The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-08-16
vEToEs ORDINANCES,
point Of view.


chase be made without a special ordi-
nance, il the price OF such purchase eS'
eeeds the sum OF 800 and this roller
DOES cost more than 800,
Next, though the charter does not
specifically say so, il Is sound business
policy and moral obligation we owe
the people. to advertise for bids, when
ever anything of greater value than
500 is wanted
"The Portland agent for the Buffalo
Steam Roller Company claims that the
machine is worth $500, perhaps soi
upon inquiry learn from tine mayors
of the four leading cities on the coast
the following;
Portland paid for last 10 ton Buffalo
roller, February /, 1908, $500.
Seattle has no Buffalo, bought Har-
risburg several years ago, weight Is
ton; paid, including freight. $4,000.
San Francisco-Work done by contrac'
tors las in Astorial, city owns no roll
Ter, Norman B. Livermore San Francisco
agent for such material say price for
such a roller is $4,000.
"Los Angeles city has not purchased
such roller, but contracting companies of
city bought Is ton Buffalo roller last
year. for the sum OF $2T00.
"Thus we see that there Is differ
ence in prices OF such rollers as there
is difference in prices of automobiles,
typewriters and similar goods, which are
not staple but are sold only occasion
ally; some agents are content with a
small commission and others ask more,
we do not know the MANUFACTURE
ERS price; if we buy from any agent
let us give Astoria firms q chance to
make the commission; IL the Buffalo
Pitts Company should decline to now
change their agents price, | submit the
names of few other first-class com
panies:
"Aeme Road Machine Company, Frank.
fort, n. Y; Austin Mfg Co., Chicago;
Climax Road Machine Co. Marathon,
n. Y; Erie Machine Shops, Erie, Pa;
and there are others, the Buffalo Com
pany is not necessarily the best because
their agents say so, il is his business to
say so, but other cities have various
other rollers and they no doubt have in
vestigated.
"The fact Is, that the street commit
tee has purchased expensive machinery
without legal authority and with undue
haste; il we indorse their action, how I
can we refuse to indorse similar action
on the part of the fire and water com
mittee, or of the public property or If
any other committee should make n
similar mistake.
"The street committee and especially /
the honorable chairman Of that commit !
tee have given great deal of time and
labor to the city and they have done (
splendidIy most Of the time, for which /
they are entitled to much credit, but
they need not feel sighted If this one
act be not endorsed; the best men,--in-
deed ALL men do make mistakes; 'to I
err is human; to correct is prudent
'It is the great men who are not
ashamed to rectify an error; the people |
whom we serve are more likely to APP |
prove the correction of a mistake, than |
the legalizing of an error.
"The fact that we sometimes differ
should arouse no hostility; we should
be considered unfit to hold high posi-
tions if we suppressed honest differences,
for the sake of harmony; l for one will
not pay such price, for future peace.
eff we do differ, let it be as FRIENDS,
each anxious to do the right as God
gives him light to see the right; the
veto is not an unfriendly act, as some
imagine; the constitution of the United !
States and of every state in the Union,
as well as the charters of all cities
provide for the veto and why? because
in all ages, in every cline, mankind has
been prone to err, and recognizing this
fact, the best brains the world over,
have provided that government be sub
divided into three branches, the legisla
tive, the executive and the judicial.
"The legislative branch enacts ordi-
nances; but, men will sometimes, on
the spur of the moment, vote for meas
ures seemingly right; but 10, in few
days, that which seemed 80 good, shows
defects which the most careful could
not foresee, for that reason, the execu-
tive is given ten or more days for de-
liberation, SO that when it seems neces-
sary veto may be interposed; not as a
slight but as correction; and even
then, should both, the legislative and the
executive parts have erred the taxpayer
has still further redress through an