The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-01-19
MAYOR AND
COUNCIL CLASH
APPOINTMENTS N0TALL CONFIRMED
Council Accepts Contract with A. J. Derby
as City Attorney, Refusing Appoint
meRt of E. c. Smith.

That there will be more or less fric-
! ton between the new Mayor and
Councli during the coming year was
demonstrated when the Council refused
to confirm some of the appointments
made by the Mayor 1t is evident that
the members of the old Council. who
compose majority on the board suffi
clent to carry any of their measures
over the Mayors veto, will not lose
sight of the fact that the water uues-
tion is not yet settled, and regarded
some of the appointments made by the
new Mayor as a step to oppose their
poIices in providing the city with a
municipal water system.
At the meeting Of the city council
Monday night h. II. Hartwig presided
for the first time as mayor. With the
exception Of II. c. Smith, who takes
the seat of Geo. |. Slocom, the per-
sonnet of the council for the next two
years will remain unchanged. After
some business of minor Importance
such as has been left over from the
lest meeting of the old council had
been finished, Mayor Hartwig read "A
message to the council.
From the actual data that he had
been able to gather, he said that he
found the city better than the average,
but he continued, ut is my opinion
that the city has not advanced with
the surrounding country and it should,
! believe, be our greatest endeavor to
remedy this defect with all expediency.
Mayor Hartwig advised all citizens
OF the city, whether voters or not, to
make study of the problems incident
to urban life and thus to learn how to
do those things for the greatest num-
ber. Another method for the solution
of this problem, he suggested, would
be an extension of the sphere of mu-
niclpal activity.
Courts, he said, are inclined to favor
the sphere of municipal activity, and
this was suggested as one argument in
favor of voting for bonds for the pur-
chase of the present water system.
Furthermore, he said. if the present
water plant and properties can be Sc
cured by vote of the people it would
give the city a supply of water and
revenue while the new system is being
constructed. After the completion Of
the new system, some of the property
included in the present system could
be used for park purposes and supply
of water piped to lower level of the
| Hat towards the Columbia River and a
powerful plant erected to geuerate
electricity for the lighting Of the
streets and public buildings of the
city. The mayor, as an additional
argument to his contention, pointed
out that in all probability the 500, 900
bond issue already voted will not
afford sufficient funds to put in opera
tion the complete new water system.
AS to the increase in the police depart
ment, the mayor recommended that at
the earliest eXpediercy the council
provide for the appointment a d con-
tirmaton of two night marshNls. one
for the Heights and one for the lower
portion of the city; for, he said, it is
a practical impossibiity for one man
to patrol all of the city during the
night time.
Among the suggestions to the health
department, it was recommended that
plan be provided for the systematic
gathering up of all waste from the
streets. At its last session the grand
jury, realizing the fact that there was
no state law covering the matter,
advised that the city council pass an
ordinance making ii a misdemeanor
for minor either to drink intoxicat-
ing liquor or have it in his possession
in the city. The mayor recommended
that an ordinance be passed embodying
the above advice.
In order to provide for more conven-
fences for the country people the
council were asked to provide more
hitching racks. Blowers Hardware
Co., it was announced, have offered to
permit racks and posts to be placed
around their business houses on First
Street.
1t was urged that the sewage system
of the city be completed and that a
competent inspector be employed to
oversee the work.
In regard to street work the mayor
said that he believed wood blocks
would make the best form of paving
for Oak Street. After an investiga-
tion he considers that any paving will
be too slippery on most of the grades
There shou d be competent commits
si0ner and inspector to superintend
this work, he says.
Aztec having accepted the message
it was filed with the recorder after
referring to the Judiciary committee
that they my make allotments of its
different suggestions to the various
committee.
Thereupon the mayor made the fol-
lowing appointments for confirmation:
p, M. Morse, for city surveyor; DR..
Malcolm Bronson, city health officer
r. 7. Lewis, marshal: Ed. c. Mahaney
for the Heights and Robert Strong for
the lower portion OF the city, night
watchmen; d f. c. Smith city at
torney. Chas. Hall asked, since the
names suggested for night watchmen
were unexpected and the members Of
the council had not had sufficient time
to make their acquaintance and to
form an opinion of them, that their
appointment be deferred He moved
that the appointments with this eXcep-
tion be confirmed, The motion, how
ever, was lost.
The following appointments of
standing committees were made:
Judiciary, Hall, Arnold and Wright;
finance, Higgins, Hall and Brosius
street and public property Smith,
Brosius and Wright; fire and water,
Arnold, Smith and Hall; health, Bro
sius, Huggns and Arnold; printing and
police, Huggins, Brosius and Arnold;
Sewers, Wright, Smith and Brosiug. j.
NJ. Wright was elected by the coun-
ciImen to serve as president of that
body.
1t was moved by DR.. Brosius that
the council and mayor accept and sign
contract with Judge A. J. Derby to
the effect that he should act as attor-
ney for the city at salary Of 5000 per
year The motion was seconded and
carried. The mayor, however, brought
up point as to the legality Of such