f University
Eugene,
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SJ 58 J i?l fcjC 1 jt jt v&
The Courier cov
ers Clackamas Co
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Weekly Reader
List of 2,650.
32d Year
OREGON CITY, OREGON, THURSDAYJUNE 18, 1914
Number 10
OREGON
CITY
COURIER
SMELLS DEEP-
GONSPmAGY
AND SEES PLOT OF PHILIS
TINES TO SWIPE GOVERNMENT
THE ENTERPRISE HAS IT BAD
Warns Citizens to Turn out Saturday
Night and Stop the Thieves
There are always those who can
see a "deep laid plot" behind any
movement, and ..there are those who
think they see about seventeen dif
ferent complected niggers hidden
away in the movement to reform the
system under which Oregon City is
now mismanaged.
To those who fear this is a scheme
to hand the city over to the Phillis
tines, to form a combination in de
fiance of the anti-trust laws, and let
a few of the chosen in on the ground
floor, the Courier would ask them to
be sure and attend Saturday's meet
ing, get up on the front rows, be
armed witn concealed fly swatters.
and just tho minute a conspirator
shows his head and attempts to
ipring his combination program, swat
mm, flatten mm to the wall and
oreaK up tne game at its inception.
The Enterprise sprang one of its
characteristic editorials Tuesday in
which it stated W. E. ' O'Donnell had
invited the people to attend the mass
meeting.
Mr. O'Donnell was the circulator
of the petition the people did the in
viting, they called the mass meetini?.
their signatures are the invitation,
and on the petition is a majority of
tne city council.
The Enterprise says the purpose of
the meeting is the organization of a
citizen's league.
Wonder how it got this advance
information and scooped the plot. As
we understand it, it is simply a call
for the people to get together, the
matter of organization to be deter
mined by them.
The Enterprise says to a prospec
tive signer Mr. O'Donnell has recited
tales of gross neglect and carlessness"
which have ip turn been told to him
by some outraged citizen, of the Fifth
street, Main street, the recent gas
franchise, the elevator, and other
matters, and that "the bulk of the
statements are the most unreliable
hearsay."
We don't know what the "other
.matters" are that the Enterprise
holds in the background, but in them
must certainly be embraced the "bulk
of the statements" if, as that paper
states, they are "most unreliable
hearsay."
Fifth street, the elevator, the gas
franchise and Main street are making
their own statements. The Enter
prise doesn't need to talk for or apol
ogize for them. They are making
their own noise and it is some noise.
The Enterprise says the petition of
400 names asking for a change in the
city' management cannot be taken as
a reliable guide as expressing senti
ment. .
This is simply a statement, and the
signatures of the men count heavier.
Perhaps Mayor Jones didn't know
what he was signing; perhaps City
Attorney Scheubel had something
slipped over on him; perhaps Record
er .Loder thought it was the "easiest
way to settle the matter;" perhaps
J. O. Staats, C. H. Dye, G. B. Dimick,
Huntley Bros., and scores of others
didn't really know what they were
asking for when they called-, this
meeting.
AND PERHAPS THEY DID.
And until Editor Brodie cites a list
of men to back his bare statement,
we are inclined to think these peti
tioners are not yet in need of guar
dians. The Enterprise says some believ
Mr. O'Donnell is merely" a tool to
create public sentiment for or against
some project not yet announced."
Who are this "some?" This state
ment against Mr. O'Donnell should
not be made without some backing
for it. If it is a conspiracy of certain
interests to grab the government of
Oregon City and run off with it, it
should be exposed instanter, and the
Expositor down the street owes it to
Oregon City to stop the larceny.
The meeting Saturday is a call of
the people .to see if a more econom
ical and more responsible form of
city government cannot be put into
practice in this city.
It is an open meeting, every mail
may have a voice in it, and we do
not believe that there is any object
in view but the honest one to better
goyern the city; we do not believe
there is any frame up, and canned
program arranged or any steamroller
methods in preparation.
If there are, if O'Donnell is a tool
for the wiley politicians and schem
ers, the people can break it up at the
starting. -
Doubtless the meeting will be one
of suggestions, after which a com
mittee will be chosen to formulate- a
different form of government, to be
later on submitted to the people.
