University
Eugene,
Or
REGON. CITY
PlPMilotiin The Courier has tho
UllbUldUUll largest circulation
of any weekly newspaper between
Portland and Salem, and the best ad
vertising medium in the valley.
J Special meeting of stock- M
holders and directors of Coun-
J ty fair Wednesday, April 8,', J
court house, Oregon City, at J
1 P. M. M. J. Lee Secretary. J
31st YEAR
OREGON CITY, ORE., THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 1914.
No. 48
0
COU.RI.S.R,
CENSURED
BY CITY FATHERS
GAS FRANCHISE MUDDLE
PROBED BY COUNCIL
IS
COUNCIL WAS NOT IMPLICATED
Details of Sordid Incident Aired and
Rebukes Meted Out
"Mr. Brodie got in wrong, there
is no question in my mind as to that;
and Mr. Bratton got in more wrong
I cannot see, however, that this mat
ter should have any influence upon
the action of the council in regard' to
this franchise."
In those words Mayor Jones sum
med the situation up at a special
meeting of the council Friday even
ing of last week, when the city fath
ers investigated the allegation that
Editor E. E. Brodie had attempted
to "hold up" the Portland Gas &
Coke company for $500 in order that
the passage of their franchise might
be "facillitated" through the coun
cil. The investigation came in the mid'
die of a crowded evening, and the
council chamber was packed with
citizens who wanted to hear the in
side pf a matter that had been the
subject of street gossip for two
weeks. They heard considerable of
it, and also heard some humorous re
marks.. Councilman Templeton was
also heard by them: heard three tim
es move that the investigation be
dropped, and heard say once that
newspaper writers with "perverted
minds" should not print articles that
dealt with possible graft in the coun
cil chamber.
The investigation followed the set
ond reading of the franchise, which
conveys to the Clackamas County
Gas company the right to lay mains
for and to sell gas in Oregon City
for a term of 25 years at not more
than $1.50 per thousand cubic feet
for light, heat or power. The fran
chise provides that the company need
pay no compensation to the city for
eight years, alter which it must pay
$100 annually. Seven months are
given the concern to have its service
in operation in the business district
of the city, and a bond of $1,000 is
demanded by the city for the protec
tion of public thoroughfare that may
be torn up.
Mayor Jones opened the investiga-
tion by briefly reveiwing the article
in the Oregon Daily Journal that had
brought on the graft rumor, and told
the council that some of the per
sons able to throw light on the mat
ter, were in the council chamber.
Though Editor Brodie had been noti
fied by the City Recorder to be pres
ent he remained away from the
meeting. Others who were present
to shed light on the matter were
Lloyd Riches, correspondent of the
Journal; M. J. Brown, of the Courier;
E. R. Brown, of the Enterprise; S.
C. Bratton, of the gas concern, and
Enterprise and Courier reporters.
The mayor turned the proceedings
over to the council.
Councilman Albright started the
ball rolling by suggesting that Coun
cilman Templeton read the original
article that first called attention to
the $500 demand. Mr. Templeton
modestly refused to follow Mr. Al
bright's suggestion, and passed the
article to Recorder Loder, who read
it.
Mr. Riches was next accorded the
floor by the mayor, and asked the
councilmen what they would like to
have him tell them.
Councilman Meyer wanted to know
if the "insinuation" of a hold-up had
been directed at the council.
Councilman Tooze felt curious
about the same point, and said that if
anybody was getting money for "in
fluence" with the council he wanted
to know it.
"I objected all along to the way in
which the franchise matter was
brought up," said Mr. Tooze. "I
don't object to the franchise, but I
felt that there was too much effort
to rush it through. It was first
brought up by the mayor, when no
representative of the gas company
was present, and I urged that it be
sent to a committee. Mayor Jones
said he didn't even know the name of
the gentleman who wanted the fran
chise at that time, and it seemed to
me that the council ought not to pass
upon any granting o.f rights like
this until they thoroughly understood
it I insisted that the matter was
brought up under wrong conditions,
and I still insist it. There was no
evidence that Mr. Beatie had ever
transferred this franchise, and Mr.
Bratton admitted that at a later
meeting and apologized. It was a
poor piece of business. Now, in con
nection with all of this, if anybody
has been guilty of attempting to hold
up the gas company, or has asserted
that they had influence with the
council, we ought to know it, and that
person ought to be punished."
