Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-04-29
COMMITTEE MAKES
A LENGTHY REPORT
Says People We're Deceived About the
Sewer Bonds at the Recent
Election.

The committee on accounts and cur.
rent expenses Of the city council last
night filed the report which is hereto
appended. 1t is verbose, prolix, re.
dundant and irrelevant, immaterial and
incompetent evidence to excuse and
evade a wrongful act, and shift re-
sponsibility from the shoulders of the
council. When the report was read
motion was made to furnish copies to
the press. Councilman Minton opposed
this and moved to lay on the table,
stating that parts Of the report were in
every way absolutely false. Council
men Cummings and Jones stood with
him, but the motion to print passed.
The report undertakes to take a fling
at The Capital journal, which falls
flat, for all the readers know that at
that time it did rot belong to its pres,
ent owners. Here is the committee 3
report:
We, your committee on accounts
and current expenses, to whom was
referred resolution No. 907 in the mat
ter Of calling an election providing for
submission of the question of issuing
lateral and other sewer bonds for re.
funding the expense Of a: Gay con-
structing lateral sewers numbered to
81, both inclusive; (b) providing a
fund for the construction, and (c) pro-
viding funds for the refunding Of as.
sessments and claims for construction
of lateral sewers constructed within
that portion Of the city bounded by
the limits of the corporation prior to
1908, beg leave to report upon this
matter as follows:
First-We find that the recital in
resolution No, 1897 to the effect that
the total assessment for the constuc.
tion Of lateral sewers numbered to 81
in the sum of $52,394.19 is substantial.
ly correct. That there has been paid
in of this total amount approximately
$25, ,436.13, and that there is outstand.
ing upon account Of the same the sum
Of approximately $26,95s, and interest
from various dates, the exact amount
of which it is difficult to compute
without very large amount Of effort
and that warrants which are carrying
interest against the city at the rate
Of per cent are outstanding covering
the unpaid balance Of these later sew
or assessments.
Second-We find that it is true that
no provision was made in the charter
amendment and bond ordinance passed
December 2, 1912, by vote Of the peo-
pie under the powers Of the initiative
and referendum for making any re.
funds or cancellation Of assessments
levied upon the 81 districts above re.
ferred to and as recited in said resolu.
tion No. 1907, introduced by Council.
men Minton and Jones.
No Definite Record.
Third--We find upon investigation
that there were some lateral sewers
constructed within the old corporate
limits Of the city as they existed prior
TO 903, and that there has been large
amount of later work done within the
same limits at private expense with.
out the formality of city assessment
and of tho same relative benefit to the
public as the laterals Of both North and
South Salem, but there is no definite
record as to the amount or extent Of
this lateral sewer construction work
performed in past years.
Fourth-we have satisfied ourselves
that there is also, as indicated in said
resolution, large amount Of property
for which provision should be made
by the construction Of lateral sewers in
the near future, otherwise Il viii be
necessary TO call repeated elections
from time to time, inasmuch as the
charter as amended does not give the
council the power to 90 ahead on sew.
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