Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1894-08-30
A PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH

III S Il pretty kettle OF HSn tIlat tne Guy
OF Aberdeen has been placed in by the
gang that by grace of long suffering
public, runs things in city affairs. 1t is
some OF the old crowd who got the city so
badly in debt through manipulation Of
street improvement schemes, and who are
now posing as reformers, in more senses
than one, that are today getting the city
into scrape which will defeat the en-
deavors OF the honest citizens and officials
who arc trying to redeem the city. In
order to accomplish it's work the gang
must have a newspaper, and that paper
must have the city printing, and by doing
it for mere tri0e also pose as benefac-
tor OF the people by saving the city's mon
cy, but when the balance is struck the
citizens will find that while they have
been saving at the spigot the bung-hole
has all the time been wide open.
The opinion was expressed at the time
that there must be some Interior object
in establishing third paper in Aberdeen,
and it now looks that there was some
grounds for the opinion. But ii such is
not the case the bungling, If SO mild a
term is applicable, of the council and the
city printer will cost the city dear, for
there has not been valid publication OF
any city ordinance, notice or legal publ.
cation since the advent OF the official or
gan. Not only has the city suffered but
I'll. ,,s1 Il II, H. l. loo Il
notice, issued out of court OF law, such
as summons, sheriff S sale, ETC., published
in that sheet has also suffered, for every
one of them are illegal. 1t was not
enough to stab the city, but in order to
accomplish their purposes they must
needs sacrifice even their friends.
The law in regard to such publications,
found on page AS, (section 27) of the 1898
Session Laws, reads:
"The publication Of legal notices re-
quired by law, or by an order of a judge
or court, to be published in a newspaper
once each week, shall be made on the day
of each week in which such newspaper is
published"
This language is very plain, it is man.
datory, and as the official organ has not
once appeared on it's publication day,
every ordinance or notice Of any kind
which it has published is illegal. Further,
meant by publishing once week; and
whether it was legal to publish notice
other than on the regular publication day,
and this law was passed expressly to
cover such cases, and to settle what was
legal publication in that regard.
We will not yet express an opinion as
TO whether this action OF the official organ
was intentional or not, but it does not
seem probable that this continued failure
to publish on its regular publication day
was accidental. AS result ordinances
No. 101, allowing the city treasurer ten
per cent for collection OF delinquent
city taxes; No. 1902, reducing the
liquor license to $780, No. 1903, relating
to assault and battery; No. 104, the gen.
cral license ordinance No. 105, for the
re-asscssment of Terrace avenue; and
No. 106, authorizing the employment OF
special night watchmen, are all invalid
by reason of not having been properly
published. The dog tax ordinance, SC
earnestly advocated by the economical p
city printer in order to save that one dol
lar on his blindle bull pup, can yet be
saved, as it was referred back to the city
attorney at the last meeting. The most
serious effect, SO far as the city is con.
ccrncd, will be on account OF the re-as-
sessment OF Terrace avenue, and should
this thing be allowed to continue, all Of
the re-asscssments contemplated will also
be invalid, and those who still owe the
city for special street improvements can
continue to laugh at the city, as they
have in the past, while refusing to pay
for these expenses incurred at their solic-
itation and for their benefit,