And is is our opinion you will be
fully safe to leave your gun, at home,
and that the meeting won't break up
in a row.
Big reductionon all trimmed hats.
Miss C. Goldsmith.
Girls Wanted!
(Over 18 years of age)
To OPERATE SEWING MACHINES
IN GARMENT FACTORY
Oregon City Woolen Mills
Watchful Waiting Again
The elevator matter is once more
in the courts ,this time to the supreme
bench, and the people can do the
"watchful waiting" stunt for a few
more weeks after which will come
the contest with the water comission-ers.
Wras Delightful Outing
The excursion trip from Oregon
City up the Columbia Sunday, was
one of the most pleasant and orderly
excursions that ever went up the
river, and the" promoters Frost and
Jones, are being heartily compliment
ed for the splendid management and
splendid time. There was no drink
ing, no rowdyism and all thoroughly
enjoyed the day's outing. Over 350
tickets were sold.
Dr. Guy Mount Injured
Sunday night when Dr. Guy Mount
and John Beatie were coasting down
a hill near Beaver Creek, the auto
struck a deep rut, throwing it -out
of the read, completely overturning
it and throwing both occupants from
the car. Dr. Mount struck on his
shoulder, breaking the shoulder bone,
Beatie was unhurt. A passing auto
took the doctor to Hal Lindsey's, and
he was later brought to the hospital
He will be laid up for three of four
weeks. Dr. Fox of Portland is taking
care of Dr. Mount s practice.
DOG LICENSES BRING IN
OVER $200 DURING YEAR
Present System Also Keeps Streets
rree of Stray Animals
Following an effort on the part of
some of the more "economical of the
city councilmen to do awav with the
office of city dog-catcher, Chief Shaw
has submitted, by request, a report
on dogs and cat3 for the year ending
June 1, 1914. The report shows that
lei dogs were licensed during the
year, bringing the city in $204.25 in
fees. To this sum the sale of dogs
impounded added $39.50, making the
total cash revenue of the department
$243.vo. in the course or the year
the city killed 73 stray canines and
gave decent burial to five cats that
were unable to meet the high cost of
living.
Fees connected with the work have
practically covered the expenses of
maintaining a dog catcher. In ad
dition to this practically all dogs in
the city have been licensed, making
conditions radically different from
the way they used to be before a dog
eatcher was installed. Then there
were but about 30 licenses issued
each year, and the streets were over
run with stray canines.
EBY ELECTED DIRECTOR
BY MAJORITY OF 66
Women Fail to Elect Candidate As
Many were not Qualified Voters ..
O. D. Ebv was re-elected director
of the Board of Education Monday by
a majority of 66,. over Mrs. W. A.
White, the vote being 11)0 to 84.
When the large nominating pe
tition of Mrs. White's was filled there
was consternation in the Eby Camp
for it was realized if Mrs. White's
petitioners voted as they signed, it
would take some hardfighting to pre
vent her election. So Sunday the
Ebv supporters got out m full force
and the city was given a house to
house canvas, one man stating to the
Courier that four different persons
called at his house during the day,
campaigning for Mr. Eby. The city
was pretty thoroughly combed.
The women failed largely in their
support owing to the qualifications
necessary to voters. One had to be
the owner of property that paid taxes
on the last assessment roll to be a vo
ter, and this disqualified many women
After the election Mr. Eby was
sworn in as director,' E. E. Brodie
was again elected clerk rnd the finan
cial statement was read.
DR STRICKLAND MISQUOTED
Physician Blames Morning Paper for
f aulty impression oi rusiuun
Dr. M. G. Strickland was quoted in
a recent issue of the Courier as say
ing that his stand in the controvert
sv in regard to the legality of the
county health omcer s appointment
was "none of the public's business."
This week Dr. Strickland told a Cour
ier reporter that he had expressed no
such sentiments in regard to the pub
lic or their natural curiosity about
the legality of the appointment of Dr.
