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About The Coos Bay times. (Marshfield, Or.) 1906-1957 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 4, 1908)
JH THE DAILY COOS BAY TIMpc madoucici n . ...- aW at . THE DAILY COOS BAY TIMES, MARSHFIELD, OREGON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1 908. IIMMW-HMIglli IMWIWWI 1 H i CITY NEEDS COOS BAY TIMES 8 u t i "-F I I MB IJIMIt . IIJJI II""' '"' !. .-." 8 I 8 8 8 ( 8 8 8 At NEW CHARIER :: i ttv Editor and Publisher. MALONEY. :,-, , .. Now9 Bdftor. if. C. a AN E. MALONEY t ' ) S! AN INDEPENDENT REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED EVERY .EVENING EXCEPT SUNDAY. AND wunivui rx TIMES PUBLISHING COMPANY. Metered at the postofflco at Marsh neid O&gL. r transmission rthrough the malls as socond class mall nutttecr $& -u LET US TALK IT OVER N ANOTHER column of this even Ing's paer.. WfTimes prints a com- Imunlcatlon in reference to the recent acuon u granting the telephone franchb e. The article Vas written by one of the most successful, prominent and practical business men of the city ,-ot Marshfleld. While The Times cannotigree ji him In all of his conclusions the subject Is one of such grave public concern that it can .not receive too much publicity or discussion. Thcmost Important feat ure developed is the .far reaching power . Invested'' In "the city council in Its authority to initiate a new ordinance and enact it into a fixed muni cipal law in one evening without prior notice, publicity or discussion. The only protection the people have from the abuse of this power is the Initiative which is dilatory, and difflcu.lt In affairs of this kind. If .the council can do this, and The Times understands they were acting rell within their rights and privileges, wttha.tqlbphone franchise, there is nothing to prevent a similar' action4 With a street railway franchise or any corporation request that may be presented for their consldera- tion. The Times must confess that it cannot see any reason for haste In granting the telephone franchise or-for that, matter in granting it at all at this time. The old company's f raftchl'slT llad '-several years to run and .It should have been sufficient with'ouj..the council rushing to the rescue .-with a franchise on a silver platter. Every business man In Marshfleld knows that Marshfleld is entitled to an improved telephone service. It was the basis on which Messrs. Durett and Douglas asked for a franchise for a new company. They apparently .tfound it more convenient to make terms with the powers that be, pur chase the old company and get their franchise. It would appeal to the .average business man that the c ity council would conserve the city's arights by withholding this new fra nchlse until the new company had .jhown by Its work Its earnest to improve the present service. Another feature of the telephone franchisp grant.that is a trifle confus ing is the action of the council in going into star chamber secret ses sion to discuss and agree upon a qu estton'oV important public concern. The Times believes that this, not on ly bad policy but inimical to the best Interests of the city. The thought o f the men chosen to guard tne cuy s .Interests going, Into secret conferen ce wit.1; parties seeking favors and -franchises and barring out tax-payers is not a pleasant one. The Times .3ias confidence in the Integrity of the Individuals-constituting the present council and it is for that reason it sees nqecesslty for star chamber .-sessions. It is simply establishing a bad (precedent. What Is needed here, Is more personal Interest, individual concern, In public matters, especially with regard tp, franchises of all sorts and Hie council should encourage this interest': Thre Is no use saying "it is mone of our business'; It Is altogether our business. It is public prop erty that is being handled and public interest being served, and we are she Public There are excellent people in charge of these things, but . JO the best of them grow careless, at tiroes, ihlgh, and low; those who or - daln things and those who do them as they are ordained, or as nearly . as they can or will; and every time 'the1 p'flvaffetlttecn butts In to have .something amended he does a distinct favor anil, service to his fellow-taxpayer. It is not always pleasant, of cour.soT ."but, it is timely, essential, -jpnbllc-splrlted, and It pays. And this brings us to the consideration of the fact that the present smcthod of transacting municipal affairs Is -anything but satisfactory. XMarshfield Is not alone In the realization of this trut'M. City, after city, rail over the United States, is abandoning the old and cumbersome coun xllmnnlc system of government that for years has, In nearly every in stance, demonstrated its aptitude for graft and inefficiency, and is taking -on the nower, safer, more direct, and centralized, schomo of depart mental commissions, whereby each element of municipal administration Sic slvon Into the hands of a small group of men, especially equipped for i n n a i a i a K I i a i a a a ? ? a a 8 I it i 8 8 I B t U I a t a i a a 8 8 8 8 8 l 8 tthe correct',' adequate and economic handling of th'at separate Interest, .