The Portland daily press., 1901-02-18

mit history to be faisiueds
Our esteemed contemporary, the Argus.
or more correctly that part of It that
voices the sentiments of the hungry and
thirsty, has dug out a bit Of scandal
affecting one of the members Of the pres
ent city government, and is happy. OF
course 1t does not profess to be happy.
Quite the contrary. It's face Is elongated
as with grief. It's hands ara held up
as in holy depreciation, Its voice is
choked as II with emotion, ana occasion.
ally It seems even to shed tear. 1t has
donned all the trappings and the suits OF
wee. yet It's spirit within is serene,
expectant, even jubiiant. Why is it
ontwardIy sad and inwardly jubilantg
II is inwardiy jubilant becauss the
hungry and thirsty boys whom 1t repre-
sents regard the bit of scandal as valu-
able campaign material that viii mater
tally assist them to get the offices. 1t is
sad outwardly because the hungry and
thirsty know that hiiarlty would not be
compatible With the role of reiormer
which they are trying to play until after
ele5t.on, for the sake OF votes. If any
body thinks We are doing Injustice 10 the
Democratic "boys" let him recall the
scandal OF the count out In ward one,
and the attitude of these same Democrat
10 boys at that time. Were they shocFed
by that episode which was Infinitely
worse in botn its moral and legal aspects
than anything they nllege against the
kepu blioan alderman On the contrary
they practically identified themselves
with 1t by rallyiDg to the support of its
bsnehoiaries and encouraging them to
hold On to the stolen goods when they
were inclined to drop them. One OF these
henenciaries whose conscience so troubled
him that he had made up his mind to
refuse to aocepG the "loot' was actually
forced to change 1t by the cIamor Of the
Democratic machine that is now profess
ing to be overcome by the dis
covery that Republican alderman has
been guilty of this impropriety OF allow
ing himself to become interested In a city
contract, ana is actually having the i'm
pudenee to ask that the city government
be turned over to 1t for publication.
Now what Is this scandal the Demo-
Gratis have dug out. 1t seems that when
MIR. Flanagan was bidding for the con-
tract to build the E xohangs street sewer
he applied to o certain surety company to
supply the bond which the city required,
and the company promised to do 50. Sub
sequently the company changed Its mind
and refused. Meanwhile MIR. FIan.
nagan had borrowed from Alderman
johnson $500 In the form OF certified
check ana had deposited it with the city,
as is required, as a guarantee that the
bidder is acting In good faith. This de-
posit was to be returned to him after be
had furnished the required bond. When the
surety company declined to furnish the
bond this cheok was tied up and Mr.
johnson found that what he supposed
was loan Of a few days, sure to be re-
turned, was In a fair way to be lost. 10
save his money he went to the surety
company and agreed to secure them If
they would furnish the bond Mr.. Flanna.
gan needed. This they did and the check
was returned to MIR. johnson. Then to
protect himself, MIR. johnson took an as
signment OF the contract from MIR. Flan-
nsgan. In this way Alr. Johnson's con-
nection with this contract came about
and this is the nature OF it. In the
face OF the ordinance forbidding MEM
bers OF the city government to be inter-
estsd in city contracts, for Mr.. johnson
Co take an assignment Of this contract
WAS improper. The circumstances ex-
tenuate the transaction somewhat, per-
baps, but do not excuse 1t. A man
need not ne a member OF the city govern
ment, but If he becomes one he Is bound
TO obey all the laws appertaining to his
of1ioe, and 1t is no sufficient excuse Tor
breaking them that 1t was necessary to
save himself from personal loss
His conduct is oulpable. In
the Argus publication 1t is
intimated that the city has been
paying out money illegally on this
contract and that the large
number or trustee wrlts which
have been served upon the city in
dictate that the aity may have to pay the
money over again. All the payments the
city treasurer has made on the contract
have been mads under the advics of the
city solicitor. who Is q careful lawyer,
and have been made In strict accordance
with the law. Trustee writs indicate
noshing except that the party for whose