"I was asked on the street the
other day, when I was walking along
with Mr. Temnleton, how much I got
of the five hundred dollar)s," said
Councilman Albright. "Now I don't
like that It is a slur on this council.
I read this piece in the paper, and it
looks to me as if somebody was mix
ed in this deal or as if somebody felt
that they had a club over the coun
cil. If anybody has a club over this
council, I want to know it; and I
think Mr. Riches ought to tell us if
he meant to convey the idea that the
council was going to get any of this
money."
"That article was not aimed at
any of the councilmen," said Mr.
Riches, "and I believe you will see
that if you read it. It says 'certain
men attempted to hold up the gas
company. I will tell you where I
got my information. Every day I 50
to several places to get news, and in
the mornings I usually drop into the
office of the Courier, and Mr. Browii
tells me what news he has heard,
On this Tuesday morning I went
tnere, ana Brown asked me u 1 had
heard about the $500 graft. I said
no. He said a representative of the
Portland Lias & Coke company had
told him that E. .E Brodie tried to
hold them up for $500 to get the
franchise passed as Mr. Beatie was
not satisfied with the terms. Mr.
Brown said that he advised the man
to go to the mayor and tell him,
went to the mayor, and he gave me
practically the same information
that Mr. Bratton claimed that E. E.
Brodie of the Enterprise had said
that A. L. Beatie was not satisfied
with the franchise and that he had
some influence with the council, and
it would take about $500 to satisfy
him. That is what I based my story
upon."
Mr. Riches then briefly outlined
the efforts to suppress the story, as
told in detail in last week's Courier
and said that he wanted the investi-
gation to be made thorough, as he
understood than an effort was to be
made to make him the "goat" for the
whole thing.
Mr. Tooze suggested that Mr.
Bratton elucidate matters for the
benefit of 'the' council. Mr. Bratton
said he thought it would be useless
to go further into the matter, and
expressed regret that the affair had
reached such proportions as it had,
Councilman Meyer said that as
long as Mr. Riches assured the coun
cil that no reflection was cast upon
them he did not see how that body
could go any further in the matterv
Councilman Albright asked 1
"certain parties" had intimated to
Mr. Bratton that they had "influence
enough to stop this franchise."
"Mr. Brodie didn't want the $500,"
answered Mr. Bratton, "he only
wanted it for Mr. Beatie."
"Did you realize, Mr. Bratton, that
when you gave this matter to the
press, whose business it is to work
for the public good and to expose
graft, that you should also have
brought it before the council?" ask
ed Mr. Tooze.
Mayor Jones said that he had sug
gested to Mr. Bratton that the mat
ter be not mentioned to the council
unless there appeared an effort to
hold up the franchise. He said that
he believed that such a course would
mean "less trouble."
"It is not fair to reflect upon the
integrity of the council in this way,
said Mr. Templeton. "These stink
ing little rumors that are always
floating around the city should be
stopped. I for one feel that no story
connecting this council with graft
ought to be published. The implied
threat in this article hit me.. Oregon
City wants gas, and I want to see her
have it. If newspaper reporters
with perverted brains will persist in
twisting things around into sensa
tions, they ought to be excluded from
the meetings of this council. I move
that we cease this investigation and
proceed with the passage of this
franchise."
E. R. Brown, advertising manager
of the Enterprise, said that he believ
ed the matter ought to be threshed
out to the end. "1 don't want any
body to think that I got the $500,"
he said. "I don't believe any man
could get that much in one place in
Oregon City and get away with it.
Maybe I cans hed some light on this,
gentlemen. Mr. Bratton told Mr.
Brodie in my presence that the gas
company had asked Beatie to! get
this franchise, and that Beatie
wanted $500 for the work. That is
what started the whole thing."
"I move that we proceed with the
franchise," said Mr. Templeton.
Councilman Tooze called M. J.
