Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-10-26
Sewers, Loans and Salaries.

Ed Journal AS the primaries are
not far away, and, under the new sys-
tenn, may result in election of some
Of the candidates, it is very important
that all candidates be understood on
vital matters. The situation is this:
The people have resorted to the initia-
tive to get rid of the sewer muddle,
and It is not only necessary to carry
the election for the bond issue to clear
the sewer liens off our property, but
we must have men in office who will
carry out the provisions of the initia-
tive, or else every citizen who has
paid a sewer assessment unjustly levied
or who has bonded his property will
have to bring an individual suit to re-
cover what has been erroneusly lev
led, or have a cloud on the title of
his property,
There is nothing wrong in the city
taking over the whole sewer debt.
Then when the sewer bond issue is
carried we want the popular loan plan
of issuing city bonds restored. Quit
selling long time city bonds and school
bonds in New York, and fight to keep
the interest and the principal at home
On the popular loan plan this can
become one of the richest cities in the
world, and that means one of the
most prosperous. Why, I believe we
could almost float these sewer bonds
among the school children, and teach
them the first lesson in thrift and
economy. The interest on these sewer
bonds alone would amount to as much
as If 400 families sent out of town
each year $50 in gold and then send
the principal besides.
The present city charter provides
for the popular loan plan.
But we cannot get the popular loan
unless we fight for it, and elect men
to office who will fight for it. All the
organized agencies are at work to sell
bonds in the east get the commission
for selling them, and then fee for We
mitting the interest. Many of the peo-
pie who have bonded their property
for the sewer assessment will be glad
to take city bonds in place of the 9TH
er bonds, and these who have yet to
pay their sewer assessments will be
glad to step up to the city hall and
get a sewer bond bearing per cent
interest instead of paying principal
and interest themselves
Let Salem be the city that has a
sound financial system.
The seventh ward resolutions have
been endorsed at every public meet
ing where they have been discussed
They will carry powers to be exert
ed by our public officials to save the
citizen money instead of further de-
pleting his income. Is there a great
err robbery of the city than for the po-
lice to make state cases out of Of
tenses committed in the city and try
them before a Justice of the peace
and packet the fees, in violation of
the city charter. City Recorder Elgin
will be glad to try all such cases, If
he is given a little more clerical help,
and put all those fees in the city
/ treasury.
The city charter provides for flat
salaries. and no fees whatever
The Board of Public Works can be
made up Of the mayor, and the head
of the street committee and the bridge
committee, and they can have a COM
petent man to do all city work at cost
os labor and materials. That is sim
pie proposition. and bridges, culverts
and drains and sewers can be built for
half what contractors will charge
Concrete streets can be built in that
way, and there will be no temptation
to rob the property owner by using
poor materials or poor concrete, and
a man like Gus Kehrberger, on sal