Ore gon City Herald and member of lo cal G. A. R., but later a resident of Rogue River, Ore., died at the Hospi tal in Roseburg, March 19th, age 66 years. Interment was at Lone Fir cemetery Portland, March 23rd at 3 o'clock V. M. A Little Different Nearly every candidate for public office . promises economy, efficiency and strict enforcement of the laws. J. F. Albright, Republican candidate for sheriff, has a pleasing change. His cards read: Punishment and Reform NOT Punishment and Torture. At all Stapes of the Game we are Human Beings Keep it Up Six hundred and three volunteer signatures to the $1500 tax exemp tion bill were received at the Cour ier office nearly every name that of a farmer. We have now petitions to abolish the Senate and provide for propor tional representation. Both will help to reduce the expenses of running Oregon. Drop in and sign them. We want 600 names to turn in. Ana drop a card for the petitions and circulate them in your localities. TAX PENALTIES CAN'T BE COLLECTED SAYS CLEETON .f Not Delinquent Until Sept. 1, and it is Illegal to Collect them Before Tax collections are now up in the air and the whole state will probably follow and go into the balloon bust ness. Circuit Judge Cleeton'of Portland has rendered a decision that the pen alties of one per cent, as provided in our present tax law, on taxes' not paid by April 1, are invalid, cannot be collected, and he has enjoined the tax collector from collecting any penalties. The judge holds that taxes do not become delinquent until af ter September 1, and penalties can not be legally collected until then. The case will of course be appeal ed. It will go to the supreme court; will be a big expense in costs and at torneys' fees and some day the Court will do or undo another job the legislature made a bungle of. And now it is in order to extend a vote of thanks First, to the voters of Oregon who let a joker be made an amendment to thee onstitution, killing the right the people had to pass on legislation ef fecting taxation, and giving that right to the politicians. Second, to that more than useless and worthless state tax commission, which followed up their advantage and framed up the present tax law, which 90 per cent of the working vot ers would repudiate if they had a chance. . , Third, to the Republican legislature which almost unanimously did the bidding of the state tax commission and let the present bankers' benefit tax law become a statute of Oregon. One after another the courts knock out the legislature's work. The registration law, the tax law, the highway law, the assessment laws and any number of others have been appealed to the supreme court and the attorney general for repeal or translation. And we wonder at the sentiment to abolish the senate. And we wonder if the house will go next. ' . FOR COUNTY SURVEYOR W. R. Smith, civil engineer of Oak Grove, has filed his petition as can didate for the Republican nomina tion as County Surveyor of Clacka mas county. . Mr. Smith has lived ten years m the county, seven years at his pres ent address. He has had twenty-two years' experience as surveyor and civil engineer; was five years, with U. S.' engineers on river and harbor work; for five years he was engaged in land surveying. He was 12 years on R. R. location and construction and has been chief engineer of three different railroad lines. Paid Adv. jt Jt j j J jt . J J J J J jJ Voters of City and County J J Warned They Must Register J J All voters of the city and J J county must re-register now J j for the two-year period. All J J registrations made before . January 5 are now absolutely " void, because of the recent de- , cision of the supreme court, .5 jt declaring the 1913 election law J invalid. Persons who have not ' registered cannot vote at the J . primaries May 15 . Register early and avoid the crowds s J of the last few days. J r . . EDITOR GUIE'S "VINDICATION" BRATTON CHANGES FROM AC CUSER TO DEFENDER DID HE HEAR MASTER'S VOICE A. Dr. Jykell and Mr. Hyde Stunt ' that Needs Explanations ' Denouncing a hold-up Sunday and defending it Wednesday is some change of attitude. Last week's Courier told a part of a rather singular transaction in which a representative of the Port land Gas & Coke Co., E. E. Brodie, editor of the Enterprise and A. L. Beatie of the .Oregon Commission Co, were actors. And this week we will tell you the rest, the dead inside of the whole deal. Last Thursday the Enterprise came out under a three-column head with a letter from S. C. Bratton, the representative of the gas and coke company, and an article from Editor Brodie himself, which (that DaDer stated) refuted the Courier's state ments of an attempted hold up, and which also proved the Courier edi tor a character assassin and then some. Here's the whole storv in short iorm, ana following it is Mr. Brat ton's letter. And following the letter