The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-01-22
Active Session OF Common Coun.
Gil Last Night.
POLICE SALARIES ARE RAISED
Second Class Theatre Licenses Ars
Advanced st2o Per Annum-City
Books to be Experted-Many
Matters of Improvement.

The Astoria common council met II
regular session last night at -:3'
o'clock at the city nall, Mayor Her
man Wise presiding. Judge Anderson
at the record desk; Chief of Polio,
Gammal City Attorney Charles Aber,
crombie. Street Superintendent Kea.
ney. and all nine councilmen In :ht
semicircle.
After the reading and approval OF
the minutes of the previous sessio ion
the council settled down TO the dis
patch of current business disposirs
of the following matters in sequence
Mayor Herman Wise read his spe
cial message touching the fuel short
age now confronting the city in liz
following figures and terms, to-wit:
Astoria, Ore, Jan. Il, lSUI.
Gentlemen of the Council-Fue'
like water, is prime necessity, when
therefor organized greed levies tri
butte by extorting unreasonable price
from the people for such necesary ;
products, it then becomes the duty %
government, organized by the people,
for the benefit of all the people. t2
take such steps as Will prevent a rep
etition of so intolerable a condition
of affairs
The mine owners claim that thu
car shortage is the cause Of the sea-
city of coal. while the railroad nco
pie throw the blame back upon the
owners and operators of coal mines.
who, they say. limit the production
and distribution Of coal, so as to ex-
tort the highest possible price for this
necessary article.
Though the workers in the mines
receive small pay, although boys Of
from twelve to fourteen years Of age
are permitted to work long hours for
a mere pittance, in the dark, ur
healthy mines, coal screenings are
sold to US today at $1,000 per ton,
and real live Jumps of coal are IS
scarce as strawberries at Christmas.
IF foreign enemy sent ships of
war ani levied tribute upon the people
of this Coast, the federal government
would be called upon to furnish pro-
lection to the people.
Supplies and ammunition would be
corralled at home if possible, abroad
If necessary, and they would be rushed
to the endangered points, and If the
such an emergency, the government
would, if necessary, sieze the means
of transportation and rush guns and
shells and power to the forts; why
should the people receive less con-
sideration when a domestic enemy at
tempts to levy like tribute? A civi
lized foe would lat least, spare the
sick and the needy, but the 'vulturAs
of modern commerce hold up the poor
and the sick, as well as the aff1uent.
Il hold it to be the duty of local
as being closest to the
people, to take such steps for the pro
lection of its citizens, as may seem |
advisable in the premises.
First would suggest that the
city purchase a very liberal supply
Of fuel for it's own use in the early
spring, and if the county and school
or as many private individ-
uals as use quantities of coal wish TO
join the city, whole cargo can be
secured at very reasonable rates.
"Second-I suggest that this honor
able body petition the Congress of the
United States, on behalf of the pep
pie of this Northwestern country, to