The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-08-19
AN ArrpMpr TO DECEIVE.

The malicious and libeous attack u
on the Astoria Water Commission, col
tanned in this weeks Herald, will IA
short Of its object The mind OF !
intelligent taxpayer can be influence
by such preposterous tissue
falsehoods and misrepresentation
from any such source.
The fact is the Water Commisslo
has been many times mercilessly, an
perhaps more or less justly criticize,
for Its failure to do what It Is nov
undertaking to do, and In much NOR,
feasible and proper manner than wal
at first contemplated.
Intelligent and wcll-lnformed tax,
payers do not need to be told that tn,
article referred to Is intended to aid
the plans Of few property owners over
whose lands 1t happens to be necessary
to lay the pipes for Astorla's in
creased water supply, in getting an ex-
orbitant price from the city for the
mere privilege OF conducting the
water under their lands. The best
refutation of the charge 80 freely made
by the Herald that some OF the mem-
bers of the council are actuated by
corrupt motives, IL to be found in the
significant fact that an affirmative is-
sue of next Tuesdays proposition effect.
ually elrcumvents all future hope al
the property owners Interested to COM
pei the city to pay through any future
water commission, or other body vested
by the legislature with the functions
OF the present commission, a dishonest
price for the right-of-way to the only
source from which the city can derive
It's water supply The commission al
ready has power to proceed In any
proper way to acquire this necessary
rlght-of-way, but It finds itself EN-
barrassed by the unreasonable demands
made upon 1t by these property owners
Having exhausted every possible effort
to agree with these people on fair
valuation of what in any other com
munlty under the sun would be cheer.
fully given to the. city for nothing, the
commission at last proposes to submit
me controversy to the unbiased judg-
ment of a jury to be selected in the
usual end ordinary way. This In
spite of all the form and techni-
'allty that It involves. is abso-
utely the question. and the sole :,
question, to be determined at Tuesday'sI
lection. The commission is not pro-
losing TO spend any additional sum OF
he tax-payers' money ut this time; but :,
rather seeking to save the money !,
lready voted by the people and placed !,
n It's custody and responsibility. The
is seeking no enlargement !.
It's powers ON the contrary, II is. i
! effect, surrenderlng back to the tax
ayers, out Of pure consideration for
leir interests, prerogatlve which IL 49,
now entitled TO exercise. The sug- !.
estlon that the present commission IL,
ay be legislated out OF existence be. i,
ne concluding the work OF extending -.
e water system, has nothing at all 10 A.,
with the matter to be determined AZ !.
9 election, Suppose the legislature 20,
es make such change in the existing 10,
W as to cast upon some other body un
duties and powers now performed ,,a
the oommIsslon--the work OF nc, i,
iring right-of-way for pipe line, -,
lst still remain the Initial step look !,
to an increase in the water supply.
aylng out Of consideration the SER
y liability that the new authority, tt
atever It Is to be- may not prove sors SsU'
be so conscious as 10 the price corn
be paid for what has actually : s
'''s tion
appreciable value. the present CON- per
sion by acquiring the risht-of.way o
savs ~ proposed sueces-or NJ least