The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-08-16
Mayor Refuses 10 Approve Steam
Roller Purchase.
GIVES REASONS AT LENGTH
States That the Street Committee Acted
without Authority in the Mat
ter -- Paid Too Much -- Ac.
tion Was Illegal.

Mayor Herman Wise has signed aud
filed with City Auditor Anderson. for
presentation TO the common council on
next Monday night, the two following
veto messages on the steam roller pur-
chase by the city at cost OF $500
Mayor Wise's position is made very
clear in both documents and he who
runs, may read" and not misunderstood
his ettitude;
August IA, 1906
Gentlemen OF the Council;
II herewith return without my ap'
proval, an ordinance entitled. An ordi'
nance Authorizing the Committee on
Streets and Public Ways to purchase
from the Buffalo Pitts Mfg. CO., steam
roller of 10 tons in weight for the sum
Of s35O0'; for the following reasons;
"In the first place, ] claim that the
limit of Indebtedness allowed by charter
having been reached, we should limit our
expenditures to the most urgent needs.
"Second--lt would set a bad preced-
ent to permit committee to purchase
supplies or property, in violation of the
provisions OF the city charter and legal
ize such action later.
"Third--It Is against public policy to
expend large amounts Of money with
out inviting bids.
among the reasons given in favor OF
the purchase OF steam roller are the
following:
"First-That steam roller IL bettei
than horse roller; in answer to that
contention | wish to say, there is not a
factory nor business house Of any kind.
but is frequently importuned to buy new
and better machinery, tools or fixtures.
but when any such private concern has
reached It's limit Of indebtedness, II man
ages to get along with the machinery
on hand, rather than 90 still further
into debt.
"Another argument Is: that steam
plows have taken the place Of old style
plows, therefore steam rollers must re.
place horse rollers; in reply to that let
me say: that man who has a small
farm OF from to acres does not pnr'
chase q steam pltw because his neigi-
Dor who has farm Of from 100 to 800
acres, owns one or more Of such ma
chimes: therefore, because Portland with
1877 miles OF paved streets owns such
rollers = 10 re- son why astoria with
less than four miles Of such streets
should have one also; another reason
given is: that some time ago there was
petition presented asking The couT-
ell to purchase rock crushrr and stc'm
roller; well, of the two, a rock crusher
Is needed the most, to insure property
owners against excessive charges for
crushed rock; SO If we are to heed that
petition at all, let us purchase rock
crusher as well as steam roller and
add few scrapers, shovels, etc; and
have the city itself improve the streets
at COST y. ,rt benefit i adjacent prop
erty owners, but 50 long as contractors
charge property owners for ROLLING
as well as for grading the strets, let us
see to 1t that they do the work prop
erIy and with their own machinery and
tools.
"Thc city now owns a roller which
understand was purchased only about
two years ago, and am reliably inform
ed that, at the time Of it's purchase, it
was understood that the city was to
receive certain amount per day from
tn contractors; but the city has nc'er
received single cent for its use, what
guarantee have we then, that the con-
tractors will pay the city $l5 per day