Van Brakle by the county court. His
explanation is as follows:
"Dr. Meissner was sitting in my
office with me one evening and the
Enterprise man called me up about
the Van Brakle case. I told him that
I had nothing to say in regard to
the matter, and Dr. Meissner will
bear me out. Then he asked me
what I thought about Dr. Calvin
White's order in regard to making
reports, and I told him again that I
had nothing to say. He persisted
and asked me what was my stand in
the matter, and I told him it was none
of his business. Then he told me
that the public was anxious to know
what I thought about it, and i torn
him distinctly that my stand in the
matter, or my opinion of the contro
versv. was of no concern to the pub
lic and would have no bearing on the
question involved. 1 added that l
iwhq deenlv interested in seeing an
adequate settlement of the difficulty
regarding tne supervision oi me
county health as anybody else was,
and that when the present contro
verss was settled I would be glad to
state how I stood and to account for
any action that I might have taken.
But until the matter was settled I
told him I did not care to be quoted;
and then the square-head went and
reported me as saying it was 'none of
the public's business.' "
Rewarded
E. E. Brodie, clerk of the school
board, but not even a voter in the dis
trict or in Clackamas county, suc
ceeded in having Miss Moore and,
Mrs. Chapman, residents of the city,
eliminated as election judges, be
cause they were not qualified voters.
And after the election the school
board unanimously re-elected him as
clerk of the board, in open violation
of Section 5 of Lord's Oregon Laws,
page 1305.
And such is the game as played.
E
A SECOND MENTAL SPLURGE
ON "CHAUTAUQUAS"
4 FUTILE ATTEMPT AT DETAILS
Features by the Dozen to be Enjoyed
at Coming Assembly
Last week the Courier man took a
mental splurge in the realm of Chau
tauquas. Several of our readers have
asked that we splurge again with
more attention to details. With apolo
gies to the Chautauqua press agent
lor any possible infringement, here
goes:
The Courier man would rather talk
Chautauqua than most anything else.
Time and again he has visited the
i'amous "mother Chautauqua" at
nautauqua L,aKe, Mew York, and
without stretching it one whit he can
truthfully say that our own assem
oly down yonder in Gladstone iPark
ranks right up even with the parent
assemmy, in everytning but the price.
uut here tne cost is less than half.
Twenty years in Chautauqua work
at Gladstone Park has convinced
the directors of our assembly and the
thousands of patrons who annually
throng Gladstone Park that the Chau
tauqua idea is one of the greatest
tnougnt wnicn ever came to the mind
of man. The Chautauqua is not
a circus.neither is it a theatre, no
even a summer lecture course. It is
not a camp-meeting don't get that
idea, nor can it be called a music fes
tival. And yet, it combines the
charm and exhilaration of the circus.
che wit of the stage, the wisdom of
che platlorm and the eloquence of the
oulpit, with the beauty and health-
lulness ot outdoor lite.
An ideal combination don't you
think?
The Chautauqua is an assembly
where the patrons may eniov a de
lightful two weeks of social contact
ivitn the greatest orators, the deepest
scholars, and the best entertainers of
tho day. Vital subjects of the day,
including social, economic and health
problems, are discussed by able men
and women during the morning
hours, while the youngsters cavort
about on the playgrounds, in the kin
dergarten or at their supervised gym
nastic worn, in the alternoon and
evening come the two big programs
of the day in the massive auditor
ium interspersed with orchestra
concerts, base ball, etc., as the case
may, thus making a most interesting
oay.
Nothing is compulsory, but every
thing is free to season ticket holders
or those who come by the day only.
Annually hundreds camp at the
park at Gladstone, certainly a most
ideal camping "site, where pure water,
wood, provisions, ect., can be secured
right on the grounds. The camping
feature is one of the drawing cards
at the Willamette Valley Chautauqua
for the simple reason that camp-life
in that beautiful park approaches the
ideal outing.
Among the many features at the
coming assembly might be mentioned
The Dixie Jubilee Singers; Platten
burg, lecturer; Lochwitzky, a Russian
Exile, lecturer; Dr. L. G. Herbert,
lecturer; Ash Davis, celebrated car
toonist; the 'Chicago Glee Club; Dr.
Edna Eugenia Lowe, reader and
health lecturer, Dr. W. B. Hinson, of
Portland, lecturer; Dr. Thomas E.
