The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1912-04-17
FACTS AND PROGRESSION


the opponents OF said measure are nc
cused Of personalities. Such accusa-
tons are probably made with the OBJ.
iect and hope OF making the comins
special election a personal issue. and
thus prevent the careful considera-
tion OF the provisions OF the now
charter. II Is hoped to distract the
attention OF the voters from this mca-
sure by starting u row or agitation
over something foreign to the case.
such as the tlrc department row or u
split between the mayor and some OF
his councilmen.
More than half a page Is devoted to
what purports to be an argument In
favor OF the Sandersou charter. and
We leave Il to the people OF the city II
there IA one FACT In the entire har-
rnguc that can. by the greatest
stretch of the Imagination. bc con-
strued into sane argument showing
the advantage OF tho new measure
over the old charter.
II seems to DO an admitted fact
that the only proper system OF gov
errment for Klamath Falls Is the
Commission Form. This Is the only
form OF charter that represents real
progress. II II IA progress that Mr..
fvans wants. how cas he consistently
advocate a measure that b rctrogrs-
'lon In It's most positive form.
Klamath Falls Is n progressive AMI
rapidly developing city. and yet the
voters are asked to adopt a measure
compiled from charters which wer.
adopted by such cities as Portland.
salem. Roseburg and Ashland from
fifteen to twenty years ago. and which
these cities are now discarding for
more modern laws. Is this PROG
IEss or RETROGREssIoNy The 20
laws may have been amply sufYlcient
for that day and age. but Kiamatr
Falls does not want to begin where
these cities started twenty years age.
Cur city should be able to profit from
the experience OF other cities. and II
We are to adopt a new city govern
rent, II should be such as IL approved
by the most progressive and modern
cities In the United States. \
Here Is an example OF facts as II
CORES from the brain OF our morning
contemporary: II: III we turn Il
down we are stiil a bankrupt city.
without credit In the financial world
and operating under n charter de.
cared by attorneys to be without
legal force and under which we can
not sell bonds We would like TO
have Mr., Evans verify these so-caiied |
facts. VIII he kindly name one Of |
the attorneys who has DECLARED |
that the present charter Is Illegal: ,
Is II true that We cannot sell bonds
under this charter? How about the
$4,000 worth Of sewer bonds that
we're sold and accepted by the bond
company after a most rigid examina-
ton OF their legality by their attor-
ncys.
Mr.. Evans may not be an attorney.
but We believe that he knows that In
case the old charter is Illegal. then
tho new charter. II adopted. would be
In exactly the same condition. II Il In
impossible to sell bonds under the
present charter. II will be Just IAN i'm
I'ossible TO sell bonds under the San
ierson charter. The sanderson char.
er was ordained by the city council,
md was submitted under the provi-
ions OF the old charter. II the old
'larter IL not legal instrument,
hen the city council. elected under It's
u ,iovlsions. ia not legal body. AMI
has not legal authority or right to
'ubmit any measure or charter for
'doptiOn. We cannot believe that
ir. Evans is ignorant Of these FACTS
nd II we are right In our conclusion
hen he is wilfully attempting to de-
Give the voters of klamath Falls for
he sole purpose Of securing votes for
he new charter. II pays to be honest
a your dealings with the public. par
'cnlarly II you are In the newspaper
usiness.
II klamath Falls had dozen char
,rs, authorizing ten million dollars
orth OF bonds. II is ridiculous to be- =
eve that We can dispose Of moro ]
ian the property security will justi-
: Some people seem TO think that
i that Ia necessary In order to sell
onds Is to have q provision In the
'arter authorizing the people to vote
lem. Bond companies. however. are
'ther particular. and they always
'refuily investigate the security ~