Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-06-02
LITTLE BUSINESS DONE
COUNCIL HOLDS REGULAR SEMI
MONTHLY SESSION.
Election of City Attorney and Other
Officers Deferred Until Next
Meeting Proceedings.

Notwithstanding the date of the
special election called for the purpose
of approving or rejecting a bond is
sue in the sum of $500 for the con.
struction of septic tank, is but eight
days distant the council at its regu'
lar session last night took no further
steps to provide location for the
disposal tank, and consequently the
aldermanic body presents the PROPOSE
tion to the electorate gauzily garbeo
in doubt as to this particular phase OF
the situation.
Comparatively little business OF i'm
portance was transacted during the
two hours of session, the time being
devoted principally to discussion OF
things contemplated for the future
among which was Alderman Hayter's s
announcement that he would introduce
a resolution to amend the charter rel
ative to street improvements so that
the cost of intersections would fall to
abutting property instead of the gen
eral fund, as under the present meth
cd. This statement following the
reading of q remonstrance that put
a quietus on all street improvements
for the present season.
Alderman Gohrke recommended
that the city employ a man to clean
up the tract of land north of the
reservoir, and it was so ordered. This
ground may hereafter be used for pie
nicking purposes. Mr.. Fisher was
given lease of the land east and
south of the reservoir, he to relinquish
it to- the city upon demand. 1t is
Mr.. Fishers intention to cultivate the
tract.
With reference to the curbing on
Robb street Alderman Barber recon-
mended that the park strip be made
five feet in width, leaving forty
foot street, and while no definite ac-
ton was taken on this matter it was
understood that when the time fol
improvements should arrive this con-
dition should obtain.
The bill of Mr.. Vaughn for the con
struction of sewer at the time the
downtown streets were hard surfaced
was resurrected and discussed. The
bill had heretofore been repudiated by
the council, there being no warrant
for its allowance other than that two
members of the council had authorized
its building. Alderman Westovel
championed the bill and thought 1t
should receive consideration by the
council resembling its previous action,
and to that end he made motion,
but it lost by vote of four to two.
Bills amounting to something like
1880 for work on county roads within
the city limits were presented and re-
ferred to the street committee.
j. d. Bevens made application for
appointment as street commissioner,
but inasmuch as a new ordinance,
which provides for an increase of
salary, is awaiting a second reading,
the matter was deferred. The pres
ent remuneration is twenty cents per
hour for actual service.
Glen 0. Holman applied for the
city attorneyship, but this appoint
ment was also deferred until future
meeting.
Fire Risk Heavy.
The Equitable Rating association,
in a communication, called the coun-
ellis attention to the deplorable con-
dition of Dallas streets and alleys,
and presented an ordinance intended
to reduce the hazardous of insurance
risks. The ordinance was referred to
City Attorney Coad and the ordin-
ance committee.
Attorney Walter L. Tooze, Jr., ad-
dressed the council with reference to
the instructions given the recorder at
a May meeting to cause the arrest of
DIR. Toel and DIR. Turner in order to
test the ordinance pertaining to Ii
censes for itinerants. He explained
wherein the ordinance was invalid,
stating that $3.50 per day was prohibi-
tive and had been so held by the
courts, with which statement the city
attorney agreed. Mr.. Tooze told the
aldermen that DIR. Toel held a state
license, issued in 1889. City Attor-
ney Coad expressed the opinion that
no court would sustain such an ex-
orbitant license fee.
An ordinance for the appointment
of special policemen and providing
that fees should come from fines, was
read for the first time.
AT the request of Alderman Hayter,
a warrant for $253 for interest on
hard-surfacing bonds, and another for
$1,000 to pay off bond, were ordered
drawn in favor of the city treasurer.
C. C. Hartley was given permission
to dig a ditch across Fairview evenue
for the construction of a sewer.
Mayor Van Orsdel called attention
TO the unsafe condition of the bridge
near the mill, and also to the condi-
tion of sidewalks in various parts of
town. A gap in the walk to the eeme-
tery, and a sixty-foot opening on
Brown street were mentioned. The
recorder suggested that the council
round up all defective walks and give
notice to property owners at one time,
thus reducing the cost of publishing.