are a iew comments and deductions. And when you have finished It, draw your own conclusions of the whole deal, with its crooks and turns. Mr. Bratton, representative of tne gas company called at the Cour ier office three weeks ago, with a let ter of introduction, stated the Com pany had purchased the franchise granted to A. L. Beatie two and a half years ago ,and that they want ed to get the council to change it to provide for heat and power as well as lighting, and to change the name to Clackamas Gas Co. The Courier editor told him he could not see where there would be any objection on the part of the council, as under this change we would get gas, and under the pres ent franchise there was not much prospect. On Sunday evening, the 15th, Mr. Bratton again came to the Courier office, called the editor into the com posing room and told him there was a deal on to hold him up for $500. He said Editor E. E. Brodie came to his office in Portland and as he (Bratton) was out, he left his card and asked him to call up Mr. Brodie at Oregon City. He did so, and Bro die asked him to come down to Ore gon City as he wanted to talk with him about the franchise. Mr. Bratton told the Courier edi tor that they wanted $500 and if it was not paid the franchise changes would be held up. He asked the Courier editor if either of the men had enough influ ence with the council to hold it up. Brown told him they did not have, and that he was a sucker if he stood for it, and advised him to take the matter up with Mayor Jones and to tell the whole story" to the city coun cil at its session the coming Tues day night. Mr. Bratton said that was ' just what he would do if any attempts were made to hold up the franchise. He showed the deeds to the fran chise his company had purchased from Mr. Beatie; said the company did not owe him a cent, and that he would not stand for any $500 hold up. Among others having first hand in formation of the matter may be mentioned Councilman Fred Metzner. It was Mr. Metzner who asked Mr. Bratton in open meeting, when the franchise was tinder discussion, if he knew of any reason' for the matter being delayed, and if any demand had been made for money. After the matter had been tem porarily disposed of by the council, Mr. Metzner went to Mr. Bratton, at one side of the council chamber, and asked him why he had not told the city fathers of the attempted hold up. . "Everything seems to be going well tonight," replied Mr. Bratton, "so I will hold this thing in reserve for the time when the franchise comes up for final passage. If there is any fight then I will tell the whole story." The same evening Mr. Bratton was asked by a Courier reporter why he had not told the council about the demand for $500. , "I will do it the day the franchise comes up for final passage,"he re plied. ' ' The Enterprise article states that this paper promised not to tell this story, agreed with Mr. Bratton not to publish it. Now, here's what there was to that: Mr. . Bratton came to the Courier office again Wednesday 'afternoon, this time not to denounce a hold up conspiracy, but to defend the men (or one of them.) He asked the Courier not to pub lish what he had told, begged and pleaded that the story be left out At first he only asked that Mr. Bro die be left out but later on asked that the whole story be suppressed. . Wondering what potent influenc es could have so changed this, gas company representative in two days from an accuser to a defender, the Courier editor let hira play out his full string of reasons and persua sions. '"Franklin T. Griffith asks that you do not print this story," said Mr. Brwtton. "the gas company asks it and both Beatie and Brpdie ask it." "You have got the goods on them and they both know it, but it is far better for you to have a club to hold over their heads than to' hit them with it now and lose that power. Mr. Brodie knows he got in wrong on th ismatter, and what good will, it do you to show it up and make trouble Mr. Bratton urged, argued and pleaded for over a half hour, but ha didn't tell the Courier editor that the arrangement was (if the Cour ier would keep still) to make a goat ot the Journals correspond ent, Lloyd Riches, and let the matter drop. And he didn t have to tell the Courier this. Nor did he have to tell Mr. Riches. Right here we would state that we would never have printed this pri vate talk with Mr. Bratton if the En terprise had not stated we were in djuced to suppress the stolry, but later printed it. Here follows Mr. Bratton's "vin dication." Read it carefully and you will con. elude there is an opening for the comments which iollow: Clackamas County Gas Co. Portland, Ore., Mar. 19, 1914. ivir. i. a. Brodie, publisher, Oregon City Enterprise , Oregon City, Ore. Dear Sir: Referring to our conversation of this date over the telephone, in ref erence to 'the report that has