Brown, of the Courier, and Mayor
Jones asked him if he got any of the
$500. Mr. Brown laughed, denied
the charge, and said:
"Mr. Riches did get his informa
tion from me and what he stated was
true. Mr. Bratton came to me Sun
day night and said that there was an
effort being made to hold up the
franchise and asked me what influ
ence Mr. Brodie and Mr. Beatie had
with .the councilmen. He said they
wanted $500 to get the franchise thru
and I told him that he was a chump
if he paid it; that he should come up
to the council meeting Tuesday night
and explain everything. He said
that he would if there was any effort
made to hold it up, but if it went
through all right there was no use
to start anything. I believe that
over Mr. Bratton's signature in his
letter he said that Mr. Brodie advis
ed him to accent the $500, as Mr.
Beatie had friends enough who might
influence the councilmen."
"He said Beatie 'might' have
enough influence he left a loophole,
didn't he." said Mr. Tooze.
"The long and the short of it
seems to be that Mr. Brodie got in
wrong, and Mr. Bratton got in more
wrong. " said Mavor tfefaei "But
this should have no influence on this
franchise. What is your pleasure,
gentlemen?"
"I move we proceed with the fran
chise," said Mr. Templeton.
Mr. Tooze asked that parts of the
franchise be re-read, and after this
was done the document was put on
final passage and passed without a
dissenting vote. All the councilmen
were nresent save Mr. Hackett
Following the passage of the fran
chise, Mr. Bratton said that if the
council would instruct the city engi
neer to give the gas company a list
of streets which it was intended to
hard surface, mains would be laid on
these streets first.
"Is there no provision in the fran
chise that you will lay mains in the
alleys whenever possible," asked Mr.
Tooze.
"No sir," answered Mr. Bratton.
"You will do that, will you not,"
asked Mr. Tooze.
Mr. Bratton Bmiled, but made no
promises.
Girl Wanted
(over 18 years of age)
To operate SEWING Machines
in garment factory
Oregon City Woolen Mills
THE--GOUHIER -TO
E
MODERN PRINTING OFFICE TO
START NEXT WEEK .
TAKE OVER ROOS PROPERTY
Building 70 x 40 Feet, on Eighth
Street, with Entire Glass Front
The Courier has taken over tho
Mrs. Elizabeth Roos property and
next week will commence work on a
new home for the Courier, almost
across the street from the present
office, on Eighth street.
The property taken over is the
half block, the lot being 105 x 66
feet, and including the Roos resi
dence. ine residence will remain
as it is and the new building will be
Dum Detween tne nouse and Kail
road Avenue.
The building will front on Eighth
street W leet and will be almost en
tirely a glass front and will extend
back 40 or 50 feet. It will be brick
vineer, and the building will be
built with modern conveniences for
a printing plant.
H is with consideable satisfaction
that the Courier commences its new
home, and the increasing business
that makes necessary this building
1108 uceii almost signiiicanti-
The present owners bought the
Courier two years and three months
ago, and the significant fact is that
every succeeuing month, with one
solitary exception, the business of
the plant has increased. And the in
creased business makes necessary
larger plant.
We can only account for this sur
prising increase in the business by
the fact that the newspaper and the
job department are both run on the
square, s.nd it is the .policy of the
managers to have one price, to all, be
the patron an individual or a cor
poration. ine courier doesn t nurse a
grouch, neither does it turn the other
cheek. We'll come back hard if
jumped on, but at the same time the
columns of the paper will treat an
enemy as fairly as a friend when de
served.
ihe job department never "sees
one .coming." The prices are the
same to all, they are fair to both
patron and the office.
And this policy has built up a
splendid business, a wonderful county
circulation, and made necessary a
modern printing building to take bet
ter care of it. .
Hunting for Candidates
Tuesday evening there gathered In
Oregon City some of the leading
Democrats of the countv not all of
them but some of them to discugj
ways and means of getting out an
entire county ticket for the primar
ies. The meeting was called by
County Chairman E. . T. Mass. and
Democratic warhorses that is. those
that were asked responded readily.
At the meeting it was admitted
that there seemed to be a dearth of
Democratic candidates, members of
the party having so far filed for only
four offices. Many plans were sug
gested to get more out, but no plan
was adopted. In the meantime any
Democrat who feels the call of the
people is invited to communicate
with thee ounty chairman. - .
Kicking on Timber Cruise
There is a roar of protest being
made by many farmers over the
timber cruising being added to the
assessments. Many farmers have
the timber as assessed, but so locat
ed that isn't worth marketing,- and
they would give it to anyone who
would take it off. There are some
sections on which there are not a
million feet, which was not cruised
because there was no pay in it, and
where a farmer may have a nice
block of timber, not assessed while
his neighbor on a cruised section
has to whack up.
