Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-03-16

pass an act recognizing certain exist
Ing enumerated ordinances OF the
city On the whole Il is too early to
form any. definite idea as to what
would be the most practical and
safest method Of procedure.
viii Require Careful Work.
The crisis which results from this
discovery viii require the best, most
thoughtful and most conscientious la.
Dor on the part OF Mayor Waters and
his colleagues. These gentlemen
should have the loyal support and pa.
trlotic assistance of every law-abid-
ing citizen, until such time as plans
can be maturod for restoring the en-.
tity OF the city condition.
Upon going to City Recorder Judah,
II Is learned from that gentleman that
he knows nothing OF the existence of
the old ordinances. He says they new.
er came into his possession. and, con.
soquently, he has no responsibility In
this matter He says that every pa.
per that was turned over to him Is
on file In It's proper place. and all rec.
ords made under his term of office are
intact. Il Is further learned from this
Official, that the ordinances for many
years back, are at the city hall copied
into old record books. In these books
the signatures OF the Mayor and re.
corder are simply copied by the same
hand that copied the body OF the ordi.
nance. Thus, II will be seen that they
are not even certified copies. This
kind OF record was kept up to some
time during 1898, when the record was
occasionally signed by the mayor. but
all ordinances passed from the time
DR., Richardson was mayor, are fully
and officially signed up in these rec
ord books by the hand OF the mayor
and recorder, While these are mo-
the original ordinances, they would al
least be accepted as certified copies
inasmuoh as they bear the actual sig
nature OF the officials themselves. .
Judge Judah said, In substance. tC
a Journal reporter;
THE only thing I can say about IN,
early conditions OF these ordinance,
Is what | have learned from Mr.
Richardson, former city attorney. a.
| never saw them. have always re
lied upon the record books. but hav,
felt dubious about the existence o.
the old originals Il was not ques
tion for me 20 raise until such ordi
nances might be attacked. have ne
Gently gone through every box of ol,
papers about the city hall. with tn,
aid OF Mr. Richardson. and We hav,
been unable TO ind any yestige OF tn
missing papers. am not lawye
enough 10 say what the legal effec
OF this state Of Affairs will be. excep
that | rely upon the recorded acts O
the council In relation TO the introduC
tion and passage OF those ordinance
20 save the city from any IN effects b.
the absence OF the originals"
Recorder Judah says that Il win b
very ditioult, at this time 60 ascertal
just what laws are missing. and jus
what interests will be afeeted Il /
his opinion that nearly an OF IN
franchises are Included among IN
missing documents, and Il Is quite al
parent that Il win take some consit
erable time for the matter 20 fully a,
, yelop as 20 just what Is likely to haI
, pen. When Il Is remembered tha
many OF the existing ordinances an
simply amendatOry Of those which n
longer exist, Il can easily be seen I
what lengths the complication may 4
and no one can tell how farreachin
Il may an be. nor how much time
win require 20 adiast the matter
impoFtant Ordinances nlsslng.
Among the missing documents AZ
iknAQrn N ha ordinance No III N