been circulated regarding the franchise of the Clackamas County Gas Company and the transfer of the same, I wish to make the following statements with regard to my connection with you and the previous conversations between us pertaining to this parti' cular franchise. On my first visit to Oregon City, I called on you personally to make arrangements for the publication of this franchise according to law, if the council sees fit to grant the same. You agreed to do so. A few days after this you happened to be in Portland, iou called on the un dersigned, bat failed to see him on account of his being out. Later, talk ing to me over the telephone from Oregon City, you stated that there were some matters connected with the franchise that you wanted to talk over with me. I made an engage- ment, I took the liberty of calling you over the telephone and asking you if it would be convenient for you to see me on Sunday afternoon at five o clock. This was agreed on and I saw you at that time. In your conversation with me you stated that Mr. Beatie had had a talk with you in regard to this franchise and that he. Mr. Beatie, had told you that he had a grievance against the Clackamas County Gas company and that he thought that the same should be settled before proceeding any fur ther toward having the franchise changed. You explained to me at the time that you were talking the mat ter over with me upon the request of Mr. Beatie. I explained that as far as I knew there was absolutely noth ing between the Clackamas County Gas company and Mr. r Beatie that had not been adjusted, and asked you, if possible, to get hold of Mr. Beatie at that time. You stated that he was sick. I told you that the only thing I knew of that ,' Mr. Beatie could be referring to was the fact that we had asked him if he could have the change - in this franchise made for us and he. said that he could but that he would want $500 for doing it. We explained to him that we couldn't afford to pay this amount and that we would ask the the 1 council ourselves to make the change. r , At the time of the interview, you stated to me that you were disinter ested that I see Mr. Beatie and get know the nature of the grievance that Mr. Beatie had, and only sug gested that I see Mr. Beatie and get the thine straightened out, as you thought that that would be the best thing in tne long run, since mr. Beatie had a number of friends in Oregon City and he might be able to delay the granting of this change. I am satisfied that your interest in this matter was, and is, purely a matter of friendship for Mr. Beatie, and I never construed it any other way. I am heartily sorry to learn that' vour actions were misconstrued and I can assure you that my im- nression of your actions in the mat ter was. and is, to facilitate matteru, if possible, towards getting the gas into Oregon City. Trusting that this will make your position in this transaction clear, I beg to remain. lours very iruiy, S. C. BRATTON. You will note Mr.-Bratton says he called on Editor Brodie to make ar rangements for the publication of the franchise, according to law, if the council granted it, and Brodie agreed to publish it, That's a funny one. The Enter prise is the official city paper, it HAS to publish the ordinances and THE CITY PAYS FOR IT. Whv should Mr. Bratton make a "side deal?" Why should Mr. Brodie agree to do so when he already had a contract with the city to do so ? Think this over. According to the above letter Mr. Brodie was doing this job for A. L. Beatie. Why didn't Mr. Beatie do it him self? Mr. Bratton states Mr. Brodie wa3 doine this job as a matter of friendship for A. L. Beatie. II so, it appears mat it was a mighty strong friendship at the start and mighty weak at the finish. A friendship strong enough for a man to put himself into a compro mising position of "go-between," would seem to be strong enough .to stand Ay in the pinch. Yet when the matter is made pub lic, Mr. Brodie dumps it all onto his friend, and there is another "goat." If the deal was crooked, why did Mr. Brodie take it on? If it wasn't crooked, why doesn't he now stand hv Beatie and defend him, rather than to try to crawl out and leave him to shoulder it all? Mr. Bratton says. Mr. Brodil sug gested to him to see Mr. Beatie and settle the matter, as Mr. Beatie had friends and might be able 'to delay the franchise. Wonder how the members of the city council like that? If it wasn't "straightened . out" the council might be induced to hold HT MOUNTAIN ITER ILL COST . - T RELIABLE FIGURES AND FACTS BY WATER LEAGUE PLAN OF PAYMENT OUTLINED Starting with $2 Rate will Gradually Decrease to Present Basis In issuing this statement to the .voters of Oregon City, the Pure Water League hopes to impress upon each voter, not only the importance of going to the polls and casting their vote for a pure, wholesome water sup ply for