Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-04-08
Water, Bugs and Officials.

Editor Capital Journal:
The patient and ever.present taxpay
er notes the return of the local problem
in municipal ownership of water. just
, who started this agitation again after
it was all settled sometime ago we wot
not, but we do not fail to note thai
when some things cannot be accom-
plished at one time, sometimes they
can be at other times-later on.
The present administration seems tc
be in favor of repeating the perform
ance of the old council, fitting its foot
into the identical footprints of its pre-
decessor Judging from the "prOgress
being made we are about ready to buy
the plant. The morning paper is agair
backing the purchase in about the same
words and punctuations, and with, nc
doubt, the same results. The deal will
be entirely consummated, if you please,
by self. appointed guardians of the
people (in response, of course to pop
ular(Y) demand) and all we taxpaying
bondholders living in the outside wards
on 2x4 lot have to do is merely to 0
X. the transaction by our vote, Mere
ly matter of form, you know.
The ocuncil goes ahead with its water
purchase routine just as if the people
had already decided the matter, and
entirely contrary to the manner in
which they decided it once before.
What evidence is at hand to indicate
that the people have changed theil
opinion of this deal9 If the people
proceeded to mob the administration
into consummating the purchase, then
we might believe that the sovereignty
had changed its mind since the time it
spoke so decisively heretofore. But in
the absence of any uprising on the part
of the people, why is the same routine
being carried out without some tangible
evidence of popular support7
The water company says, and always
has said, that it didn't give a tinker s
dam whether Salem bought the plant
or let it alone. This places the taxpay.
ers between the indifferent company
and Jealous contingent in the council
and the morning paper. The people, as
the sovereign power of the city, have
had nothing to say. Yet.
The city and the water company once
entered into written contract whereby
the company was to supply the city
with "gOod, pure and wholesome wa.
ter for a period of years. Both parties
cOnstructively agreed that the river
was good for use, although it has sincs
appeared that the water was full of
germs and whatnot. About the time
Woods Hutchinson ct al, introduced
resolution to change the name of the
river to the Eugene and Albany sewer
certain Salem banker posted a cool
$1,000 to any one, barring none, who
could fetch him a bottle containing a
single germ. The money is still lying on
the counter. The bugs are said to be
in the water by advocates of the pur.
chase of the present system, but we
note that the offer of that $1,000 does
not locate a single germ. And, by the
way, that standing offer is what is de.
feating the city and company getting
together for "better" water. Just how
will be shown Immediately.
After many years, the city has ar.
rived at the conclusion that we need
better water than we contracted for. A
leaky intake pipe has also had much to
do with this matter. say "contract.
ed for" for do not believe it was the
intention Of either party that the city
could rise up and demand the company
to pipe million dollar mountain water
whenever the city took notion. Nor
would any court sustain the city in
such a contention. The contract con.
structively (perhaps specifically stated
in franchise) embodied Willamette riv.
er water. The company is fulfilling its
part of the contract and is continuing
to pump the same water as it did in the
beginning. The mountain water bug
turned loose by Woods Hutchinson, sails
everywhere in Salem except where that
$1,000 is posted 1t is afraid to meet
chemical analysis,
As a side issue some demand filter
The water company does not seem dis.
posed to entertain this proposal, or any
other, fir that matter. In fact it is peace.
fully and silently pursuing the even
tenor of its way pumping the same sup.
ply as of yore, while the city is torn
asunder because it has changed lis
opinion during recent years of the DUAL.
ity of the water. The company has
nothing to do with municipal opinions.
Why not be silenti
II we undertake to enforce our con.
tract for "pure and wholesome" water
the company will merely pont IN tbat