Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-06-02
THE Law AND WISE BUSINESS
METHODS.


I'M the verdict in the criminal libel
suit brought by County Judge
Cleeton and Commissioner Light
ner, of Multnonah county, ex-
presses itself as far from being pleased
at the outsome. 1t says, however, that
the charge that these officials had
violated law requiring that public
bids must be asked for all supplies
where the sum was over 500, was ad-
mitted to be true; but says the law was
simply directory and that "soUnd busi.
ness methods warranted the commits
sioners in using their discretion" It
also states that "no showing was made
that either County Judge Cleeton, or
Commissioner Lightner profited by or
were personally benefited by their
act" This is, no doubt, true. But is
not the oregonian taking a false and
dangerous position in holding as it does
that any law can be set aside by any
officer, because the thinks "wise bust
ness methods would suggest its disobed-
ieneef II the law is wrong it should be
amended or wiped off the statute books
but while it is in force, it should be
followed. No man or set Of men, couD-
by officials or others, have right to
substitute their opinions as to what
good business methods would require
for the plain commands Of the law. If
this were permitted, there would be an
end Of all directory laws of this class.
The lawmakers, believing bids should
be called by county courts, for all sums
where the sum involved exceeded 800,
stated in plain terms this should be
done. There was no provision made for
permitting county officials to substi-
tute their ideas of business methods in
its place The law is mandatory and
County Judge Cleeton and Commission.
er Lightner admitted they violated the
law, wilfully and deliberately, because
they thought II did not conform to their
ideas Of good business methods. Admit.
ting that they made no personal profit
by this violating Of the law, that they
we're not personally benefited, was not
the law violated just the samei
Admitting that their motives were
good and the act really beneficial to
the public, does that give them the
privilege Of breaking the lawi Conced.
ing that there was no criminal intent,
were not the charges of violating the
law made by the Portland paper and its
editor Dana sleeth, true7 Admitting
everything that has been said by the
Orcgonian in their defense or anything
that can be said, could the jury as hon.
est, conscientious men, reach any other
verdict than that County Judge Clee-
ton and Commissioner Lightner were
guilty as charged Of violating the lawi
We have no doubt but that both Of
these gentlemen are honest, conscien-
tious, upright citizens, men who would
not knowingly rob Multuomah or any
individual Of a cent, We realize that
their offense, their breaking the law,
was not done with evil intent, but be.
cause they placed themselves above tho
law, and set II aside, because they gavo
more effect TO their ideas of business
than they did to the force of law.
The jury did right to find them gull.
~, for it is the conniving at violations
Of the law that bring the law into dis.
ropute.
Suppose these violations of the law
were permitted to any one, when he
thought good business methods should
bo given the preference, and suppose
Homo one should get the notion that a
man was a murderer aud should bo put
out Of tho way, and suppose he should
get the further idea, that good business
methods would be subscrved Il he
should save the county the trouble and
expense Of an arrest and trinl and as a