our people, but the further responsibility of seeing that their relatives, mends and acquaintances do the same. . In considering the question of the new water supply, . we will first take up the financial isde, not because it is more important than the human side, out Decause one ot the first ques tions asked is, "What will it cost." The figures submitted by the en gineers show that the -total cost, in eluding Dine, excavation, back fillinc. right of way, laying of nine, trestles. etc., and construction of a pew reser voir of 6,000,000 gallons capacity at Elyville, also first years interest on bonds will not exceed $325,000. In cluded in this sum is 20 per cent for engineering and contingences, which is vuusiuerea Dy most engineers who have, studied Mr. Rands figures, as excessive. .-, After Mr. Rands report was made many of the opponents of the pro posed water supply, stated that the figures were too low. The City Coun cil then employed Mr. D. C. Henny, consulting engineer, for the U. S. Re clamation Service, an engineer whose word on matters of this nature is ac cepted by all bonding- houses and re putable banking institutions in the united states. Mr. Henny during nis career nas constructed manv nine lines, has managed water systems and is probably oine of the ablest men that could have been secured to check up the survey and estimate. After going over Mr. Rands data and per sonally inspecting the proposed route of the pipe linearom Oregon City to tne ians on tne soutn t ork or the Clackamas, he made his report in which he stated that he considered Mr. Rands figures some $13,000 too high but would allow that amount to remain in the . estimate as an ad ditional margin of safety. When the move was first started the opponents of pure water said "It can't be done." ' After Mr. Rands figures were submitted showing that it could be handled by the city, they said, "Mr. Rands is a eood engineer but you had better have his survey checked up: by an expert" That was done and still you hear the same old plaint, "It can't be done." It can be done and the water will cost the or dinary consumer who now pavs $1.25 not more than $2.00 per month and the rate will gradually be reduced and by five years the rate should be down to the present rate of $1.25 per month and less from that time on. The following figures show how the proposition can be handled and the pipe line paid for in 23 payments. The present water equipment and property not needed for the proposed system, excluding the water riehts and wheels, as an asset would offset the- present warrant outstanding in debtedness of the water department, up the franchise. This is a warm one. Mr. Beatie MIGHT BE ABLE TO DELAY THE COUUNCIL on this franchise, if the matter was not "straightened out" before hand. This was Mr. Brodie's "tip" to Mr. Bratton. The Courier doesn't believe the council would ever listen to any such a proposition. It doesn't believe there is a man on the council who would play a hold up game or assist at blackmail. No wonder a council investigation has been called! Mr. Bratton says he is satisfied Mr. Brodie's part in this deal was to "facilitate matters" in getting gas into this city. The gas company wanted two words added to the franchise and the name of the company changed. Five words. N Five hundred dollars. That's a little higher rate" than Mr. Brodie bid pn the ordinance printing. From six and eight cents an INCH to one hundred dollars a word is "facilitating" some. But there was no competition or sealed bids. Mr. Brodie says the Courier assas sinated his character. Mr. Brodie shouldn t have left it around where he did. The Courier has simply told the story and is not to- blame if a char acter got tangled up in it. Does Mr. Brodie express any re gret for Mr. Beatie's character, and what he has dumped onto it to let himself out? Is that kind of a fight game? Is it breaking clean? Or is it "strong arming" in the clinches? Mr. Brodie says "on Wednesday Mr. Bratton was informed that the Courier was preparing to publish statements that were untrue." We hope the council investigators will ask Mr. Brodie to tell WHO in formed Mr. Bratton. This is a direct statement. The council and the Cour ier should both know who told Mr. Bratton this. As to Mr. Bratton, who made this Dr.- Jeykell and Mr. Hyde transfor mation; this representative of a gas corporation who. changed from an ac cuser to a half-breed defender be tween Sunday night and Wednesday noon; he must have "Heard his Master's Voice." as a liability. The income would be made up as follows: Present yearly water collections $18,338.00 Add 60 per cent (This would cost the ordi nary householder who now pays $1.25 per month, $2. per month -. $11,002.80 29,340.80 Rent of present water power rights 5,000.00 Total $34,340.80 Interest fi per cent and .Sinking fund 3 per cent on $325,000.00 : $26,000.00 Interest on pres ent bonded debt $40,000. at 4 per ct. 1,800.00 27,800.00 Balance for operating expenses and care pipe line $ 6,540.80 The New System Outside of ' the cost of operating the filter plant and that part of the present system which should be dis posed of and extensions, the present system aoes not cost anything like $6,000.00 per year. No extensions should be made that will not pay 6 ner cent on the cost from the beginning and eventually pay out on the principal. Method of reducing the cost of water to consumers. 