The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-02-13
MR.. BRIX TENDERS HIS
RESIGNATION
JOHN NoRDsTRoM ELECTED
ASSISTANT CLERK or THE
WATER COMMISSION.

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| AT the meeting Of the water com
mission last night the committee II
whom had been referred the MATES
Of reporting on a suitable person tc
fill the position Of inspector recon
mended that the Office Of inspector
be combined with that Of assistant
clerk; and that John Nordstrom b
appointed as assistant clerk and in.
spector. This recommendation Of the
committee was adopted BY the com
mission and Mr. Nordstrom IS
therefore chosen for the work The
salary was set at $50 per month.
This action Of the commission last
night may be taken to mean that
Mr. Lounsberry viii withdraw his
resignation, and will remain in charge
Of the Office. Mr.. Lounsberry had
intended to withdraw from the posi-
ton because Of the laborious duties
connected with the Office, but with
the aid Of Mr.. Nordstrom, who also
lis skilled in the care Of books and
accounts, the position should now be
somewhat easier. While nothing
was said or done in relation to the
question Of the clerk it is known that
| it was sincerely desired that Mr..
Lounsberry be prevailed upon to re-
main, and the whole matter seems
now to have been settled in a very
happy manner
Asmus Brix, one Of the commits
sioners, rendered his resignation last
night. This will come as a complete
surprise to many citizens, who look
ed upon Mr.. Brix as one Of The
strong men on this important body.
The commissioners did not accept
the resignation, but laid it on the
table after discussion. 1t is under
stood that Mr.. Brix, when he recent
ly paid his taxes, found that they did
not total the amount called for by
the city charter as requisite to hold
ing a seat in the commission, and
that therefore he deemed it best to
simply withdraw. The provision Of
the charter demanding SIS in "city
taxes" is proving a very vexatious
stumbling block, and doubtless many
will sincerely regret that Mr. Brix
felt copmelIed to act as he did in
compliance with the presumably
plain terms Of the organic law Of the
city. He was one of the old mem
bers also familiar with much of the
work pertaining to the body, and if
he really is to drop out from the
commission his services will be
missed.
The commission voted to instruct
the city attorney to take steps to.
have the provision of the charter
tested in the courts.
No response had ever been receiv-
ed from Judge Mcbride in reply to
the query sent him by the commits
sioners-asking him to interpret the
provision. It was known that most
Of the commissioners never expected
that Judge Mcbride would make the
Interpretation, as such course was
manifestly out of his duties as a.
Judge. The city attorney, Mr.. Aber-
crombie, can now take up the matter
and there seems no reason
why it cannot be passed upon by
Judge Mcbride at this term Of the
court.
The commission evidently wishes
to let Mr.. Brix's resignation lie on
the table until an interpretation of
the charter has been duly made, and
then it may possibly be ascertained
that he can rightfully hold seat in
the body,
All of the members were present
last night except Mr.. Brix. The rel
port Of the clerk, Mr.. Lounsberry,
showed that the total business for
the month of January was $3,9o47o |
The total cash collections were $3o05.
The treasurer's statement showed
balance on hand in the general fund
on January 80 Of $36,649.7S. The |
regular monthly pay roll was. $905.s7; |
bills amounted to $343S6.
The special committee appointed to
report on the new wire fencing
around the little reservoir recon
mended that it be accepted and paid
for; the price for the fence and put
ting it up was $3.50 The commits
sion also received several quotations
on steel piping but took no action,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS