Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-03-11
RIGDON HAS MINTON'S
SCALP ON HIS BELT
ROaStS Committee and Also
the Mayor for Ways That
Are Devious and Dark
HE DEMANDS PUBLICITY
And by Resolution Takes From the
Committee Power to Employ Spe.
Cial Secret Officer.
HE DEMANDS PUBLICITY

With the introduction of resolution
last night aimed at the authority
granted the health and police commit
ttee at previous meeting, to employ
secret police officers, and with brawny
statements to back each section OF
the resolution, Alderman Rigdon ad-
ministered smashing wallop to AL
derman Minton, Of the fifth ward, that
sent him groggy figuratively speaking
for the rest Of the night. Incidental
ly Mr.. Rigdon landed on the mayor
for a few stiff prods The mayor
didn't counter. The resolution was
adopted, and the evening was Rlgdons-
The Rigdon resolution rescinded
the former resolution, giving the po-
lice committee power to employ Sc
cret officers, Rigdon centered his at
tack on the payment of a months
salary to some unknown policeman,
which the belligerent alderman de-
clared should have been approved by
the committee on accounts and cur
rent expenses. He said that at the,
time II was his firm intention to en-
join the payment. Since the mayor
had allowed the payment, however, he
declared his intention to enjoin any
further action Of that nature, at his
own expense.
NintOn Arch COnsplratOr.
isn't It astonishing" yelled Rigdon,
that a councilman who has howled
his head off that the charter must be
followed to the letter, and that all mon
ey must be accounted for, is the arch
consplrator in this grab on the city
treasury?
"Had we employed three special Of
ficers, as was requested, the money
paid out would have amounted to
three times SIS. For the SIS that
was paid out no report has been made.
The name Of the officer has never
been divulged He has never qualified
for office by taking an oath. He has
never been discharged. He has been
paid through the mayor. That places
the mayor in peculiar position before
the people OF this city.
Chief Knows Him Not
"Even the chief Of police doesn't
know who this mysterious special Of
flcer Is, The charter says that all
policemen must qualify before the
chief II says that all money paid
must be a matter Of record. We have
no record Of this payment. The mayor
has advocated the widest publicity Of
all business coming before this coun-
Gil, yet this has never been made even
n matter Of record. The charter says
that all officers must assist the chief
In his various duties yet the chief
doesn't know who this officer is The
city marshal and the city recorder say
they have seen no results Of this Off.
cer's service or Of the payment Of the
money Those who do this kind OF
business never go down TO the bottom
Of things, and investigate from the
bottom They scratch around on tho
top and obscure tho foundation, then
swear by all that is great and good
that there is no foundation. There Is
no doubt In my mind that II any citi.
zen Of this city wants to start pro-
ceedings to have this money returned
he will not have the least difficulty In
difficulty in winning his case"
MlntOn Takes Floor.
"G am glad to see the gentleman 50
eloquent" said Alderman Mlnton,
when RIgdon had finished, and speak
lng more calmly than is his wont,
"But he Is much mistaken about some
/ things He said that this special off
Ger was unknown The mayor and
the committee have known who he
was
Rigdon-Do the records show who
/ he was?
Minton ignored the question
"The alderman has said that the Of
fIcor was never sworn In, began Min.
ton,
Rlgdon--Who did Il?
! Minlon-'rhc mayor
Rlgdou-ls h on file?
Mnton--No I don't think II is
at Is no insult 10 the chief Of po'ico
! that the officer wns secret" continued