Green, lecturer, Prof. Lee Maynard
Daggy, lecturer; the Simpson Univer
sity Combined Glee Clubs of 50
voices; Dr. Fletcher Homan. lecturer;
Ng. Poon Chew .famous Chinese ora
tor; Samuel Hill, "good roads evan
gelist; Mattie Hardwicke Jones of
McMinnville, noted Oregon reader,
and other attractions.
Musically the coming session will
be a banner year. "Headlining" will
be Parson's Orchestra 'of 15 pieces,
which will give two concerts daily;
Mr. Stuart McGuire, Chautauqua so
loist and Prof J. H. Cowen, who will
direct the chorus work.
There will be over fifty summer
school sessions, and eleven interest
ing forum hours in which the state
college will all vie lor nonor.
The daily baseball games will be
played by the five best teams in the
cnuntv. Cackamas. Estacada, Macks-
burg, Oregon City and Molalla.
All comforts and conveniences are
provided for campers. Provisions are
mnde for the accomodation of auto
parties, while the P. R. I- P. cars
run directly into the park gates every
half hour during the day and evening
from both Oregon City and Portland.
Local trains on the S. P. stop within
a stone's throw of the park.
Now if you still want details,
better drop a line to Secretary Cross,
and get one of the booklets.
Off to Hawaiian Islands
TW T Rrnnm ftf frllA flnliripr. Will
leave Portland Friday of next week
for a vacation trip to the Sandwich
Islands, sailing from ban irancisco
July 1, and he will write a serres of
oiH-u-lo., ti the Courier and a svndi-
caU of eastern newspapers, of the
interesting and out-oi-tne-way places
of the archipeligo native life, leper
Anlnnv the uncles, the lake of fire.
old ruins and other interesting places.
... . M 11 . 11 . 1 il 11.-
He will not lonow tne tourists pawis,
but will spend considerable time on
the islands of Kauai, Molokai and
Lanai, that are not regular ports for
passenger steamers, and where Ha
waiian native life is much as it was
when Cook found the islands 136
years ago.
Hafer Getg Long Sentence
Convicted of a statutory charge by
a jury in the circuit court, Judge
Campbell Saturday sentenced J. A.
Hafer to 20 years in Salem prison.
GAMP
WHO PAY THE TAXES
J. O. Staats Shows Who do in s'ome
Very Interesting Figures
The problem of taxation has al
ways been of especial interest to'
every loyal American citizen.
Because of unjust taxation our
forefathers rebelled against the
mother country and founded this na
tion.
Since that time the question has
been raised, and in recent years has
become more and more acute, espec
ially among the farmers and wage
earners, that the large, momed inter
ests are not paying their just pro
portion of the taxes that are raised
to defray the expenses of municipal,
county and state government.
This is especially true in Clacka
mas county.
We recently noticed , an assertion
in a local paper to the effect that the
farmers of the county only paid one
third of the taxes.
On the other hand there are many
farmers who honestly believe that
the farmers are . paying practically
all of the taxes in the county.
For the benefit of those whoreally
desire to know, I submit the follow
ing compiled from the tax roll of
1913, showing the assessed valuation
of the various incorporated towns In
the County, the public -.service cor
porations, and large land and tim
ber holdings.
The figures given do not include
that portion of the public service
corporations inside the city limits of
any incorporated town or' ijity, or
that is included in the valuation of
the city or town.
Total assessed valuation of the
county $30,621,902.12
Divided as follows:
Cities
Canby 337,682.91
Estacada 198,274.00
Gladstone 338,828.95
Milwaukie 567,953.53
Molalla 110,305.00
Oregon City 2,795,337.64
Oswego 297,491.10
Sandy 49,775.00
West Linn 2,425,133.25
Willamette 91,172.00
Total Cities ' $7,211,953.38
Public service corporations outside of
city limits: .
Northwestern Long Dis
tance Tel. Co $10,725.00
Oregon and California R. R.
right of way, roadbed and
equipment 797,385.60
Oregon Electric R. R 223,513.50
Pac. Phone and Tel. Co. 22,648.30
Pacific Fruit Express Co 1,676.84
Port. Ry. L. and P. Co. 2,902,127.80
Postal Tel. Co : 2,059.85
Pullman Co. .4. 6,622.00
Union Tank Line Co , 312.18
Wells Fargo Ex. Co 12,383.25
Western Union Tel. Co 7,560.52
Total .'. $3,987,014.84
Timber Companies
Weyerhauser Land Co. '
Sands-Hayden Lumber
Co ....-.
