Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-04-28
The WATER QUESTION.
Warm Discussion In Council at
Special Meeting Monday
Evening.

Ing IOI tHe paI PoSc VI Supplying
an engineer to make survey and
estimate of cost of a water system
from Corvallis to Rock Creek.
More or less earnestness was ex-
pressed by advocates of both sides
of the water question, and at
present it looks as if it would
end in a fight in court.
1t was proposed to authorize a
special committee composed of
Councilman Avery, Rennie and
Hansell to employ Engineer G.
N. Miller to make said survey
and estimate of cost and for this
work it was intended to allow
him SIS per day and expenses for
period not to exceed IS days.
In order to do this it was neces-
sary to draft and pass an ordi-
nance to this effect.
Before the passage of this or
dinance Councilman Emery made
a speech opposing it. This led
to very heated discussion of the
matter between Mr.. Avery and
Mr.. Emery.
Mr.. Emery opposed the mat
ter of the city going in debt, as
the city is far greater in debt at
present than abe is allowed to be
under the city charter. Accord
ing to charter laws Corvallis may
only incur debts in the sum of
$40, 900, while it is stated that
her present debt exceeds $40, 900.
Moreover, Mr.. Emery contended
that the council was In no wise
empowered to act in this matter,
according to the provisions passed
by the last legislature authoriz-
ing the water commission. He
said that it was the business of
said commission when such COM
mission came into power, and that
at present the matter was not in
any way before the council.
He knew of some of the best
citizens of the city, among whom
were heavy tax payers, who were
going to enjoin the council from
the expenditure of city money
should they go ahead and en-
ploy an engineer to do the work
proposed. He also. thought i,
proper to put the true facts before
the engineer before he became {
party to the contract.
This is what lead to the heat
ed discussion referred to, and in tn.
course of which Mr.. Emery wa!
accused of being an obstruction
ist. Now, as a matter of fact
no matter how Mr.. Emery ma,
feel privately on the water ques
ton he did no more than his dut,
by the people whom he repre-
sented by opposing an actor
which he felt was not licensed b,
law. Nor, is this all; if he hat
good reason to believe land he de
clared he had } that IN committin,
a certain act the city would incu
an anjunction suit it was prope
that he should so state.
This is a matter greatly dis
cussed-this water business. Tha
we need water, mountain wate,
and badly too, no one will deny
but those opposing it declare the
are not doing SO on account {
lack of necessity for the same
but that they object to the pei
petuity clause whereby a commi.
sioner held his seat forever. The
claim that as their money is be
ing spent they have a right
voice in saying who shall diret
the spending of it. The othe
side of the question sets fort
that the present means is the onl
way we will ever secure watt
from Rock Creek and that tt
commission should be a MOI
partisan one and for this reaso
it is declared it should carry {
it is.
Regarding the injunction pr
ceedings which are said to be
process of incubation, it is sta
ed as one reason why the cour
Gil is not empowered to sper
city money for an engineer
make survey and estimate is b
cause they have not authority
spend corporation money outsie