The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-02-03
ROAD PEOPLE
STILL HOPEFUL
Peterson and Fulton Now the
Men Of the Hour.
ALL RESTS ON THEIR DECISION
Three Roads" Question Still Hangs
Fire Before the County Court
More Names Added.
ALL RESTS ON THEIR DECISION

II Is indeed 4 pretty kettle OF fish,
that has resulted from the proceedings !
IN the "three-roads' matter. which is
stll pending before the county COM
mlssIoncra a Philadelphia lawyer
wouldn't be Knee high 10 a srasshop.
per In the legal contingencies that
nave developed and much If the out !
come Of the proceedings low remains
to be decided ty interpreters NJ Black
stone and Simon In this city.
All day yesterday the n3ticnt nem- /
bers OF the county court struggled
away In a faithful cndcavor to de-
cipher soIne Of the unintelllgible hero.
giyphies which go 10 represent many
OF the individual attempts at approval
Of tie petition. Magnifyiug glasses
and undaunted perseverance were
worked from morning until night and
even then recourse TO legal light was
resorted TO In the moments OF greater
despair. But withal. no definite ac-
tion could be arrived AT and public
curiosity must remain hanging In the
balance for another day.
1t IS the earnest intention Of the
commissioners. however. TO come TO
final action today. It Is concluded
that With liberal consumption Of
midnight oil. the attorneys. whose
opinions have been sought In the mat
ter. win be enabled to enlighten the
court at an early hour this morning
as to the legal phases OF the points in
controversy and then there ought to be
easy sailing
when the commissioners adjourned
Thursday night the petition lacked IA
names OF the required number. ao-
ccrding To Deputy Praels tally list
and the conclusions Of the county
court. shortly after the court con-
ton was submitted containing tven
was submitted which contained twen-
ty-three names. Some dispute as to
the legality OF admitting these names
to the main petition was raised among
the commissioners but it was finally
oided upon the advice OF Attorney
Harrison Alien. that their inclusion
would be perfectly valid. SO the
twenty three new names went. a COM
parison OF the ,lst with III; poll books,
however, resulted IN thirteen Of the
number being stricken or as inelegi- I
bile, leaving The petition stu few
names shy.
hut the point upon which now hinges
the balancc-welght win be decided, as
far as the legal phases are concerned,
by Attorney Chas, w. Fulton today.
Upon the lesult OF his decision really
depends the competency OF the petit
tion as the eligibility OF nearly fifty
signatures viii have been determined. |
THESE signatures represent those who, !
by virtue Of various statutory reasons,
appear on the poll lists as state and
district voters that is, who were de-
prived Of the opportunity Of voting
for city and county candidates be-
cause OF having removed from the par
ticular precincts in which their vot-
ing rights lad been acquired.
But should the petition be finally
deemed competent, The fate OF the
matter viii not yet have been deter
mired, for favorable action will yet
remain to be taken by the commits
sioners to put the prayer in force
through the necessary TAX levy. Judge
Gray Is known TO have warm spot
In his heart for the petition and Com
n,issorcr Lewis makes no bones To de- !
clare his opposition. 1t isC onimission- |
er Peterson who is the man of the |
hour. lie is besieged alike by friend |
and foe Of the measure, none of whom
Woald be willing TO bet a farthing as
to what action he may anally take.
II is suspected, however that, every !
thing being equal, Commissioner Lewis |
would cast a favorable vote on
showdown.
There is still large number Of per-
osns vino continue discussing, pro and
con, the alleged nvalidity of the pc
tition as q whole, BY request. the
Astorian herewith publishes the par
tlcular sections OF the statutes being
direct bearing on the matter.
Section 22ll, Any Incorporated town |
or city, or any organized county of this |
state, be and the same are hereby au-
thori2ed ana empowered TO aid in the 1
construction and repair of any public |
highways or river improvements in the |
manner herein named.
Section 2242. Whenever the major
ity of the legal voters of any such
town, city or county as shown by the
poll books of the last preceding elec-
ton, shall petition the municipal au-
thorties of such town or city, or the
commissioners of such county, in favor
Of any proposition to aid in the con-
struction or repair of any such public
works, at any special or regular elec-
tion under the direction of such au-
thorities, then il shall be lawful and
competent for the municipal authori-
ties Of such town and city, or the COM
missioners of such county, as the case
may be. to enact order, ana levy an
annual tax running through one or
more years, providing a separate fund
for the purpose of aiding and con-
the public work petitioned
for by such voters, and providing, by
such annual tax to make annual pay
ment for such purpose. and ordering
and appropriating the fund or money
of such an annual tax for such annual
payment, in pursuance Of the propo-
sition petltioned for or decided in favor
OF by said voters; provided, that all