' The People Are Awake
One after another, and often in
bunches the voters drop into this
Courier office and sign the petitions
to abolish the senate, for proprotion-
al representation and the tax exemp
tion law, and 90 per cent of them are
farmers.
Over 600 voters have signed the
$1500 tax exemption petition, and
the two new bills bid fair to be
equally popular.
Come in and sign these petitions
if you favor them, and write in for
blank petitions to be circulated in
your localities. -
Success to this Movement
The movement of the Live Wires
to bring about a more friendly feel
ing and closer relation between the
city and country is a good move, and
it is to be hoped it can be brought
about
li. E. Cross some time ago related
how in former years the city and
farmers worked together on many
undertakings and put them through
successfully and harmoniously. The
country and the city, in fact the
whole county, would be much better
off if this condition and spirit was in
working older today. And they
might be brought about by give,
take, touching elbows and becoming
better acquainted.
Take No Chances
If a partnership with West Linn
will reduce the expense of the water
system $100,000, and thereby make
the proposition the least bit more
certain to carry then let West Linn
come in.
Don't take a chance to lose.
Oregon City cannot afford to lose.
It would be years before the prop
osition would come up again, if lost
now, and they would . be exnensive
years on the growth of the city.
fure water is abovr anything, we
must have it.
NEW
HOME
Will Appear Next Week
Three communications on county
matters are crowded over until next
week because the Courier is not large
enougn.
Two Democrats Out
W. C. Green of Seventh street has
announced his candidacy for countv
clerk, and J. W. Smith of Macksburg
1 c .
nas inea nig pennon ior county com
missioner, to succeed himself.
Gas Will Soon be Here
The Portland Gas & Coke Co
which was last week granted a fran
chise, will commence work next week
on the pipe lines to this city, and it
' J Ml 1- 1! , 1 ,1
is saia gas win ue suppuea oy ine
middle of thes ummer.
Van Brakle Case. Saturday
Saturday of this week the case of
Dr. van Brakle will be tried before
Judge Campbell on the charge of
the medical fraternity that he is not
eligible to hold the office because he
is not a graduate of a "reputable"
medical college, ne being an osteo
path. '
Elevator Case April 11
Saturday of next week, April 11,
the condemnation suit brought by the
city against Mrs. Sarah Chase will
be tried to determine the value of the
land desired by the city on which to
build the elevator bridge and ap
proach walks, ihis will be a jury
trial.
Who Will Second?
A fellow told the Courier the other
day that since the city went dry the
itailors ask their customers which
they prefer, pint or quart pockets.
We move that Chief Shaw be given
authority to search the tailors'
measurement books, and that the
size of the pockets be prima facie
evidence of bootlegging.
100 to 1 Shot
An indication of how the farmers
feel on putting any more obligation,;
on this county in the face of present
taxation, was shown at the Grange
meeting at New Era Saturday last,
when after the speeches of W. S.
U'Ren and C. E. Spence against the
proposition, a standing vote of those
in favor of bonding resulted in one
man arising. Un the negative, every
one present except three arose.
About one hundred men were pres
ent. THE DOPE SHEET
Here's the Score Card of Democrats
Entered for the Race
Stick a pin in these tips and set
how near it comes to a line up of the
Democrats who will soon get busy
with petitions:
t or senator U. D. tby, Oregon
City. v
For representative M, U. Latour-
ette, John Cook, Oregon City; Frank
McGuggin, Bull Run.
For county judge Harvey Stark
weather of Concord.
For county commissioner J,
W.
Smith, Macksburg.
THE MUZZLED PRESS
Local Incident Showing the. Utter
Unfairness of Newspapers
New Era, 'April 1. 1914.
Editor Courier:
A month ago when New Era gran
ge held its regular meeting, and
Judge Dimick and T. W. Sullivan
spoke FOR county bonding, the meet
ing was reported in tun in the enter
prise and the Portland dailies.
Last Saturday, when state urange
Master C. E. Spence and W. S.
U'Ren spoke against county bonding,
at the next regular meeting, and
when a straw vote showed but ONE
man in the audience was in favor of
bonding, there was a never a line in
the Enterprise or Portland papers,
altho I am told a report of the meet
ing was given to the knterprise and
that a Portland reporter attended the
meeting.