-dueled, paid, bonded, and held accountable, first and last, for the honest .dispensing of the public trust confided tdtheiri. i"u -' The curse of the old vogue Is the almost unlversaT a'bsence of ail pay .-and emolument; tho rule that thrusts honors upon a man without any thing whatever to support them and make thenQi&khlng more than. 4heaP and fictitious dignities. To this wo oWe Uhe.lhreadbare respect -bow attaching to tho municipal official quality, at least so far as tho .councils arc concerned. And, In many a case, their faces are saved by lho courage, skill, and honesty of some well paid c-mepe, who intervenes jsat iho propitious moment of doubt, hazard or worscrjsls. SRortland Is looking to tho change and studying it carefully with a vview to putting It In practical uso, and husbnndinK tho wealth and at tfluutes of tho city, Instead of frlttorlng them nwny through reckless and shameful channels of divided authority, personal Ineptitude, mul tiple functions, stupidity, inefficiency, Indifference and deliberate theft, tho latter-day essonlials of tho municipal administrative code. Of course, Marshfiold has none of those dlsagreenblo things to worry about, but, all tho same, it will pay her (to savo her acknowledged im munity), to tako up tho lssuo and novor lay it down until sho has put hor civic rospoiiBibllltles In hands, non-political hands, that will spcclal ise, mlnlmlzo, consorvo, administer, and restore them to hor, expanded. Improved, with public costs invariably reduced. Look It up. Gontle jnon of tho Electorate! Citizen Urges Change In Muni cipal Affairs Criticises Granting of Franchise. Marshfleld, Or,, Sept. 3, '08. Editor Times, There comes a time in every boy's life as he steps from boyhood to manhood when the sense of his Im portance becomes so great that he Is positively silly. Still, this has to be, and as ho grows and finds out that there are others he settles down and soon becomes a necessary part In th,e community In which he lives. Just so with the present method of handl ing the city business of Marshfleld. As we are stepping from a very, small backwoods village to a' city of some Importance we find that we give our city officials authority to do thlncs that when they act they ap pear Just like the overgrown boy, only in place of being silly they ap pear absolutely senseless, and It Is a wrong position to place six as bright men and a mayor as wo have on our board of aldermen. The Phone Franchise. We saw It worked out In the tele nhnnn franchise Just past. The re port shows that these bright fellows had a secret session to talk tele phone franchises with the promoter and at last consented to grant one in which the only positive condition was that the rates should lie ad vanced; and also carrying a further advance that means when the cities of the Bay are united as they are bound to be before the improvements spoken of in the franchise are carried out. the telephone rentals will be doubled, when it is admitted that at the present rates there Is money In It. We see the next night following this secret session this same Council take the matter up, put it on its final passage and all vote for It, thus bind ing this section to an Increased ex pense to a corporation that has al ready had one good franchise that was fair to both sides and which was granted by this present council and of which they did not see fit to avail themselves. This new corporation has agreed to reconstruct tho present svstem. nutting In such a system as the council may ask for. Here is another chance for this bright body of men to show their superior knowl edge of telephone systems and gives them an opportunity to take charge Of the reconstruction. What a time they will have deciding on the plans. Personally, I think it will come down to a party line of no more than four phones and an increased rental. But it is too late to cry over spilled milk, unless the people of the town wish to take the matter up and stand on their rights given them by the Initiative and Referendum Act. Need More Publicity. I do not blame the council. They look just like a crowd of foolish bovs with the powers that a silly town gives them, and it is time for this town to wake up and see that It cannot run Its affairs along the lines mapped out by the early set tler who never dreamed that Marsh fleld would ever want any plans car ried out that did not have their con ception in the heads of one or two people. Marshfleld must get away from this charter. She must Insist that no body of seven men can give away her rights over night. Sho must Insist that all publicity bo given all actions of the council before final action Is taken by them. Be they over so bright, no six or seven men would think of taking as Important a step as this franchise without look ing ntq it and getting all data if it was their own private business, and I very much doubt if any member of the board can tell what the usual charges for telephone