1st. At the end of the 6th payment of the $325, OOO.OOof proposed bonds, the yearly charge for interest and retirement may be reduced from $26,000 per vear to $,ou per year, making a saving of $3,250.00 which could be taken from charges to water consumers. 2nd. The cost of operation will be less than $6,340.80 which would also les sen the charge. 3rd. Increase in the number of the consumers in sections of the city already served, and which add no extra cost. 4th. Sain of water to consumers outside of the city who would build their own pipe line to the' reservoir. The proposed pipe line would brine in upwards to 3,000,000 gallons per 24 hours, and Oregon City does not consume beyond 1,000,000 per day at present, so it readily can be seen. that when two-thirds of the supply is usea, euner saie to outsiders or in Oregon City itself, the cost to in dividual consumer can be correspond ingly reduced. Their calculations fehows that a charge of 8 per cent would pay the interest on this bond issue and at the end of the fifth year this might be reduced to seven per cent and still pay the interest on the bond issue and retire all of the bonds at the end of the 24th year and they recommend that the bonds should be issued in such form that they might be sold retired. . At this meetiner the members of the Fire and Water Committee were invited to become honorary members of the Pure Water League and ac cepted, the other members of the City Council and the mayor also not being present were also invited to become honorary members. The enthusiasm was verv marked and all persons present seemed to be very much encouraged. While we are considering the fi nancial side of the question let us go oacK to about one year ago when at the lowest estimate of the doctors of the city there were over 150 cases of typhoid fever in Oregon City. Those cases at a moderate estimate cost for physicians, nurses, hospital fees, loss of time, not conidering the suffering, anxiety and deaths, cost at least $70,000 nearly one-fourth the cost of the proposed pipe line and yet eopie win say mat tney can not ai ord good water. The city, from a fi nancial standpoint alone, cannot af ford to pass up this opportunity of securing pure water and thus gain the confidence of its citizens and the country at large where Oreeron City now has the unenviable reputation of having a typhoid infected water sup ply. What person is unwilling to pay 75 cents per month for the assurance that their family is not in constant danger from typhoid? The new sys tem to our city would be the cheap est, health insurance that we can con ceive of. A much more important question to the people than that of mere fi nance is that of humanity. We are too apt to figure everything in dol lars and cents, forgetting the hu man element, which is much more im portant. As long as we continue to use the present supply from the Willamette River, which in the last analysis is nothing more than filtered sewagu, we are. imperiling the lives of our citizens," our children and our homes. The principal objectors to having pure water for Oregon City are not the small property owners, and the working people, but the chief objec tors are those who have the money and the property, those who appar ently place the dollar sign above hu man life, health and happiness. The following editorial from the Portland Daily Journal of recent dnte or the water situation in Orjon City a most appropriate: Oregon City is in the midst of an agitation for a mountain water sup ply. The present source of supply is the Willamette river. A filtering plant of modern designpurports to provide average purity.. There are, however, many people in Oregon City who in sist that a filtering system is not always dependable and that when ever there chances to be a lapse In its efficiency customers are drawing their water supply direct from the gieat sewer of the Willamette Val ley. The Pure Mountain Water Leogue is an organization which heads the movement for a gravity water sys tem for the city. From contributions of its members it has financed a sur vey of the head waters of the Clack amas as a probable source of sup ply. The engineer reports that per fectly pure water can be delivered to consumers in Oregon City through a pipe line 26.1 miles in lencrth, and at a total cost of $300,000. The league proposes