St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1907-02-22

have been completed, desire to
put the minority on record. /
know at one time the minority
appealed to the majority asking
that one of them come to their
assistance to save the honor Of the
council and the finances of the
city. And still we are accused OF
retarding progress. We will see"
Commencing at the beginning
Aid Norton began review of the
entire work.
"The architect told us the city
hall could be built for $40, ooo,"
said the speaker. "At first the
lowest bid was $4,000 Then a
secret session of the council was
held. At this star chamber session
it was stated that no matter what
the hall would cost the city could
stand il. The minority did not
approve of it, and the city attorney
told us we were powerless to enjoin
the work if the council let the con-
tract
Then the matter of bids was ana
lived. "1'here were five bids,
but only two were sealed, " said Mr..
Norton, land before the contract
was let the contractor invited a
crowd to drink, declaring that he
had the contract. That incident
put the minority on their guard.
How did the contractor know he
had the contract Who told him
he had the contract, The minority
wanted all bids rejected, but were
voted down. This contractor S
actions disgusted everybody. Pay
ing his men of over a bar was one
of the ways he did business.
I'VE all remember the vault
episode. How several men ap-
peared with sealed bids at the
request of the chairman of the
building committee when the coun-
Gil was in ignorance of their mis-
sion. Steel vaults were to be
placed in the building without the
council having a word to say. Is
IL any wonder the council are try
ing to point their finger at the
minority
Alderman Dobie was threatened
in his Office and | was told / was
to hit the ground il certain things
were not done in the council.
"The shed that the council
allowed the contractor TO build on
the Mcdonald lot grew into a two
story building, but IL was not done
with the consent of the minority.
"Only recently an attempt was
made To saddle the numerous debts
of the contractor on the city, but
the mayor came to the rescue and
refused To sign the notices.
The material in the city hall is
of poor quality, and the building is
falling down. Who is responsible
for itp Who furnished the brick
and who is to be paid for ii can
exonerate Aid. King because Aid.
Raser says he is not connected with
the local brick yard. But who is
Aid. Norton spoke for fifteen
and concluded by saying
that il the people saw fit to censure
The minority he hoped they would
be lenient.
Aid. King retaliated by saying
he thought Il very ungentlemanly
% insinuate that the council was
guilty OF accepting bribes. lie for
me was willing to stand by the
'ecords aud let the people judge Of
ais actions.
Aid. Raser claimed that on ac.
'ount OF the interference of the
the city hall would cost
wo or three thousand dollars more
han il should. There was plenty
II money To finish the building.
{ the minority had behaved them
elves the building would have
'een completed two months ago,
everything had been done in the
pen from the letting OF the bids to
he present time.
Aid. Hewitt took exception to the
tatements made by Aid. Raser.
nd corrected him, and no denial
vas made,
Adjourned to tomorrow evening
I which time the charter will be
onsidered,