The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-05-19
PRESS MUzzELED
BY The VANDALS
TAXPAYERS OF CALDWELL DE-
MAND AN INVESTIGATION
OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Thinly Disguised Charges of Graft
Made in Petition to Mayor and
CounciI-People are Being Kept
Away From Caldwell Owing to
Grafters Says Petition.
The Tribune was this week hand
ed copy of a petition now being
circulated by citizens and taxpayers
of the city of Caldwell, reciting that
municipalities are VIGOROUSLY cor
rupt; that Caldwell is in the hands
of grafters; that the newspapers Of
the town are muzzled by Tandals;
that corruption exists; and demand
ing an investigation. The parIicu
lar petition we saw was unsigned,
but it wound up with a demand for
the initiative, referendum and re-
call. In view of the finale we antic-
ipate little trouble in ascertaining
the sources from which the petition
emanated. The petition follows:
To the Honorable Mayor and Coun-
Gil of the City of Caldwell, Idaho:
Conference.-The extent to which
politics in cities have been con-
trolled by the VIGOROUSLY unfit
the Bosses and Grafters-is too
potent to require discussion.
This element must be primarily
nIFr
gravest national evil, the extent of
which is not limited to local mis-
government or temporary wrongs to
! the city through which the corrupt
ing influence radiates, but destroys
faith in institutions and makes
economic waste.
There is no greater progress to be
made than in ferreting out all cor
, ruption. Public sentiment today is
stronger against corruption than 1t
2 has ever been before.
Therefore, as it is the opinion OF
so many that the people are headed
5 away from Caldwell by the rumors
8 that this locality is in the hands OF
grafters; that the papers are muzzled
. by vandals; that there has been
collision in the letting of many
], contracts for public improvements;
4 that lateral sewers No. 8 and 4
r could be duplicated for less than
one-half the price charged for them
That there was padding in the
q charges for cement work and fills
etc. You are respectfully asked tC
investigate the expenditures and
. transactions since March 1st, 1910
- and have warrants grouped anC
) public improvement work refgureC
e with the exception of the one
e main sewer, at $21.O0 per lot.
There is no reason why yoI
= should not do this and there arr
many reasons why you should do i
with great thOrOughness.
An administration like the las
one, which had every opportunity t.
render the city faithful and honor
= able service, should welcome inves
d tigation, and should have pride IL
e making an exhibit of it's expendi
A. lures and transactions. The Sewe
Committee for lateral sewers Nos
% and should be glad to make tn
h fullest showing of the way in whic
ID it has used its opportunities an
n should welcome the chance to Civ
), good and sufficient reasons for man
things.
IN 1t would be useful to see If car
ID did, searching, friendly inquir
,e might not bring about importar
: economic changes.
Any effort to whitewash instea
rs of wash white at this time is yer
restrictive in place of progressive.
You are also respectfully aske
to have incorporated into the cha
ter of the city the initiative an
Ut referendum and recall, as soon as
le can conveniently be done, having
IA also to cover the school board.
90 Signed:
" The foregoing petition is so paltI
- and absurd as to cease to be ridicl
!" lous. Our only jus'taea tIOn for pu1
fishing 1t Is that Il ~NaOla of Call
~ well may get some idea of the tot
= depravity of some men whoever the
10 may be. We trust that the invest
= cation may be made.
a. The charge is made that the new
"a papers of the town are muzzled
vandals. Who are these vandal
The Tribune would not waste tin
defending itself on such chars
I'd However, the Caldwell News
Dr. edited by Mr.. John G. Rice, preside
he of the Commercial Bank. Is N
al Rice muzzled by vandals? We har
mt ly think so. There is the chars
ne' unfathered, 1t is true, against N
'er Rice. This one statement bran
ar the petition as libel, a sland
and a lie.
In