East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-01-18


4 ty have to contend whh at the pres.
ent times by reason Of the fact thai
there Is an apparent. effort on the
| part OF some persons who are OPP
! posed to the local option law and to
| the enforcement Of It, to throw as
! many obstacles In the way Of its en-
forcement as possible We have taken
| pains to investigate the unfortunate
controversy In regard to the payment
! of the officer employed In behalf OF
\ Umatilla county during the fan of
1908, to gather evidence against vio-
lators Of the local option law.
In this connection we find that the
grand jury at the September term Of
this court In reporting upon that SUBJ
| ject had this to say:
Last Jury Also.
1--WE found upon investigation that
the local option law enacted by the.
people at the last election in Una
ltlla county has been most flagrant-
ily violated, and we therefore were re-
quired to give considerable time and
attention to the, investigation Of the
o7called local option cases We have
been greatly assisted In, our inyestlga-
tion OF this matter by, special Off.
GERS employed by the county through
THE district attorney aud we find that
on account Of the numerous violations
of. the law without and arrests being
made therefor that It was very. I'm
portant and essential If the proviions
OF such. law were to be enforced that
some special effort be made to that.
end. and we have no hestitancy in re-
commending that, should the con-
ditlons at any time in the future be-
come similar to the conditions which
have existed I'm Umatilla conuty since
the enactment Of the prohibition law
that the district attorney should en-
ploy at the expense OF the county the
necessary assistance to gather evil
hence to be used In, the prosecution
of the Offenders against said law.
Obstructionists Condemned.
In view OF this recommendation of
the former grand Jury and by the
unquestloned necessity OF having the
services of this officer. we cannot
understand why there should be any
objection on the part OF any official
or any question raised as to the pay
ment of the bill for $4,000 expended
in behalf OF the county for the pur-
pose Of enforcing the law which, as
said by the former grand jury, was
~ II L
no more than add the weight OF our
endorsement TO the action of the of
ficers in just the action that was taxi
en- In order TO procure the evidence
so that a fair enforcement of the law
might be had II there is a legal inn
pedment which will prevent the pay
ment of such a claim. then we unhesi- !
tatingly say that the law should be |
amended or q new one made giving |
authority to DO Just what was done in |
this case. We feel that this is the |
only effectlve way of gaining results. |
Experience has demonstrated chat il
is very difficult to enforce the provls-
ions of the local option law; that it is |
absolutely essential that private Of :
ficers he employed to act with and I
under the direction Of local officers. I
# It is expected that any evidence is
to be gathered sufficient upon which !
to base prosecution.
Expense Is Insignificant.
The sheriff. local police and arrest
ing officers should be Of very great
assistance to the special officers en-
ployed to do detective work. and in
that manner we believe the expense
can be considerably reduced. but we
think that the question of expense IL
so Insignificant that II should not be
with the fact that the
received approximately $4,000
net from the arrests made based up
)n the evidence procured by the
special officer employed last fan.
We learn that there has been re-
emily filed in this court a case seek
ng to enioin the payment OF the war
-ant for the work of the special Of {
'icer above referred TO- In regard to
his case we feel there is great prin-
'ipal involved, and that il is not
brought for the purpose of protecting
aXpayers against unwarranted eX- ,
,enditure OF public funds, but that It
3 brought for the purpose of satisfy
ng and displaying a personal oppo-
iitlon by a few people to the efforts
made and, the convictions had at the
asst term of court, and We most en-
recommend that every ef-
ort be made to establish the right b,
II the people Of Umatilla county to
dopt such means as may he neces.
AIRY. including the expenditure of a
reasonable amount of money 10 pro-
ect the people against law violators
whether. It be for a. violation of the
ocal option law or any other law {
that as before stated, we think the I
in the case above referr- {