Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-04-19
THE RESULTS OF SECRECY.

RT SEEMS that when Mayor Sleeves
and Councilman Hatch were Wednes
day night assuring the indignant cit
izens of North Salem that City AttOr.
ney Page had made mistake in send
ing them bills for sewer construction,
and that the North Salem lateral sew
ers were included in and covered by
the bond issue, they were badly mistak-
en-, for II is inconceivQble that either Of
them would deliberately undertake to
misrepresent matters or deceive their
hearers.
City Attorney Page, however, says
the statements made by the gentlemen
named were absolutely incorrect. Mr..
Page as attorney for the city should
know more about the legal status Of
the matter than the mayor and he
gives it not only as his opinion, but as
a positive fact, that there is no law or
ordinance by which it is even suggest
ed that the lateral sewers Of North Sa-
lem are covered by the sewer bond is
sue. He says flat.fOotedly that the
property owners are liable, and that un'
der the existing conditions, having been
ordered to collect all assessments due
the city he can only present the bills
to property owners, and follow them up
with suits if not paid, if the council
orders the collections enforced, Mr..
Pagc says he had nothing to do with
creating this condition and it certainly
is not a job to his liking to either pre-
sent the bills or bring suit on them, but
that it is one Of the duties Of his Of
flee and he cannot shirlS it,
lie also points out that the council
can order him to hold off on the col
lcctions, and that there might be some
plan perfected for rcfunding the money
paid in for sewers, but it is a matter
for the council. He also says the vot'
ers in the North End we're deceived, and
that they no doubt thought the bond is
sue covered the laterals, and does not
blame them for being sore, simply
pointing out that he had nothing to dc
with the matter, until ordered to collect
the assessments.
Where will the end be7 Is there any
act Of the city council that is sensible
straightforward and lcgall 1t begin'
TO look as though there was not, On toI
Of the Oaks addition muddle, the Soutl
Salem sewer bond matter; the iokers il
the amendment to the city charter fo
the purchase Of tho water plant; tn,
lotting of paving contracts withou
bonds to keep the streets in repair il
direct violation of the demands of tn
people; with every proposition Of an,
Importance practically in as bad con
dition as those mentioned, wen may W
ask, is there anything that has bee
attended to properly and in business
like manner by Salem 5 city councilt
What is the cause Of all this miscai
riagc Of so many propositionsl The al
swcr is easy. Part of the wrong wa
intentional and part just carelessnes
Neither would have been possible ha
the council taken tho public into II
confidence. Some Of the things don
by tho council have the earmarks O
least of let us say deceit, The counc
has run ON the people be d--d tn
Ory, and the people were not considerc
worthy Of houg takcn into the coul
cil's confidence. Some pretty mast
looking work has been done by II
council, notably that lottinR Of pawn
contracts without requiring bonds, an
that little Joker in the water plal
proposition other things like Il
North Salem sewer proposition WI
probably Just gross carclcssness' b'
all those things have been done witho,
tho people knowing anything about
until after tho things were done,
We arc pleased to note that there
a change City Attorney Page com
out today manfully and shows whc