What kind of journalism do you
call this?
C. K. Snence made the opening talk
at the meeting and he hammered the
bonding proposition so hard and
anil showed ud the ultimate results
of it so clearly that , only one man
arose when a standing vote was call
ed for those favoring the proposition.
Mr. U'Ren fo lowed Mr. Spence.
He has always opposed the bonding
deals and the arguments against
such a system were unanswerable
and conclusive.
A. liranger.
THE POMPOUS WARDEN
AND THE BIG BADGE
The Officials who Breed Contempt
for the Fish Commission
Tho Courier noted ajittle incident
of official Bombast Sunday when a
fish warden hailed a boat in which a
gentleman and lady were fishing and
gave them orders that only one line
could be used from the boat.
The boat did not get a strike dur
ing the day, and of the hundreds of
neoDle on the river probably not 78
salmon were caught.
May 1 the net fishermen may
string their nets entirely across the
river, one fisherman mav string. as
many as he cares to, and one net 0
one fisherman in one drift will catch
more salmon than all the angler
will catch in one day.
And vet a fish warden with a pri
vate launch and a big badge will
tear up and down the nver to arrest
anyone who catcnes a saimon on a
boat that has more than one angling
line.
The rank injustice and inconsist
ency of these discriminations, and
the bombastic bluster of the wardens
are creating a strong sentiment
against the fish and game commis
sion and the present game laws a
sentiment that will probably crop
out in the coming legislature.
EXTRA SPECIAL EXTRA
"We stop the press" to announce
to an anxious public that Washing
ton dispatches state the title of the
Oregon City locks is now. before the
attorney general. Please get excit
ed .
FOR SALE furniture at a bargain,
ask for address at Courier.
L TESTS"
T
-UP'
SO
DOCTORS TESTIFY IN VAN
BRAKLE HEARING
DECISION TO COME IN WEEK
Medics Declare They only Wanted to
Find if Osteopath was Competent
Before three members of the state
health board, Drs. White and Pierce
of Portland, and Dr. Morse of Salem,
interesting details of the friction be
tween Oregon City physicians and
Dr. J .A. van Brakle, the osteopath
appointed county health officer by
the present county court, were air
ed Tuesday night in the course of a
hearing of formal charges against
Dr. van Brakle preferred by Drs. M.
C. Strickland and Hugh Mount. C.
D. Latourette represented the local
physicians and Dr. van Brakle was
represented by Attorneys Schuebel,
Stipp and Seivers.
As soon as the meeting got under
way objections - to the proceedings
were made by Mr. Stipp and Mr.
Schuebel, they contending that three
members of the state health board
were not sufficient to hear ths charg
es, that the charges set forth in the
complaint did not constitute grounds
upon which the state board was em
powered to dismiss a county health
officer, and that the complaint was
against J. A. van Brakle personally
and not against him as county health
officer or secretary of the county
board of health. All these objec
tions were overruled by Dr. Pierce
who acted as chairman at the pro
ceedings.
Trouble Over Oath
Further difficulty arose at the
start over the proceedure in the se
lection of somebody to administer
the oath to the various witnesses
called. Members of the state board
suggested that the attorneys of the
opposing sides agree upon some per
son emDowered to do this, ine at
torneys failed to take kindly to this
suggestion, and the members of the
board then asked a stenographer
present, who was also a notary public
to perform this duty.
O. M. Smith, a laborer. 52 years
old. and at present out of work, was
the first witness. He testified that
on October 9, 1913, he had visited Dr.
van Brakle. complained of feeling ill,
and that after a superficial examina
tion Dr. van Brakle had told him
that he was apparently suffering
from bronchitis, charged him a dol
lar and asked him to call again tne
next dav. Dr. van Brakle, he said.
had looked at his tongue but had not
taken his temperature, and wnue ne
looked at his throat, "had not done
so very closely." Under questioning
by Mr. Latourette, Smith recalled
that Dr. van Brakle had also sug
gested that he might be coming down
with malaria, as well. He had not
been ordered into quarantine.
Other Side Scores
Under cross examination by Mr.
