Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-06-07


Mayor Given Further Time TO
Plead With Councilman Eldridge
and HAS Hopes"
II would like to inquire" says
Councilman Lachmund, as he arises
from time to time at his desk in the
chamber of the council and addresses
a few remarks concerning some sub
jects under consideration by the
council to his excellency, the mayor
or some member of that august body.
II would like to inquire, he says, or
perhaps the time for inquiring has
gone by, and then it is "Mr. Mayor, 1
object" but in either event the coun-
Gilman addressed generally settles
back in his chair and bristles up like
an unwilling and antagonistic wit
ness and then a war of words follows
There is no doubt in the minds of
the most of the councilmen concern
ing the fact that Councilman Lach-
mund likes to inquire They look up
on him as the boy did on the inter
rogation point "just something that
asks questions" There is probably
no doubt but that right down in the
minds of most of them they would
just as soon he did not inquire so
often, but this is not certain, because
1t is no easy task to read a council
mans mind. There are several rea-
sons for this difficulty that you can
figure out to suit yourself. There is
no doubt in the minds of most coun-
cilmen concerning the fact that when
he believes he is right, he is going
to interpose an objection, and there
is probably no doubt but that in their
minds they would just as soon that
he did not interpose so many of them,
because some times they become en-
barrassing, but this is also certain,
and for the same reason that another
fact just mentioned is uncertain.
Now, this does not mean that Coun-
Gilman Lachmund is a chronic OBJ
jector, because he is not, but merely
interposes objections when he thinks
a measure is deserving of one 1t
does not mean that he plies the coun-
ell with useless and senseless ques-
tions, but merely that he has learned
by experience that thinking is bene-
fetal to a man, instead of injurious,
and that he exercises his mind. Be
ing liberal and broad minded, he pre-
sumes that all of his colleagues have
proflted by the same experience, and
that they do the same thing-that is
exercise their minds, and that
when they present a matter they
are prepared to fortify it with rea-
sons. That is all.
Guilty of Imparting knowledge.
Councilman Lachmund "arose to
inquire last evening when the sub
iect of bids for street improvements
we're under consideration, and, as
usual 1t started a running discussion
"a discussion whose range roped in
the mayor and most of the council |
men, and finally settled its moose
around the neck of a certain news
paper man, who had volunteered to
impart some information and he
'ound himself much in the same posi-
ion as an intruder in a family row,
because the councilmen ceased all
among themselves and di-
-ected a volley of words at his head.
His offense was grave, or course
hat of seeking to impart knowledge
% councilman, and then he was not
altogether to blame He had sat in
he council chamber on a previous
and had heard Councilman
4achmund PROFOUND the same ques-
ion to the councilmen, and had heard
I go unanswered. Probably when he
ooked around him and saw that great
Irray of intelleots bahled upon that
'ocasion he thought he saw subject
worthy of his own investigation, and
nay be when last night he again
aw them bafiied by the same question
le could not resist the temptation of
.dding to the sum total Of human
and maybe he was right,
lut, in any event, he was indisoreet
nough when the controversy was
yaging at it's hottest to write out the
nswer to the question on a piece of
'aper and slip it into the hands OF a
ouncilman, and that councilman was ]
ndiscreet enough 70 give him credit
or Il and then came down ON his !
cad volley of sarcastic words-a
'ithering rebUke which had its COM /
leneement with the mayor and It's /
nding with the counoilmen. He pre- '
umed much, OF course, and his Of
anse was no doubt great, and merited