Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-01-14
Privilege of American
Citizens Exercised
Freely
In the Matter of Selecting
Proper Road Supervisors

1
of the proceedings. there were nu-
merous contests on for the appoint
ments of road supervisors for the
several districts throughout the
county which were made by the Ma
rion county court last week, promi-
nent among which was that in dis
/ trict No, 3S. where there were two
applicants for the position, and
where, despite the fact, as represent
ed in a report to the court. that the
taxpayers, at meeting called for
the purpose of levying road tax
nominated George c. Sims, the court
seen fit to appoint Il. G.. Seigmund
to succeed himself to the job.
Mr.. Siegmund's appointment is
made also Notwithstanding petitions
were presented the court which con-
tanned the signatures of "a taxpayers
in favor of Mr.. Sims. while the Pc
titlon for Mr.. Siegmund contained
only 20 names.
Another instance is that con-
cerning district No. 35, Gates. in
which district, despite the fact that
there was a petition signed by James
S. Wadsworth and 63 others in favor
of the appointment of e. j. Richards,
the court saw ct to appoint A. J..
Taylor to the position whose petition
contained the names of only T. j.
McClary and "a others. In explana-
tion of the courts position on this
latter mentioned case Judge Scott
said:
"The court cannot always guide
itself by petitions. In the case of the
contest between Mr.. Taylor and Mr.,
Richards, for instance. information
came to the court that number OF
the signers of the Richards petition
were employees In a mill in that dis
trict; were transient and had no in
terest in the matter one may or the
other, and. of course. they didn't
count We are also informed that
the complaint against Mr. Taylor
only comes from those who were
compelled to pay their road tax.
There is not a session OF the court
but what we have some kind Of petit
tion from kickers about this thing
and that thing. and, II we paid atten-
tion 20 all of them the sessions Of
the court would be in continual
uproar."
SO far as the appointment for
district No. S3 is concerned It appears
that, at a meeting of the taxpayers
of the district. at Fern Ridge school
house on Friday, December 2S. upon
the suggestion of a latter, purport-
ing to be from Judge Scott, prom
ising that the court would guide
itself by the wishes of the majority =
of the taxpayers of that district. a
vote was taken uDon the nomination
of road supervisor. as a result OF
which, IL is represented in an afiida-
Wit made by II. f. Pennybaker and
John w. Irvine. Mr.. Simms received
23 votes. while Mr.. Siegmund, the
appointee and clerk of the meeting,
only received IL votes. No report
could be found from the secretary of
the road meeting from this district,
but the text OF the affidavit and John
w. Irvine follows:
"H. F. Pennebaker and John w.
Irvine, after being sworn. that we
were present at and participated in
a meeting Friday. December 2S.
1906, at the Fern Ridge school house.
regularly called for the purpose of
voting on leyying a special tax for
road work in district No. 33. Conrad
being chairman and e. G.
Siegmund secretary. Prior to vot-
on such tax or levy a letter from the
Hon. John H. Scott, of the honorable
court, to Joseph Etzel was read,
stating that II the voters would indi-
cate their choice for a road super
visor for the ensuing year for this
road district. the court would ap-
point the majority choice OF the
r. G. Siegmund was placed
In nomination. and also G.. c. Sims.
The ballot resulted as follows: G. c.
Sims 2s votes and e. @. Siegmund
IL votes. We are now informed that
A petition has been circulated asking
for the appointment of Il. G. sieg-
mund as road supervisor. contrary
10 the wishes OF the majority OF the
voters at said meeting. Now these
lfiants pray this honorable court
hat the action OF said meeting have
in this matter.
Sworn TO before +. U. Hull, notary
public. January s.. 1907.