East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-10-12

The regular meeting of the city
council was interesting and filled with
business activity last night.
Upon the opening of the meeting
Mayor Matlock announced the ap-
pointment of two new councilmen-
]. T. Hinkle. " fill the unexpired
term of w. ], Sewell In the Fourth
ward, and Robert Forster. to fill the
unexpired term of Walter Wells in the
First ward.
Both appointments were sanctioned
by the council and the new council
men will act until the first of the year
when their SUCCESSORS who Will have
been elected at the coming city eiec-
ton, will take their seats.
II had been the intention Of Mayor
Matlock to allow the vacancies to re-
main open, as II is but such n short
time until city election. but the alb
ssence of two members reduces the
number ~ councilmcn so II is often
impossible TO secure a quorum, If the
mayor or one other member happens
TO be absent from the city. and It was
finally decided that II was for the best
interests of the city that temporary
appointments be made now, since con-
siderable Important business iE TO come
before the council In the matter of
street improvements.
When an ordinance giving ithe
Northwestern Gas & Electric company
IA gas franchise for 25 years. was pre-
sented. James A. Fee, as representa-
tive of the property owners tn the wi
,cinity of the old electric light plant
presented protest against the iloca-
ton of the gas plant at that place.
The protest was signed by all the
property owners in the vicinity and
cited the fact that the location OF the
gas plant in the vicinity of their homes
would materially reduce the value of
their property and asked the council
TO deny the company the privilege Of
locating in the residence district.
The matter was referred by the
council to the ordinance committee,
and will be discussed at the next
meeting of the council. when The COM
mittee reports on the ordinance. While
the ordinance presented does mot
name the old electric plant as the To-
cation of the gas plant 1t Is generally
understood that the plant wifi he To-
Gated at that place.
Tex Langiver. pr, prietor OF the Red
Front saloon. which was burned last
Sunday morning. presented petition
asking for the retunn of $34.94 as a
rebate ON an unexpiFed liquor license
as II would be impossible TO open his
place hefore the license for which he
had paid expired. The matter was
nj firat htlf
sideration was re-refenred to the IL
cense committee with instructions to
the committee to report at the next
meeting Of the council.
A liquor license was granted TO
John Gagtsn, VINO will open new
saloon I'm the Eagles building ON
Court street. as soon as the rooms can
be completed
New sidewalk 0n Madison street be-
tween Washington and Jackson, was
ordered constructed
The matter Of the purchase of prop
erty on East Alta street by the water
commission was presented by CITY At
torney Carter. The water commits
sion wishes to purchase property In
Ahat vicinity to protect the water sup
ply of the city. The purchase price
of the property in question is 5000,
and as the city council had agreed to
nav but $4,000 toward the purchase of
this property. It objected to paying
$4,000, or one-half Of the purchase
price. The sentiment Of the council
was that as the water commission
could use the house on the property, II
should pay the larger portion OF the
cost