T. D. and E. S. Collins ..
Oregon and California R.
537,345.00
29,0f0.00
686,170.00
R. Lands (not sold).. $1
,530,250.00
Molalla Lumber Co
W. R. Burt
E. J Cornwell Lumber Co
Geo. S. Lacey
Silver Falls Lum. Co. ...
Chas. and Geo. Forster..
114,740.00
91,180.00
16,710.00
93,005.00
..68,025.00
124,955.00
Total Timber holdings.. $3,291,390.00
Waverly Golf Club 200,75.00
Canemah Park 12,200.00
Total 213,175.00
This gives us a total valuation
outside of farm lands in the county
os follows:
Cities 7,211,953.38
Public Serv Corporations 3,987,014.84
(Outside city limits)
Timber Companies...!.... 3,291,390.00
Amusement Parks 2131,75.00
Total $14,703,532.22
Leaving a balance of farm valua
tion in the county of $15,818,369.90,
on which the farmers paid the taxes
in 1914.
In studying these figures the fact
must be kept in mind that the valu
ation given of the public service cor
porations is only that portion of
them outside of the incorporated lim
its of the towns aer included in the
city valuation.
The valuation of the various far
mers' telephone lines are included in
the farm property, as they are own
ed almost exclusively by the farmers.
J. O. Staats.
HOUSE IS TOTAL LOSS
Firemen Work Hard to Save Proper
ty but Crowd Hinders Efforts
The home of John Berry, at Tenth
and J. Q. Adams streets, was gutted
by fire early Wednesday morning and
practically all of its contents were
destroyed. The flames spread rapid
ly through the building, and though
members of the local fire department
worked hard to save things, their
efforts were seriously hampered by
the crowd of spectators that gather
ed.' At one time it was necessary for
the fire-fighters to turn the hose up
on the onlookers in order to clear
space in which to work.
With practically all the available
apparatus stationed at the foot of the
hill, some slight delay was occassion
ed in reponding to the alarm, but by
hooking hosecarts and chemicals on
the rear of automobiles, the best time
possible to the scene was made.
Street traffic also added to the delay
to- the firemen in reaching the fire.
As one piece of apparatus was
dashing under the Southern Pacific
bridge on Twelfth street, en route to
the blaze, a derrick hoisting a heavy
steel girder broke, and the great
mass of metal crashed to the ground
just behind the hurrying apparatus.
Had the derrick broken a second soon
er, firemen occupying the automobile
dragging the hosecart would hav
been crushed to death under the gir
der. Big reduction on all trimmed hats.
Miss C. Goldsmith.
E SPIRITS '
WIRING INSPECTION LAW IS
BONE OF CONTENTION
ROAD OILING CAUSES STRIFE
Templeton, Metzner and Hackett Hold
Star Role in Various Scraps
The city, council Wednesday night
had one of its good, old-time ses
sions, with considerable ginger and
fireworks, the occasional passing of
the lie direct, and "some interchange
of pleasantries and personalities be
tween members. And it all happen
ed over unexpected and unanticipat
ed things, too none of the usual
causes of war with the city dads
coming up at all.
The fun started when City Engi
neer Noble brought in a profile of
the grade of Third street, from Cen
ter to the edge of the bluff. Prop
erty owners on this street have ask
ed to have it improved and have said
that they are willing to pay for it.
Councilman Metzner was explaining
this, and bad made a motion that an
ordinance be drawn establishing the
grade, when Councilman Hackett
said:
"Mr. Mayor, I don't think the coun
cil should take this action just be
cause the property owners on this
street have gone to Mr. Metzner and
told him what they want. Let them
come in and tell the whole council
the way they should do. There has
been too much one-man work recent
ly." Mayor Jones told Mr., Hackett
that a petition had been" regularly
presented to the council at a prev
ious meeting asking for the improve
ment and Mr. Hackett subsided. How
ever, with things started, Council
man Templeton got into the game,
and asked that Mr. Shea, now doing
work on High street, be given the job
of improving Third street at the same
prices as the city was paying for
High street. Mr. Templeton added
that he would like Mr. Shea to have
the work "if we could legally give it
to him." The mayor told Mr
Templeton that the charter provid
ed that such street work would have
to be let by bids, and the a referred
the matter of getting bids to Mr.