rentals" are on this coast. Still, they will vote for a franchise that advances the present rates that have been entirely satis factory to both the company and to the town. Xeetl Now Charter. In writing this letter I regret very much that it may look as if I am criticising tho present members of the council. Far from it. They havo my heartfelt sympathy. They are only carrying out a silly, boyish charter that wo are expecting a man nish city to bo governed by. Wake up, Marshfiold! Kick that charter so far that It will never como up oven as a relic. Havo a new charter drawn so that your business men will not bo afraid to go on the board for fear of tho falso position they are to bo placed In. Bo men, not children. A CITIZEN. Glance You'll see the difference between our distinctive suits and the other kind. There is no "cut and dried" appearance about them-they're full of quality and animation. They're the best expression of the season's best ideas in Men's Tailoring. They're good to look at and good to wear. We ask your special attention to our $15, $20 and $25 suits. t We Are Men's and Boys' Outfitters IKe Woolen Mill Store Mill to Man Clothiers 8 8 t 8 8 8 8 t 8 8 I 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 I 8 8 t 8 8 ( 8 t 8 8 8 t 8 8 I 8 8 8 8 8 8 I 8 8 i 8 J. L. BOWMAN, Prop. GEO. ROTNOR, Mgr. i.a.8.8-8---.8.8.8-8.8-n-8--8-8-8-8.8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8--8 Portland & Coos Bay S. S. Line S. S. BREAKWATER Sails from Portland Wednesday at 8 p. m. Sails from Coos Bay Saturdays at Service of Tide. S. S. CZARINA . Business Directory Doctors. D R. A. O. BURROUGHS Homeopathic Physician Chronic Diseases a Specialty. Residence and office, corner 'C and Second Streets, Marshfleld. D R. GEORGE W. LESLIE Osteopathic Phynlclaa iL. W. Shaw, Agt. nk.. M;n ha. m m m - A. St. Dock SwasasaHSBSESZSZEBZSZS . . .......... - .AA.A..-A. 1ii4W 9 v w v wmrrTTTTT . ,OAUFRNIA AND OREGON COAST btjsambuu' cum a. Steamer Alliance B. W. OLSON, Master.- COOS BAY AND PORTLAND SAILS FROM PORTLAND SATURDAYS, 8 P. M. SAILS FROM COOS BAY TUESDAYS, AT SERVICE OF TIDE. F. P. Baumgartner, Agt. H. W. Skinner, Agt, r...-i, at rwir Pm-Hfind. Ore. Marshfleld, Ore., Phone 441 4l.tt'tUll1l,,' !2SH52H5ESZ5ZEZ5"EiE5Z5E5H5ESS5Z5H5E5a THE Steamer M. F. Plant SAILS FROM SAN FRANCISCO, AT 2 P. M. EVERY TUESDAY AT 3 P. M. FROM COOS BAY EVERY FRIDAY AT SERVICE OF THE TIDE. No reservation held after the arrival of the hlp unless ticket la boHghu Graduate of American School ot Osteopathy KirksTllle, Mo. Ofice Hours: 0 a.m. to 4 p. m. Other Hours bj Appointment. Office In Nasburg lilotk Phone 1611. Marshfleld, Ore DR. GEO. E. DIX Physician and SurKCOK New Flanagan & Bennett Bank Bldg. -mono losi. DR. J. W. INGRAM Physician and Surgeon. Office 208-200 Coos Building Phones Office 1621; Residence 781. D" F. S. DOW, Agent, MARSHFIBLD, OREGON A. L. HOUSEWORTH Physician and Surgeon. Offices second floor of Flanagan & Bennett Bank Building. Residence, two blockB north of Crystal Theater. Office Pbane 1431. Residence Phone 656. RS. NETTIE HOVEL Midwife Obstetrical Nursing Wltk n. Tf . Kammarer Phone 1' f Lawyers. & .! CHAS. TCHOM, Owner. . Sfeeamer Wilhelmina 1 LHDVIG OHlBi'DB, jk. Balls from Cooa Hr awy Mpnday for Bandon and Coquill RlTr Points, at service .of tld. Fr.lght only. For full informa tion Inquire H. W. SKINNER general Ago. rnoNE 44i J. JS. AVALSTROM, Agent. Bandon, Ore. ,.t i.. .I. '!' - Tho BREAKWATER sails for I Portland Saturday, September 5, at 5 p. m. i- "ALERT" Captain O. E. Edwards. Time-Table. Leaves Allegany, dally at 7 a. m. Returning Leaves Marshfleld 2 p. m. For torms of charter, towing, transportation or freight, apply on board. C. E EDWARDS, Owner. MARSHFISLD, ORB. GEO. T. MOULTON, Agent. Coqnllle, Ore. t - .fr fl '! - 1 ' I 't' 1 r - 'I1 ETa5r!SZ53EnSrl5HSZSrin5cSBEE5H5Ea m In STEAMER FAVORITE Two trips dallr between Bandon and Coqutlle connecting with all Marshfleld trnlnf . Leaves Bandon . ..fl :45a.m. Leaves Bandon . . . 1 :20 p. nt. Leave Conuillo . . . 0 s 15 a. m. Leaves Coqullle ...4:00p.m. rD Trarelcm leavlnB Marslilleld In the rj morning reach llandon at noon. I'eopla SJ on roQUllle river can fcpend over threo In I hours In Marshfleld and reach homo uo I" ul came day. nJ g COQUILLE RIVER TRANS- g G PORTATION CO. 3 rranris H. Clarke . , Jacob M. Ulake Lawrence A Llljequlst CLARKE, BLAKE & LILJEQVIST, ATTORNEYB-AT-LAW United States Commissioner's OtJJce Trust Building. Marshfleld, Ore. x. W. BENNETT, ns niHAu Bu T)n..lAS -uuircn over r muusou at uuu Bank Marshfleld, t - Oreiioa -OKE & COKE, - Attorneys at Li Marshfleld, Oregon. MUSK M ABLE CLARE SILLIS Voeal Insfuctlon Italiaa and Germjn Diction. Studio, Pkofe 511. A Want Ad will sell it for you ELMER A. TODD', Director Coos Bay Acaiemy of Marie. Voice, Piano. Pipe Organllarmony etc., from beglt.ilrg to gradustlonJsingers coacnea m strle diction and IntcrAtation, for oper. oratorio or concert work I New O'Connoll Bulling. Marshfleld. Miscelyneous w. S. TURPEi Ahltect. Over Red C33 Drug Store MARSHlfcLD, ORE. j jfoi II !. tW -ttntif.'i
