The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-03
.1ECAklCA[|IY DOES
N0f>y|ST, IS CLAIM
\>|RSPOOL TODAY
o6JECTLoSSRAIsED BY THE WARREN PEOPLE
WILL NOT MAKE AMY INDIFFERENCE IN
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
Charter Says That the City May Not That the citv Shall
Do Certain Things-Wala Walla Under
Special Charter

That the Warren Construction COM
pany' through dissatisfaction in not
securing a contract for street i'm
provements with their bid submitted
two weeks ago has introduced what If
considers legal technicality in order
to hold up the street improvements
for an indefinite period, is the belief
of those who have studied the uues-
ton closely. With the first call for
bids the Bitulithc concern entered
estimates for several of the districts.
and said nothing whatever of the il
legality Of assessing street intersec-
tlOns to abutting property. With the
second call, however, after the Rich &
Harris company had secured the con-
tract for certain districts, the Warren
company refused to enter a bid, but
filed instead a communication calling
attention of the council to the fact
that street intersections could not be
assessed to property owners, even in
districts where the petitioners desired
to pay therefor.
Considerable feeling has been stirred
up by the action of the Warren COM
pany in attempting to delay improve
ments by such a pretext, and the city
attorney will probably be called upon
tomorrow evening for an opinion as
20 the weight of the points raised in
the communication. published in the
Evening Statesman Saturday night.
In an interview this morning, one of
the city officials who is in elise touch
with the situation said;
THE law says cities of the first
class may do thus; cities of the Sec
ond class shall do thus; and cities of
the third class shall do certain things.
But none of those provisions are ap-
plicable to Walla Walla. for the
reason that we are working under a
special territorial charter Walla
Walla is not included in the class dis
tinction, and therefore is not bound
to abide by those laws that govern
classified municipalities"
Quotes Charter.
AS proof of the assertion, section 10
Of the city charter was quoted, as fol-
lows:
THE city Of Walla Walla shall have
power to establish assessment dis
tricts therein and change the same at
pleasure, to make any Improvement
including opening, cleaning, sprinkling
and lighting streets. alleys and pub
lie grounds, building and repairing
bridges, protecting property from
floods, abating nuisances, and may
raise the necessary means therefor,
as provided in this chapter; Provided,
that when the council deems that suchi
proposed improvement, though spec
iallv beneficial to the assessment dis
trict is also of great benefit to the
whole city, it MAY contribute from
any fund of the city applicable such
amount as it may deem just; and
Provided, further, when the council
deems the proposed Improvement not
local in benefits, but of general benent
to the whole city. it MAY make ap-
propriations from any funds or the
city applicable thereto to pay for the !,
whole thereof
Warrens Quote. Charter.
In the communication, filed with the
council Saturday, the Warren Con-
struction company quoted section OF
the city charter in which reference
was made to abutting property. They
held that property at street intersec-I J
tions was not abutting the improve
ment of the thoroughfares, and that