that a bond issue to cover the cost, and points to the fact that the system could be put in operation in about one year from the begin ning of the work on the pipe line. (Continued on Page 5, Column 4) BROWNELL MAKES T WOULD VETO ANY BILL COM PENSATING SALOONS UNLESS PEOPLE PASSED ON IT Takes Out and Out Stand for State wide Abolish men t of Liquor Selling Oregon : City, Oregon, February 14, 1914. To the People of Oregon: I have waited with the hope that some of the numerous gentlemen who are candidates for governor in "'the Republican primaries and otherwise, in announcing their candidacy, would make some declaration as to how they stood upon the National Problem of the sale and manufacture of intoxica ting liquor in the United States. I have also hoped that there would have been some expression as to how these gentlemen stood, or would stand on the question of an amend ment to the Constitution of the state of Oregon abolishing the sale and manufacture of all intoxicating liquor within this state. None of these gentlemen have seen fit to make any declaration or commit them selves in any way upon this great issue, wnicn l think and believe to be the most important for the welfare of the people generally and to the maintenance of our Christian civi lization that now exists. Reluctantly, after due considera tion, I have concluded to become a candidate for governor upon this is sue as the principal one of my can didacy. I take this position, that the intelligent opinion of all fair minded men and women is unquestionably that the liquor traffic, as now in use and force, is a menace to civilization, and is the result largely of crime, poverty, degeneracy and moral de cay, to such an extent as to become a startling danger to the human race. I have no personal fight against' the man who is running a saloon. I real ly feel more like condemning and cen suring society for permitting this great evil and power to exist and to obtain the firm hold that it has in this state and in this country. If I had my own way, I should feel as if so ciety itself, ought to be punished to the extent of compensating men who have been engaged in this business, sanctioned by the law, in a reason able way to recover their investment that they have made, on the same theory that Abraham Lincoln favored buying the slaves and colonizing them, in order to settle the slae problem. Of course, I think and know that the people of this state would not favor compensating men who have invested their money in the saloon business, neither am I advo cating it as a part of my platform nor program in this fight, I am sim ply suggesting it to the conscience and fair minds of the people of this state, for them to give such consid eration as they see fit, recognizing as I do, that whenever society feels that i tis in danger, it has a right to abolish and to destroy anything that endangers itself. My object and purpose is to try to arouse the public opinion and the conscience of the Eeople of this state, where they will e willing to stand shoulder to shoulder, irrespective of political par ty or affiliations and unite for the purpose of putting the saloon busi ness out of existence and destroy its influence, in our economic, social and political life. I therefore am in fa vor of destroying the saloons with compensation if the people Bhould up on a direct vote so declare, but I would veto any bill which the legis lature might puss, compensating sa loons for their investment unless the people by popular vote directed me to do otherwise. I stand openly and above board, unconditionally, in fa vor of the adoption of a National and State Amendment to the Constitu tions of the United States and the State of Oregon, to prohibit the sale and manufacture of all intoxicating liquor within the United States and within the State of Oregon. I also favor National Suffrage to the women of the United States. I am opposed to any and all Asi atics, such as Hindus being permitted to come into this country and into this state and competing in the log srine camps and other avenues of work and labor with the laborng men now here. ' It is unnecessary- for me to add, that I stand with all good citizens in this state in favor of upholding and maintaining our school system jn a fair and liberal way, and in the con struction of roads and highways to PLAIN STATEIflEN L - "1 (Continued on Page 4 Column 4.) CHARGES ARE "FRAME-UP" SAYS DR. VAN BRAKEL Doctors Want to "Get Him" Because .he is Not One of Them. . Doctors M. C. Strickland and Guy Mount have brought charges against .Dr. J. A. van Brakel before the state board of health and ask for his re moval. The charges are incompten cy and neglect of duty. Dr. van Brakel first received the charges through the news columns of the Oregonian, and later through a notice by mail. The doctors evi dentally believed in letting the pub lic know