The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-09-27
COUNCIL MEETINGS.


usual character of the city council
meetings as not in any way calculated
to add to the dignity of the city, and
as often opposed to the city's material
interests.
The writer of this article has been
present at nearly every council meet
ing for the past eight years, and has
many times noted with regret that
councilmen carry their private ami
mosities and ancient grudges into the
council room.
They ignore their character, their
position.as councilmen, and remember
only that they have financial and
other differences with each other in
their private capacity and act accord
ingly.
A great part of each session is worse
than wasted in an attempt to belittle
opposition by calling each other liars
and sons of darkness. While this
may make the thoughtless laugh, it
makes the iudicious grieve.
The meeting of the council every
two weeks is inevitably the occasion
for wrangle, and the interest of the
city always suffers.
Were it not so serious in its results
it would be amusing to see seven men sit
down to transact city business and In
twenty minutes have two or three OF
the seven roaring and jumping.
How not to do it," seems to be the
rule.
There is more idiotic fooling in the
city council over streets; more back
ing and filling and doing and undo
ing: more conflict of interest, OF au-
thority and Of opinion than in any
similar body that ever came under
our observation.
THE roadway" "West 9th street.
and kindred street topics, come up
every meeting night, and what is done
one night is undone the next night,
and the result is nothing but vexa-
ton.
Then the council will be seized with
a spasm of economy, a virtuous but
momentary tremor of retrenchment
and will save fifteen or twenty cents
and the next moment fool away 1
large number of dollars.
This is plain, direct statement
susceptible of proof by the record
and if denied, can be substantiated.
1t always has been this way, and al
ways will be till councilmen realiz
that business and not folly is the Fl
subject for legislative delberation.
Fun would be all right, but there il
no wholesome genuine fun about il
if there was, it wouldn't be so bad
We have never yet seen the city coun
Gil break up or adjourn in good hu
NOR. There is always a growl or
kick or a savage argument and pos
mortem after the meeting is over.
This shows that the council them
selves are not satisfied.
The people certainly are not.
Is it not ridiculous? The counc
will gravely ask the city attorney
opinion; next meeting he gives
carefully and in line with the unan
nous opinion of his predecessors, an
then the council by a two-third
vote will deliberately pass an ord
nance directly opposed to it.
In this they are either right {
wrong. But if the law is right,
what position does the city counC
place itself in overriding or overrulII
the law?
The Historian, which rarely go
into the advice business, gives th
bit of advice to the city council-a
for the city as you Individually act f
your own interests.
As individuals you are prudeI
careful, and law abiding, looking o
for your individual prosperity; y
don't cut up monkey shines, nor G
silly: you are economical, successf
business men.
Now, as councilmen, can you not
for the city, for an hour every t.
weeks, what you ..are for yoursely
the rest OF the time?
Try it.