Templeton's street committee.
Report of the appraisers on Divis
ion street, as a preliminary to the
improvement of that thoroughfare to
the city limits, showed that the
property would bear about 40 per
cent of the cost of the work, and that
the city would have to stand the
rest. As Councilman Meyer express
ed it, "thig will mean that the prop
erty will be able to pay for the curb
ing" and the sidewalks, and the city
will pay for the roadbed and what
ever kind of surfacing is put on it.
Councilman Hackett objected to the
improvement of the street with con
ditions as thejt were, and suggested
that as a substitute the city lay a
gravel road there. His suggestion
was turned down, and Division street
was referred to Mr. Templeton's
street committee.
Advice on how to run and care for
a cemetery was given the city dads in
a letter from Howard Earl Reade, of
Beaverton. Mr. Reade had made
some plans for the extension of
Mountain View cemetery, and the
council adopted hia plans with cer
tain reservations of their own and
ordered that he be paid $201.40 for
his work.
City Recorder Loder then read a
letter from the Pacific Road Oil com
pany in which the concern said that
at the request of Councilman Temple
ton it was submitting the bid of $416
for oiling Seventh street with extra
heavy road oil. This amount would
give the city the 5,500 gallons of oil
required for the job, the letter said,
and would also leave over 1,000 gal
lons that the city could put some
where else. Mr. Templeton explain
ed that he had asked for figures on
this job because Seventh street was
but newly improved, and - said that
he thought it ought to be "well oiled
and rolled in" as soon as the improve
ment was completed.
"It's too bad we didn't think of
that when we let the contract for the
improvement of the street, then we
could have made the property own
ers pay for it," said the mayor.
"Are the other streets given this
kind of oil, Mr. Templeton?" asked
Mr. Hackett.
Councilman Templeton said they
were not, that the heavy oil for
Seventh street was to be something
special.
"Mr. Mayor, I move you that Sev
enth street be treated just the same
as any other street," said Councilman
Hackett. . (
Property owners and councilmen
then engaged in the first real "f(o'
of the evening. The general opinion!
seemed to be that as soaking Seventh
street with ordinary oil would cost
$200 approximately, and that as the
street was new, the city might as well
spend an extra $200 and get an extra
good job done. In the course of the
remarks, Mr. Hackett said that he'd
be willing to vote for the extra ex
pense if the council would agree to
charge all streetwork to the general
fund hereafter.
"We have been doing some of
that," said Mr. Meyer, "and we've
heard a good deal, about it, too,
lately."
Mr. Hackett finally withdrew his
motion, and Mr. Templeton prompt
ly moved that Seventh street get the
extra oiling. Then Councilman Mey
er moved an appropriation of $500
to cover the expense.
Quiet reigning once more, Mr. Lo
Aer tcaA a nronosed ordinance provid
ing that the city engineer inspect all
electric wiring in the city and that
the city adopt the "National tiec-
con
trie Code" as the standard of its re
quirements. This ordinance was in
troduced a year ago at the request of,
the Board of Underwriters, but was
allowed to die. In the meantime sim
ilar ordinances have been adopted in
22 cities in the state. A representa
tive of the board was present to ex
plain it. When he got through ex
plaining it, Councilman Metzner bob
bed up.
"The city engineer knows nothing,"
said. Mr. Metzner. "He is incompe
tent to handle this extra work. He
has too much to do now, so why load
more stuff on him? Besides that you
can't learn about electricity right off
quick this man here says that a man
can learn enough to be an inspector
in six nights. Such talk is foolish.
This ordinance, if adopted, will simp
ly duplicate the work that the Board
of Underwriters is doing now, and
work that they are paid for. It will
take the inspection off their hands
and saddle it on the city, but it won't
make insurance rates any cheaper.
Moreover this ordinance gives the
inspector the right to enter any
house in this city and inspect the wir
ing and order them altered within 48
hours if they are not right. That
means that the wiring in every house
in Oregon City would be condemned.