Schuebel, Smith admitted that he
had been sent to Dr. van Brakle by
Dr. Strickland, whom he had visited
first, and had later returned to Dr.
Strickland's office, where he was
given a "thorough" examination,
told that he had typhoid fever, wai
sent home and quarantined, and re
mained ill for seven or eight weeks,
part of the time being delirious and
needing the services of a nurse. His
temperature, he said, was 103 the
day van Brakle examined him, and
he was later convinceu mat ui.
Strickland had found conclusive proof
in his examination that he exhibited
positive signs of typhoid.
Asked if "the blood test" had been
made, Smith answered promptly that
it had. ,
"Then they took some of vour
blood and examined it, did) they,"
asked Mr. Schueble.
"No sir, they didn't take any
blood," replied Smith.
Later he gave details of other
tests made. He said that while he
was in Dr. Strickland's office he was
also examined by Dr. Mount, Dr.
Schultze and Dr. Meissner, all of
whom were called in by Dr. Strick
land. Another Man Sent
Frank Kobelnich, the next wit
ness, said he had called on Dr. van
Brakle October 1, 1913, complaining
of a sore throat. Dr. van Brakle
told him, he said, that he had tonsi
litis, and gave him an osteopathic
treatment. . , ,
"He rubbed my throat and jerked
my head," said Kobelnich, "and told
me that my blood did not circulate.
Kobelnich said that Dr. van Brakle
told him to come back the next day,
and also advised him that there was
no harm in gargling his throat with
a preparation which he had pur
chased at a drugstore.
On cross-examination Kobelnich
admitted that he had been to Dr.
Strickland first "to get treated for
skin disease," and that Dr. Strick
land had sent him to Dr. van Bra
kle. After seeing the osteopath he
returned to Dr. Strickland's office,
and sat there while Dr. Strickland
called up Drs. Hugh and Guy Mount,
Morris, Meissner, Schultz and Norri
"All but Meissner came," he said. .
The doctors, he said, took "swabs
of his throat and put them on micro
scope slides, and then gave him 3,000
units of anti-toxin and told him he
had diphtheria, and sent him home.
He said he was quarantined 14 days,
and was sick 16 days.
Mr. Schuebel asked him if he was
positive that he was given 3,000 units
of antitoxin. ,
"Yes sir," answered Kobelnich. "1
saw them and felt them, and besidea
I read the label on the bottle."
Kobelnich added that he didn't
believe in osteopathy, and had told
his friends so. He denied the charge
that ha had broken quarantine and
MED GA
Fill
had been warned off the street by
anyoooy.
Doctors Tell Story
Dr. Strickland was the third wit
ness. He said he had been a prac
ticing physician surgeon for 17 years
He admitted sending the two former
witnesses to Dr. van Brakle's office
after he had made a diagnosis in
each case himself, saying that he had
did so that the countv health officer
might verify his own opinion, and so
make the diagnosis more positive. On
the return of the patients to his of
fice he had called in the other physic
ians in the city, he added, to still
further corroborate his diagnosis. A
report on each case, he said, had been
sent to the state board of health anti
to the city health officer. , No report
had been sent by him to Dr. van
Brakle as county health officer, be
caues both cases were city cases.
Dr. Strickland and Mr. Schuebel
had quite a long discussion on tech
nical details of various tests employ
ed in diagnosing typhoid and diph
theria, and then Mr. schuebel refer
red to the three or four cases of ty
phoid last fall at the Star Dairy,
southeast of Oregon City.
"Didn't you treat the old gentle
man at the Star Dairy with the red
whiskers," asked Mr. Schuebel.
Everybody laughed at the wav the
question was put, and Dr. Strickland 1
denied that he had treated anybody
at the dairy mentioned.
"As a matter of fact, doctor, said
Mr. Schuebel, "did not you and the
other doctors here send these cases
to Dr. van Brakle as a trap? Wasn't
the whole thing a frame-up?"
Merit Alone Sought
"No sir" answered Dr. Strickland
"I sent the cases to him because 1
thought it was a good time to test
the mens of the man. I wanted to
see if he would recognize typhoid fe
ver and if he was competent to hold
his office. I believed that he was
not, and that he had been appoint
ed to office as the result of a joke
hatched up by one preacher and two
newspapermen. 1 believe in osteo
pathy where it is indicated. I recog
nize that osteopathy is one of the
branches of the tree and healing and
healing and has its value in its
place. I belong to that school of
medicine that is broad enough to use
anything that will be of service."
