Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-12-01
REV. M'LEAN WRITES ON
GOOD GOVERNMENT

Sir: The Grants Pass Ministerial
association is not in politics, but 1t
Is interested in good government. We
feel that the GOODNESS with which
violations Of the law, in the interests
of vice, have been permitted during
| the past year has been disgrace to
our city. II any attempt has been
made to check vice or enforce the
law such attempt has escaped the
notice OF the citizens. The para
mount Issue today is, shall this state
of affairs continue?
We are nearing another city cleo
tion, and, having in mind some Of
the occurrences Of the past. / am
requested by the Ministerial associa-
tion to ask II 1t would not be possible
to further extend the scope Of the
corrupt practice act SO as to give
the public an opportunity to scrut-
inize the list of registered voters?
Inasmuch as the registration is un-
usually large, and further, inasmuch
as this has practically been in the
hands of one man, 1t would seem
that the cause Of righteous govern
ment should be best subserved by
submitting the list to the sovereign
people. Far be 1t from any Of us to
cast the slightest reflection upon the
integrity or intelligence Of that one
man, but even he may make mis-
takes. 1t was Lincoln who said:
"You can fool some of the people all
the time, and you can fool all the
people part Of the time, but you
cant fool all the people all the time"
Such being the case, II any have
slipped In who are not entitled to
vote, some of the people would dis
cover 1t were they to have the pub
lished list before them.
This seems advisable for several
reasons: First, there is feeling
among the people that light should
be thrown upon city affairs. That
will never be done unless there is a
change in the administration.
Second; The Importance Of the
measures to be voted upon. The
proposed commission charter confers
most extraordinary powers upon the
mayor and police judge. The for
mer retains the appointing power,
the source Of the greatest corrup-
ton. He has authority TO remit
fines, costs, forfeitures and penalties
imposed for the violation Of any Or
dinance." Ia addition to this there
seems to be scarcely any limit to his
authority to employ accountants or
other officials whom he may deem
necessary.
The police Judge Is given extraor-
dinary powers. Section SO says:
"There shall be no trial by jury and
there shall be no change of venue
from said court" That makes the
czar look small.
When II comes to the matter OF
amending the present charter the OPP
portunity for throwing dust in the
eyes is even greater. There are
fourteen proposed amendments to
the present charter, and to one at
least there are enough subdivisions
to almost make complete charter
In no case has anything more than
the title been given, and few know
what is the text that II proposes to
amend. Let us take, for example,
the FIRST proposed amendment. It
reads; Section 5S. "The auditor and
police Judge shall receive such sal
airy as may be fixed by ordinance,
but not to exceed $500 per year
payable monthly out OF the treasury
as full and complete compensation
for his services as auditor and police
judge, justice OF the peace in GRIM
inal proceedings and clerk OF the
council"
How many know that the present
ordinance, the law under which we
are working makes the salary $4O0
per year, and declares that in no
case shall II exceed that sum? How
many know that his present salary
is paid (if, as is asserted, he is now
receiving $4,000, in direct violation
Of the city charter.
With these facts before us we feel
that such is the Importance OF the
approaching election that every safe
guard should be thrown about the
ballot, and that the registry list
should be given to the people In the
same way the proposed charter was
given. Lacking that opportunity Il
would be well to hold up the amend
ments another year