The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-01-14
FOR THREE WARDS.

because it is for the best interest OF
the people. Some of our reasons are
enumerated below, and we believe
that they meet the approval of ninety
per cent of the population:
In the first place, two wards-the
pet scheme of the mayor-means that
the council will be composed Of four
members. Mayor Scallon is seeking
a denomination and figures on roping
the republicans into giving him that
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES they do or not
remains to be seen. With four
councilmen it will be much easier
for the mayor or others to put
through any scheme or pet measure
than with a greater number. A
council Of four means that three may
transact business. There Is more
liable to be tie in the council with
but four members and that gives the
mayor the casting vote, resulting in
one man power.
With the two wards there is greater
opportunity for any faction to gain
control Of the city, because it
would require but two members with
the deciding vote Of the mayor, and
We believe the people know where
that vote would go on all moral
questions.
The ordinance introduced by
Councilman Andrew divides the city
into three wards and is an equitable
and honest measure, free from jobs or
schemes. One line runs east and
west the full length Of Sherman
street, all south of that street being
in one ward. The balance Of the
city is divided by a line from Sher-
man north on Fourth street to the
city limits, all east being in one
ward and all west of Fourth in an
other ward. The mayors pet ordiu-
anCe divides the city into two wards,
one east Of Third street and one west
of Third street. Which is the better
Of the twoS We believe the people
will answer the question by signing
the petition for the Andrew ordin.
ance.
The advantages of three wards
are that it will place near 400 voters
in each and facilitate the voting at
elections, both municipal and
general. It gives almost an equal
division geographically and divides
the business district, II there is any
advantage in that The lines are
straight and no one will have any
difficulty in knowing just where be is
located as voter.
With council Of six it requires
four for quorum, so that with a
bare quorum present the people will
still be represented by as many mem
bers as the mayor wishes to have for
full council. The larger number
is not so likely to railroad ordin-
ances through as is the smaller num-
Der and there is less probability of
Ill advised measures being passed.
Two members from each Of the
three wards will give every part of
the city proper representation and
result in better conditions generally.
If the people Of one part Of the city
have any measure to present or bust.
ness to transact. they have a repre-
sentative on the board who Is inter
ested in their welfare. IL gives rep
resentation nearer the people and
that results in better government.
In bis personal TRADE against us
the mayor says that the present
council did not wish to forestall the
action Of future councils in ward
division. This is his exact language
aud We will see how it comedies with
the wording Of the pet two ward
ordinance which he fathers and which
be Illegally railroaded through the
council. That ordinance says that
all wards hereafter created shall be
laid out north aud south the full
length of the city" In which case
did he fail to tell the truth: His
ordinance not only attempts to fore
stall future councils, but it lays
down the absolute methods which
shall be folloEed Ia future IN max.
ing ns~ wards.
II is unfortunate for Mayor ScaIlon
that he has no legitimate arguments
10 offer for his illegal ward ordinance
and must resort to the coarsest kind
lof untruthful personalities for the
purpose Of throwing mud at US with a
hope that some of it may blind the
eyes OF the public. We do not deem
bis personal attacks in the Journal
worthy Of our notice for the simple
Fesaon that they are the vaporiugs of
% egotist, who, in a personal con.
FeFsation with us, said that the Press
bad no right to critioiss his public
cts, and that no citizen had that