Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1903-12-05
Who Hung up the Best
Contract Ever EX-
ecuted
How Good Men We're Worked
By Some Selfish Real
Estate Promoters Who
Pose as Ref0rmerS

SldtCamdu contain -ue ADlluM lAs-
eThc Journal praised TO the sky the
present owner Of the lighting plants
and advocated that the city cancel the
cd contract and enter into a new
contract with him for C long term Of
years FOR the lighting Of the city
The haysced council, for good and
sufficient rcorons. refused to enter
into such contract"
Il is not expected that managers
OF a political campaign will carefully
weigh the meaning Of all they cay.
and the Citizens campaign commit.
tee would not Intentionally misrepre.
sent the humblest citizen Of the
seventh ward.
Lie No. l.. The Journal nor its
editor or owners ever advocated the
cancellation Of the old lighting con.
tract We consider il the best con.
tract ever entered into by any city
in the northwest.
Lie No. 2. The Journal nor its
editor or owners ever advocated a
new contract for a long term Of years.
The Citizens council Voluntarily and
unanimously agreed 20 extend the old
lighting contract for five years after
a full and complete understanding
with NJ. Henry.
Then 10 the surprise Of everybody
they changed their minds. Tho fail
urc Of the council to keep its agree.
mont with Mr.. Henry embarrassed
that gentleman not a little. He had
on the strength of the extension Of
his city lighting contract incurred
largo financial liabilities. In fact he
was using the record made by the
hayseed council TO raise money to put
in Improvements and extensions Of
the Salon street car lines.
They went back on their record and
tabled the agreement TO extend what
they call their star performance for
five years. II the saving OF Sl1,555
on lighting bills &c not their star Per.
fcrmancc what IS?
Their offer to Mr.. Henry to OK
tend the lighting contract was tleir
own voluntary performance. Thcy
we're o solicited by The Journal
20 make hat record. They made II
IN good f.ith. as a good business
proposition.
They were deceived into going
back on their own good record by
some Of the present Citizens man
ayers &C q result Of the secret moot
ing hid az the Office Of r. P. Boise,
j.. whore the managers decided 70
hold up hc Henry contract until
he SHOULD consent 20 tear up his
tracks on Libcry street and cone
down TO the corner Of Commercial
and Chcnckc,a, 70 benefit the real
estate OF the managers.
Wat right had those managers
10 hold up the extension OF the best
contract ,hi7 city ever entered into
for clsctric lights 10 promote their
Interests Pm North Commercial strcat
and take tromc on Liberty and
State ~strcCtG?
Why did they abandon coed bust
ness policy and Jhoir own program
OF not clowing franchises 10 be
bartcred about 10 benefit owners Of
corner los?
The Journal does bot charge ,hat
there was any corruption on the
part q ony members Of tho Citizens
council but they were used 10 llay
the game OF sharper men who thought
they could force MI. Henry on threat
o. a holGup 20 change his street car
tracks 90 their benefit
Tho Journal hrs not a cent Of in.
terest in the lighting contract any
more than any ether citizen. whoth,r|
Ii is voted up OF down. renewed OF
not renewed
The Journal pays lis monthly light
lns bills and IKE many other citizens
the rate is too high sd De.
.ieves the lighting corporation should
be compelled 10 lower that rate, But
We have known for some time il
would be useless 70 so 10 this Ciu-
council for relief. when they
were being dictated 70 by outside
playing a real estate game
In justice q Mr. Henry it should
be said that he has lowered the price
% lighting the state Institutions about
onethird. and the rate at which De
agreed 70 extend the city light con
tract is the boast Of the Ciuzeu's ad-
n%inistrauon and a rate conceded by
an 20 BE- low enough
N A. NIL a-.. - a. " A.