The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-28
THE VETO MESSAGE
IS FILED
MAYOR HERMAN WISE GOES ON
RECORD AND HEDGES AGAINST
THE MlscHANcE OF AN olL.FEp
CONFEDERATION,

Mayor Herman Wise's veto message
nullifying the ordinance repeating the
ordinance requiring the oil companies
to remove their storage tanks beyond
the limits OF the City OF Astoria.
Mayor wise has left no ground for
discussion as TO the stand he takes
for public safety of life and property
and /, will never be fully appreciated
until the crucial hour Of accident ar
rives. His premises are absolutely
correct. and II the ordinance TO repeal
shall pass over this veto the burden
OF responsibility win lie upon clearly
defined shoulders that will never shake
off the crushing incubus; The lines
are sharply drawn.
Astoria, Or. Feb. 81, 1907.
Gentlemen of the Common Council: !:
herewith return, without my approval
an ordinance Ito repeal ordinance
1921 entitled "an ordinance to pro-
hibit the erection and maintenance of
oil tanks, etc." because it aims to re-
peal an ordinance passed for the pro-
lection of the city against explosions
and fires, without substituting any
other protective ordinance in its place.
No business man would cancel one fire
insurance policy before securing
another at least as good. 1t is said
another ordinance can be passed, very
well, but until it is passed the old or
dinance must stand.
1t is suggested that retaining walls
be built around the tanks; personally
should prefer to see these big tanks
removed outside Of the city limits, be-
cause retaining walls will, in my opin-
ion, prove inadequate in an emergency.
However, it is at least some pro-
lection, and in as much as the can
ners and grocers seem so worked up
by the threats of the Standard Oil
Company to move away, and since a
number of our best people have been
induced to petition this honorable body
for redress, | am willing to meet
them more than half way, but the
walls must be strong enough, high
and thick enough and removed far
enough from the tanks to stay the
progress of the rushing, burning fluid,
at least, until the small property
owners and dealers have had chance
to save some of their belongings.
The oil companies never got permis-
sion from the city to erect these tanks,
in fact, they settled in the midst Of
the manufacturing district against the
protest of the people as voiced by the
press at that time. How can we ex-
pect additional manufacturing enter
prises to erect plants in that district
under such circumstances? It is said |
the oil companies will leave the city if
this ordinance is not repealed; sup |
posing the railroad company should
threaten to leave this city unless the
speed regulating ordinance is repealed?
If it has come to the point where this
city can no longer pass ordinances
for the protection of its people or the
peoples property, then let our charter
90 with the Port of Columbia Bill and
let our city be governed by the oil
companies agents at Portland.
1t is also argued that gasoline tanks
would be scattered all along the water
front if the oil companies moved
away; it seems to me the council
would have the power to regulate by
ordinance the storage of such tanks.
1t is all very well for big enterprises
to say that they are not afraid of fire.
Some at least, as | understand, have
good reason to be unafraid, but how is
it with the small property owner, and
store keeper who has no one to help
him carry the burden of insurance?
and insurance here is very high, max
ing it impossible tc cover much more
than half of the value of the stocks
and buildings.
The oil companies have employees to
circulate petitions, they bring inAu-
ence to bear on their customers and
upon public officials; the owners Of
small homes or stores have neither the
time, nor the inclination to petition,
nor to threaten, they depend upon us,
their servants, to protect their sew
eral interests.
During a similar controversy in
Portland little over three years ago,
the manufacturing enterprises in the
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