We have lived all these years with
the wires the way they are now, and
I say they are good enough for us.
We took up this ordinance last year
and decided we were not ready for a
change, and we are not ready for a
change yet. If you adopt this ordi
nance in five months you will be pay
ing out $150 a month for a wiring in
spector and will be adding more to
our payroll."
Councilman Long said that the fire
committee favored the adoption of
the ordinance. The representative of
the underwriters contradicted some
of Mr. Metzner's statements and
Councilman Metzner referred to spe
cific instances where in Oregon City
wiring had been torn out two and
three times and relaid at the orders
of the underwriters. Finally Mr.
Metzner and the representatives oi
the underwriters stood on opposite
sides of the table and contradicted
each other as fast as they could talk,
and Mayor Jones pounded on . the
table for .order.
"I've been an electrician for twen
ty years and I know what I'm tally
ing about," said Mr. Metzner, in part
ing, "yet he comes here and says he
can teach an inspector in six days, or
can tell him 14 rules and make him
competent." All of which the under
writer's man had said.
Councilman Meyer tried to smooth
things down, but did not do very well
and Mr. Metzner moved that the or
dinance be laid on the table until the
next meeting. ,Councilman Hackett
seconded the motion, and Councliman
Templeton amended it to the effect
that tin the meantime a copy of the
ordinance be furnished each council
man. More discussion followed and
the intimation was made that the un
derwriters changed their code at the
behest of the manufacturers of elec
trical material, to as to help trade.
At this the representative of the un
derwriters left the council chamber.
The Metzner motion was then voted
down, and the ordinance was placed
on first reading.
City Attorney Schuebel, seeing the
council in a fighting mood, asked
for authority to go ahead and lay out
the street to the elevator on top of
the bluff, saying that attorneys who
had fought the city in the condemna
tion suit against the Chase property
were trying to dodge the matter now
and delay the trial until enxt winter.
Councilman Long moved that the
street committee, the street superin
tendent, the city engineer and the city
attorney all go to work on the Chase
property and get arrested if they
wanted to. Councilman Templeton
wanted to know what Long had
against him in particular. The mo
tion carried with only Mr. Hackett
opposing.
Mr. Templeton then registered pro
test against the smell coming from
the experimental fish-oil factory op
erated by James Kelly on the river
bank, and moved that the permit for
the plant be revoked . Councilman
Metzner seconded the motion. Coun
cilman Van Auken said that he had
investigated things and found that
changes had been made so there
would be no further smells. Mr. Kel
ly promised there would be no more
trouble. Councilman Meyer spoke on
behalf of the new industrv. Mr. Tem
pleton charged bad faith on the part
of the promoters, and said that if he
had his way he would close the thing
up at once. "I have had enough of
that smell," he said.
"You can smell lots of things on
the street committee that don't smell
good, too," said Councilman Van Auk
en, , and the city dads howled with
glee. Mr. Templeton subsided, and his
motion was voted down. The mayor
then referred the matter to the street
committee, with power to close the
plant if offensive smells came forth
again.
Ordinances making the top speed
for automobiles within the city limits
18 miles per hour, and prohibiting the
driving of cars with their cut-outs op
en or leaving of autos more than 30
minutes in any one place, were put
on first reading.
At the request of O. D. Eby, the
Clackamas Southern was given an
extension of 60 days time to complete
work on Water Btreet. Legal troubles
had delayed the work approximately
that time in the past, Mr. Eby said.
City Engineer Noble was asked to
get up plans for a hitching shed at
Eleventh and Main streets, in con
formity with recent action of the
council and the Board of Trade.
And iust before adjournment, Mr.
O'Donnell, who has been circulating
petitions for a mass meeting batur
dav night to start plans for remodel
ing the city government, invited the
councilmen to be present in a body
at the meeting. Mr. Templeton mov
ed that the invitation be accepted and
that the mayor instruct the chief of
police to jiee that all councilmen
were on hand.
Miss Ida Morley, of this city, was
taken to the St. Vincent's Hospital
Monday undergoing a surgical opera
tion of the throat Tuesday mornmg.