Mr. Schuebel then questioned Dr.
Strickland about an alleged case of
scarlet fever at Parkplace that he
had quarantined, and that later had
turned out to be something less dan
gerous. Dr. Strickland said he quar
antined it as a matter of precaution,
and reported the case to the state
health board.
Dr. Guy Mount, the next witness,
was questioned by Mr. Latourette re
garding an attack of diphtheria that
nearly cost the .life of a 16-months
old girl near Concord. He said he
had been called to the case late in
the afternoon "of October. 11, and
found the child in an advanced stage
of the disease, with her throat al
most completely blocked by the char
istic membrane, and that he had
quarantined the home at once, and
had himself come to Oregon City to
secure antitoxin.. Later he had no
tified Dr. van Brakel there was a
"case of illness' at the home that he
wished he would investigate.
Mount Wants to be Shown.
"I wanted to recognize him as
county health officer if he could show
me the goods, and see if he was cap
able of handling his office. After he
had gone to see the case he called me
up on the telephone and asked me
what I thought of the case, and I
told him it was up to him to make
his own diagnosis as county health
officer. He said that as far as he
could see the child had no eruption,
and that he would have to wait a day
to make a diagnosis. On October 13
he took cultures from the child, andj
next day he called up and said the
cultures were negative, and turned
the case loose."
Dr. Mount presented slides Baid to
show diphtheria germs, from both
the Kobelnich case and tne one ne
had been discussing, and these were
placed in evidence. He said the cul
tures taken by Dr. van Brakel were
negative because before the doctor
had taken them he had sprayed the
child's throat with an antisceptic so
lution, and so killed the germs. Dr
van Brakel told him, he added, that
he was not equipped with "material"
with which to properly test diphther-
etic cases.
Dr. Meisner taking the stand gave
similar testimony to that already
given, and added that-no nad been a
party to the "testing" of Dr. van
Rrakle's ability, though denying that
there was any "frame-up."
"If a man is not able 10 uiagnose
these cases, and therefore does not
report them, it shows his ignorance
and that he is unfit to have the re
sponsibility of office," was the way
Dr. Meisner expressea nis opinion.
State Board Heard From.
Tlr White, secretary of the State
Board of Health, was placed on the
stand and declared that none or tne
three cases under discussion nau
reported to his office directly by van
Brakle. The case of the little girl
was reported on a blank by Dr.Mount
and bore comments uy ui. win
kle on the back, but the other two
cases were reported solely by Dr.
Strickland. In regard to the charge
Vint llr. van Brakle had appointed
a deputy without the knowledge 0
the county court, ur. yvnite gave on
ly hearsay testimony, and it was
ruled out by tne cnairman.
Tim. Hemnr.tead and Hugh Mount
also took the stand, and their testi
mony was similar to that which had
been given by others. At the end of
his remarks Dr. Mount said that
"Dr. van Brakle is a fine fellow, and
personally I have nothing against
him. It has always been the custom
to refer cases such as have been re
ported hero to the county health of
ficer, so that his opinion might be
had at first hand."
With the consent of his attorney
Dr. van Brakle was called as a wit
ness against himself by Mr. Latoiih
ette. He was asked if he knew a Dr.
Wctmore who lives in the vicinity of
Wichita Station, and if he had ever
Station and if ho had ever appointed
him a deputy. Dr. van Brakle said
that he knew him, but that the only
official work he had ever asked him
to do was to fumigato a house.
(Continued on Page 8)
LOTS OF WATER AT
COUNCIL MEETING
WEST LINN'S OFFER BRINGS
ON SHARP DEBATE
SPECIAL ELECTION IS DELAYED
Van Auken Balks at Sewer Plans
that He says arc Against Nature
Water took up considerable of
Friday night's special council meet
ing last week. Pure water, rain
water and mud were among the
things considered; as were also street
openings, freight train service and
cigarettes. In many ways it was an
unusually lively meeting, and all the
members were present with the sin
gle exception of Mr. Hackett. The
evening meeting was the second of
the day, the city fathers meeting in
formally in the afternoon to man
out some of the work in hand.
