Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1896-01-01

employees. When there Is an OppOrtu
rity for them 20 better themselves oi
70 be promoted they arc always helped
along. Many OF the employees have
risen to positions of usefulness ant
responsibility. A kindly personal In
terest in each ones welfare, and O
stimulus to make the most OF theii
opportunity in life, is often more val
liable to working people than better
wages from an Indifferent employer
Two of the THE JOURNAL force are
now taking regular literary course
at willamette university, but retain
their connection with the paper.
with the carrier boys that distribute
the paper every evening, but not on
Sundays or national or Christian holi-
days, there are twenty families repre-
sented on THE JOURNAL pay rolls.
We only regret IL is not a hundred.
THE POLICE COURT
is one of the main sources of news
supply of a certain sort. The police
judge and chief of police Contribute
many juicy item in the course of
the year.
Ed. n. Edes is serving on his second
term as city recorder. His first task
on taking the Office was to get I'm a
new set of books and system of
keeping the accounts in accordance
with the requirements of the new char
ter. These books are complete alb
stract Of warrants. AS police judge
and license collector the recorder has
considerable to do, and at times EN-
ploys stenographer at his own ex-
pense. He also pays janitor hire when
he cannot get hobos to do il all. Mr..
Edes is always courteous TO reporters,
treating them all alike, and going out
Of his way to accommodate them.
Newspapers have only one criticism
to mako on Police Judge Edes-he or
Iers great many tramps to leave
Gown, under suspension of fine; lets
Jff deserving drunks on promises of
Ioing better; sends many small ofTen-
Ter away with q lecture instead Of a
Inc; and so tempers justice with
mercy as to spoil many a good item.
still, as it helps keep down expenses
Ind saves the taxpayer many a dollar
IF costs and board bill, we will not
complain. The management of the
police court has contributed to keep
ing the city government within its
income the past year.
THE CITY GOVERNMENT
is fruitful source of news and Mayor
latch has at all times proven helpful
% the newspaper man. He is serving
his second term and review of the
;ity administration shows credit
lble state of affairs. The police and
ire departments have been conducted
IN a bed rock of economy. 1t will be
remembered that during Mayor
5atch's first term fees of city officials
we're abolished and they were put on a
,alary. But by clause in the city
;harter the Police court has concur
.ent Jurisdiction with county justices
If the peace and in certain classes OF
criminal cases are entitled to fees.
The fee system that still remains
grows out of this defect in legislation,
md not because Mayor Catch allows
It. He believes in completely wiping
Jut the fee system, root and branch.
Under his administration no new
Jonds have been issued, several streets
lave been improved, the total expenses
If the city government have been kept
learly two thousand dollars less than
the receipts from taxes and licenses;
A city hall has been completed and
put under roof but not finished or
furnished. The city has two fixed
charges that have not been reduced
5000 year interest. Several at
Cempts have been made TO cut down
ohe lighting bill. Committees have
oeen appointed and have investigated
out find the people unwilling to part
With lights anywhere, so that no re-
ductions have been made. 1t is
Thought the new council will better
5000 surplus not little. This short
review of the news of the year from
che city government would be incom-
plete without a reference to Chief
Dilley and his police force, and to Fire
Chief Coss and his men. In their
luty as police and detective work they
are not a fruitful source Of imforma-
CiOn and the reporters usually have TO
Sork their imagination as hard as
Chey do the blue coats. THE JOUR-
NAL is under obligation to all these
gentleman as well as to City En-
gineer and Street Commissioner Cul-
yer.
THE COURTHOUSE
is another continuous fountain of IN
teresting news. The Sheriff's Office is
the first place on the rounds Of county