QUESTIONS
m
PLETON DODGES
ARE THEY NONE OF THE DEAR
PEOPLE'S BUSINESS?
HAVEN'T WE RIGHT TO REPLY
Is this City Governed by Charter or
is it Run by One Man?
Last week's Courier offered a
front page column to Councilman
Templeton to explain the charges
against him and justify this one-man
rule of the city council in regard to
street improvements.
Mr. Templeton does not reply.
Perhaps it is "none of the people's
business how he runs the city.
Perhaps it is none of the city char
business" how he runs the eit.v.
or how he gets the material.
Perhaps, like Theodore Roosevelt,
when they got some goods on him, he
uucbu t. nave iu explain.
The Fifth street improvement wan
an illegal action.
Mr. Templeton said he did not or-v
der the work done.
The Courier said he DID order it
done. Now why doesn't he show un
the Courier printed a libel, and that
Street Commissioner Babeock went
ahead with the work in ooen viola
tion of the city charter ,and without
authority from the city?
Why doesnt he?
Why doesn't he show under what
authority he orders rock from any
crusher to put onto any street.
The city charter plainly states that
crushed rock shall be bought from the
lowest bidder under contract, and the
rock Mr. Templeton is having put
onto, the streets isn't bought from
anybody under contract, and Mr.
Templeton has no more legal right
to purchase it that he had to resur
face Fifth street after the city coun
cil ordered that IT SHOULD NOT BE
RESURFACED.
Mr. Templeton didn't tear his
clothes to use a column offered him
bw the Courier to sustain his actions.
bilence seems to be more secure.
He rose up in the city council and ,
tried to say something in self defense,
and all there was to it was that the
Courier had lied, and would not print
the truth. He said he personally
came to the Courier office and told
Brown the truth of the matter and he
would not print it.
Then we offered him this space to
explain the matter himself, to his
own full satisfaction, over his own
signature.
Nothing doing.
He doesn't seem to like to go on
record.
He flatly said to the Courier ed
itor "I did not order the work done
on Fifth Btreet and I do not know
who did," yet when asked if he would
sign such a denial he as flatly,
refused.
, Just keeping still on these charges
won't do.
The taxpayers of the city who will
have to buck up the $1700 for Fifth
street's work want something beside
silence.
They want to know how Mr- Tem
pleton could have the street he owns
property on resurfaced, after the
city had refused it, and then the gen
eral taxpayers to buck it up.
You bet they want to know. It's
their right to know, and any city
official owes it to them to let them
know. ,
They don't believe that Street
Commissioner Babcock "slipped this
job over" without any authority
from the chairman of the street com
mitteej Mr. Templeton, or any orders
from the city council.
If he did, the people want to know
it.
If he did not, he should not have
to stand for blame and considerable
criticism that is spoken of him. He
should come squarely out and tell the
people just what there was and is to
the Fifth street deal, and other mat
ters. He owes more to the city than
to Mr. Templeton.
And in the meantime the Courier
ip open to any of the nine men on the
city council to defend themselves of
the charges this paper has made.
This paper will not knowingly be'
unfair to any man. Don't stand
back and yell "liar" but show the pa
per tp as a liar and hold it up to pub
lic scorn, if it is such.
Can any of you get away from this
offer ?
Dare you stand back and call
names now?
WITHYCOMBE'S STAND
Looks as if he Would be the Candi
date of the Liquor Men
Gossip has been current that one
reason the "wets" dropped the prop
osition of nominating an independent
candidate for governor was that ur.
Withycombe was not sure he was a
"Aftr" .onrlirlnta Thn fnllnwini? from
tho 'Salem Messenger would indicate
that he is very far from being such
and that the liquor interests will get
behind the Republican nominee. Here
is the Messengers report:
Dr. Withycombe, Republican
candidate for Governor, was
the principal speaker at the
Commercial Club rooms Wed- .
nesday night. A full house
wag there to hear the Doctor's
views on Borne matters of par
ticular importance just now. His
remarks were well received, and
he took pains to give the hop
growers to understand that, so
far as he was concerned, the
hop industry would not suffer
at his hands. All of which.no
' doubt, was good news for those
interested in this line of busi
ness. Every trimmed hat greatly reduced.
Miss C. Goldsmith.