The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-09-21
COURT RECEIVES
VERDICT PRICE
BOND ORDINANCE STILL UNSIGNED
Mayor Fails to Attend Monday Evening
Meeting of Council Batchelder
Wants an Injunction.

Thursday night the city drew warrants
to the extent of $32, AL, which have
been delivered into the hands of the
circuit court clerk, w. f. Hanson, in
order that the city take over the
water plant of the Pacific Power &
| Light Co. and receive the revenue
derived from il. Mayor Hartwig, who
was reported to have refused to sign
the warrants, stated in a long message
to the council that reports of his
refusal to sign the warrants should
have been modified by the additional
statements to the effect that he desired
| further time to deliberate over the
matter. He made his signature to the
warrants provisional on the unanimous
| favorable sentiment of the councilmen
for the warrant procedure. However
| Immediately on the receipt of his mes
sage the council unanimously passed
such resolution.
Mayor Hartwig stated that according
to decision of the Supreme Court of
| the state in the case of the city of
| Sumpter, under circumstances prac-
| ticlly similar to the local situation, de-
cided that mayor was not mere au-
tomaton and that an official has no
legal right to put into circulation
commercial paper by which any holder
may be injured for want of funds to
/ pay same.
The mayor further stated, in hin
Thursday evening communication that
he still protested the transfer Of the
$50, 600 water bond issue from Ulen &
Co. to Morris Bros. He said: ''ln this
connection would also like to call the
attention of the members of the council
| to the advisabiity of re-advertising the
$50, 900 bond issue together with the
added amount necessary to take over
the water plant, as said bonds may be
sold at lower rate of interest.
However, an ordinance providing for
the transfer of the bond sale was put
on its final passage. Up to yesterday
the mayor had refused to sign the or
dinance. He says that the city will
not be able to do any work on the mu-
nicipal water plant this winter, and
that it should take advantage of re-
sale of the bonds, when smaller rate
of interest and perhaps a premium may
be secured. The rate of six per cent
on bonds in effect makes individuals
pay eight per cent on loans. Why
should not a city with the prestige of
Hood River secure a bid of five per
cent on sale of its bonds and thus
enable its citizens to secure loans for
seven per cent at least said the
mayor.
The street committee of the council,
however, in its report on the Batchel-
der communication, the views of which
were practically Identical with those OF
the mayor, stated advertisement
would be inexpedient, since the work
on the municipal water system would
be Iheld up as well as much needed
street improvement.
In order to remove one of the may
or's main objections to signing the
warrants for the purchase of the water
plant, an ordinance, providing for a
Water Works Condemnation fund and
placing an interest of six per cent in
stead of eight. according to the old
law, as.passed.
Other important action at the Thurs
day evening was the adoption of re-
port of the Street committee providing
for the opening of street from the
warehouse OF the Apple Growers I'm
ion to the Hood River Apple Vinegar
Company's plant. The city marshal
was ordered to consult with the city
attorney for action necessary for the
abatement of nuisances. The Judici-
ary committee was instructed 70 bring
in an ordinance, providing for signs to
be placed at the city limits warning
automoblists against speed of fifteen
miles an hour.
1t was hoped by other members of
the council that the mayor would make
some statement at the Monday night
meeting of the council as to his atti-
tude on the signing or vetoing of the
bond ordinance. However, when the
council met, the mayor was not pres
ent. When it was seen that he would
not arrive, j. M. Wright, president of
the council, took the chair and it was
decided that the body should adjourn
until Thursday night, when an adjourn
ed meeting would be held.
When seen yesterday morning rela-
tive to his absence from the Monday
evening session, Mayor Hartwig stated
that he understood there would be no
quorum present. The business of the
evening was OF no great Importance,
he said.
The mayor attended a moving picture
show during the evening. At the time
the decision was made to hold an adj
journed meeting Thusrday evening all
of the members of the council were
present with the exception of j. e.
/ Robertson, who came later.
/ j. +. Batchelder was circulating
among the business men of the city
yesterday morning a petition, or rather
a contract, asking that money be
donated toward defraying the expenses
of hiring an attorney to institute in
| junction proceedings against the sale
of the $4,000 water bond issue to
Morris Bros.
Judge Bradshaw received the order
Of the verdict of the court for his
signature last night. AS soon as he
! sings this, the city will assume control