Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-04-27
CHEMEKETA IN THE SOUP.
Mayor VetOeS the Improvement
Of That Street.
GIVES HIS REASONS FOR HIS ACTION.
But Unjustly Attacks Progress
sive and Public Spirited
Citizens.
Gentlemen of the Common Council

Gentlemen of the Common Council
of the City of Salem:
l herewith return ordinance No.
242, IAN ordinance to provide for
the grading, graveling and curbing
Chemeketa street in Salem, Oregon"
without my signature and approval
The legal phases involved in the
passage of this ordinance 1 do not
deem it expedient at this time to
discuss.
One of the greatest objections to
the approval Of this ordinance is
that the grade which has been es-
tablished on Chemeketa street is an
impracticable one and the ordinance
establishing it should not have been
passed by the council, and this alone
is sufficient reason why this ordi-
nance should not receive my ap-
proval.
In improving the streets of the
city the first question to consider is:
do the people living upon the street
desire to have expensive improve
ments or do they wish a more mod
crate and economical improvement
of streets than is contemplated by
this ordinance? The council should
never undertake street improve
ments of a permanent nature unless
a majority of the people living upon
street desire the same to be made.
None of the citizens living upon
this street filed a request with the
council to commence this improve
ment.
Another serious objection to the
improvement of this street is that
the Capital City Railway company
is not required to improve the street
where it's track is laid. 1t is ex-
empted from the provisions of the
ordinance. What was the object of
selecting a street for permanent i'm
provement the best portion of which
is used by the said company for
operating its road? This is a matter
l have not been able to understand.
An objection which should de-
mand our careful consideration is
that the city under this ordinance is
required to improve all the inter-
sections of the street. This expense
is quite heavy and the city at the pres
ent time is not in a condition to meet
the outlay that will necessarily be
incurred. The improvement that is
being made by the city in building
the bridge across South Mill creek
and in improving South CONNER
cial street is all that can be conven-
iently borne by it at the present
time. Another reason for vetoing
this ordinance is that judging from
the past history of the work. done
by the city we have no assurance
but the prop osed improvement on
Chemeketa street will be imperfectly
constructed. This state of things
causes a prudent person to shrink
from being party to proceeding
that will be the cause of the waste
ful disbursement of our citizens
money. Under the provisions of
this ordinance the committee on
streets and public property are en-
powered to change the grade. This
ordinance should not have been
passed by the council with any such
absurd provision.
If it is the desire of our citizens to
improve our streets business street
sheuld be selected where persons
who own business property and
receive rents will justify an expen-
sive street improvement, If sys-
tenn of street improvement is to be
inaugurated it should be properly
commenced and people who have
but honse and lot and who are
scarcely able to pay their taxes
should not be selected to inaugurate
this system.
The council should bear in mind
that the first duty Of every city gov
ernment is to make laws that will
not necessarily Oppress its citizens.
The burdens resting upon our city
at the present time are too prievons