of the matter before the doctor was notified. Asked for a statement of the matter Dr. Van Brakel said in part: "The notification I received from the State Board of Health to appear before that body March 81, for the purpose of answering charges made on complaint of the Clackamas coun ty Medical Society, is the- culminat ing farce in a series of hitherto fu tile efforts upon the county health of ficer, simply because I have succeed ed in breaking the medical monopoly upon state oliices which has up to the present time so stoutly existed. "The situation which arises is ut terly ridiculous, and yet wholly char acteristic of the men who have cre ated it. Next Tuesday the spectacle will be solemnly presented o f my hearing and trial upon charges ex pressly manufactured by a group of men who have publicly stated time after time that they would not rest until they had secured my removal. Further 1 will be listened to and tried by a board comprised entirely of members of schools of medicine an tagonistic to my own, besides which the sceretary of this same board has previously stated that he would take care of my case. "But if the situation is ridiculous, thee omplaint causing it is more so. The charges are wholly without ade quate basis of fact and are based up on happenings now some six months' old. If these so-called cases actually represented misconduct upon my part as health officer, why "in the inter ests of the public at large" were they not used against me months ago? As in the legal investigation of my qual ifications to hold this office, I have constantly courted complete and thorough examination of my un doubted rights to the office, so in the investigation of these charges I shall be only too glad to see that the facts are brought out. Such an investigat ion will bring out a line of tactics upon the part of certain of our med ical friends that would put an old , time politician to shame. Several per sons besides myself will have to ex plain certain uncontrovertable facts which occurred during that myster ious month of October when these "cases" were being carefully prepar ed. As these charges reflect not only upon my efficiency as a health officer ' but also upon my ability as a phy 'L(.n, I shall demand that , they be given the most searching investiga tion and the fullest publicity. , Huibort-Seivers Wedding I.' Adah Hulbert and John N. Seivers . of Gladstone were united in marriage by Rev. T. B. Ford Friday night of last week at the home of the bride in Gladstone. Both of the young people are well known and decidedly , popular in this city, and a long fist of friends wish them all kinds of sun shine. EVERYBODY SATISFIED BUT THE DRUG DOCTORS They Want to Down Van Brakel and Let Tou Taxpayers 1'ay A week from Monday, April 6, the trial of Dr. J. A. Van Brakel, as health officer will commence before Judge Campbell, to determine whether or not an osteopath, is quaunea to holu such an otlice. So far as the people are concerned, the people who hire him and pay him, he is entirely qualified, fully satis factory and made fully good. If the matter could be presented to the people for a verdict, 90 per cent of them would stand by the osteo path. He is popular and is always on the job. but it is not a question or wnetner this public oiliciul is ellicient and does his work fully satisfactory. It is not a question ot whether tne people who pay his salary want to retain him. It is a question of whether the medical doctors can dig up evidence enough to oust him, because he is not orthodox because he does not give pills. The law says a county health of ficer shall be a graduate of a repu table medical college." The osteopaths claim their colleges are "reputable." The doctors claim they are not. Therefore the case drags on, wiil no doubt co to the supreme court, and you taxpayers, who are entirely satisfied, will have to pay tne ex penses that the county medical so ciety will dump onto you. You will have to stand for their costs. You are better able, and your taxes are so low that you really want to. v J ,4 Jt . . ! J J Circulation Over 2600 " I, M. J. Brown, editor of .." the Oregon City Courier, do . affirm that the average week . ly circulation of the paper for the past 12 months has been M 2650 copies, printed and cir- J , culated from the Courier of- . fice in the usual manner. tf M. J. Brown. " Subscribed and sworn to fore me this 24th day of . March, 1914. Gilbert L. Hedges, J Notary Public for Oregon. - Jt , . . J . J - - J FOR SALE At Meldrum, Oregon City carline. Alex Gill, with office 1 block east of station or 1 block N. east of Glen Echo, at brick house, has several tracts of land for sale, including lots and acreage close to the stations on Oregon City carline. Most of these tracts are cleared land ready to plow. He also has 1 7 room house and 2 big lots at 2nd Ave., near Corner, at Lents, Oregon.