The water matter came up in its
most important form when the ordi-.
nance calling for a special election on
the $325,000 bond issue came up for
second reading. This ordinance fix
ed the date of the election as April
18, but as earlier in the day West
Linn had made application for a
third interest in the proposed pipe
line, ithe second reading and final
passage of the ordinance was killed.
Instead the present pipe line com
mission, consisting of Messrs. Andre
sen, Long and Latourette, was em
powered to confer with a committee
representing West Linn, and consist
ing of Messrs. B. T. McBain and J.
W. Moffatt, and report on April 8
upon any feasible plan that might
be worked out for sharing the pipe
line burden with the adjoining com
munity across the river. This decis
ion was not reached without consid
erable debate, however; there ap
pearing a sharp division in the COUn
pil lintwppn tVi"S mumliora fnvnrint
absolute control of the proposed
water supply by Oregon City and
.1 1 l. iL. 1 1 LI.
(nose who muugiib 1,110 uuruun uugub
to be divided.
C. li. Ka f .. ,1
The negotiations with West Linn
iwill not be allowed to delay work on
the pipe line, however, even though
n.- :i i.i: t,..
wie tipetitu eiuti-iuii ima uccii puoi-
poned. An ordinance appropriating
from the general fund the sum of
$6,000 for the use of the water com
mission was passed first reading, and
will come up for final action April
8. This fund will be repaid to the
city when the water bonds are sold,
A ...ill kn tionl a no,, 4-Iia avnanQBI
of the permanent survey of the pipe
line and such other charges as may
arise in the preliminary work.
U Will UC UilGU W UB. V11VJ WAUW.US.U
Appropriating this money from
the general fund, and making pay- .
ment of it in warrants, will enable
the city to delay the sale of its water
bonds until such time as actual con-
A l-!An .. ah Ik. nlnA linfl id Vt
gun, and will save $1,400 a month in
interest that would otherwise have to
be paid on tho bond issue. This
.chance in plan was suggested and
commended by the pipe line commis
sion, and was enthusiastically ap
proved by the entire council.
West Linn b oner, suumineu at
the informal afternoon meeting, is
tnr the adjoining municipality to as
sume a one-third share of the cost of
construction and maintenance of the
proposed pipe line from its intake to
the reservoir, and to receive in re
turn one-third of the flow of water
through the big pipe. West Linn
will take its third of the wafer di
rect from the pipe line, and the res
ervoir and the distributing system
in Oregon City will be under the solo
control of Oregon City. In round
figures West Linn will subscribe to
,$108,000 of the estimated cost, and
this will make possible a water rate
in Oregon Citv of $1.50. instead of $2
a month to meet the cost of the pro
posed new system..
Debate in aarnesi
While all the members of -the
council present, with the exception of
Mr. Templeton, favored the new pipe
line as a source of supply, there was
a wide variance of views as to how
the cost of this line should be borne.
Mr. Temnleton expressed his ideas in
few1 words at the afternoon session
when he said:
'To mv mind the figures and esti
mates of the Pure Mountain Water
League are rotten."
Councilman Myer took the lead in
favoring the partnership plan with
West Linn. Councilman Albright
and Tooze opposed it, but for differ
ent reasons. Mr. Albright persisted
that it was not good business to go
into partnership with West Linn, and
cited t'ortlands control 01 tne nun
Run pipe line and its method of sell
ing water to other cities as the plan
that Oregon City Bhould follow.
Sharing control of the pipe line and
the supply, he said, might lead to
serious complications later on; and
might even be the cause of a shortage
of water here.
Mr. Tooze opposed the new sug
gestion partly for these reasons, but
perhaps more strangely for others.
In the course of his remarks, which
were listened to with unusual atten
tion, he said:
"I feel that Oregon City should
control this pipe line and water sys
tem for the reason that it will be an
asset to her that will be beyond price.
If Oregon City owns her system en
tire, her citizens will take a pnae in
it, and an interest in it, that will
mean much towards its success;
whereas if the responsibility is divid
ed, our people will not pay attention
to the development of the system.
Local Rights Urged
"Gentlemen, today Oregon City
has absolutely nothing. Every pub
lic utility that serves us is owned by
outsiders. The Bull Run pipe line i
the greatest asset that the city of
Portland possesses, ana 1 can sea 1.0
(Continued on Page 2)