Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-01-19

put in their bid fM $9175 for putting
in the system while there are responsi-
BILE parties wno are willing to put the
system in for $4,000, and we believe If
the council had given the 10 days fur
ther time there would have been bids
for even less than that. The council
has done everything in its power TO
keep everything hid from all but their
own click, and when others attended
the council there was several times that
they bunened up in one corner of the
room and did what business was done in
whisper, and all the minutes could
show was that they met, rollcalled aud
adjourned, Now, If they wanted to get
the lowest responsible bids on this Job,
why did the mayor keep Che specifica-
tions in his possession from May until
November, and no one except possibly
two or three be allowed to see them,
The recorder and some Of the council
men, not knowing what they contained
until IL was read at at 4 public meeting
just before the election, we want to
know why the specifications and Il rec.
ord Of the whole proceedings were not
in the hands OF the recorder whore they
could bo seen st any time. This is what
has caused the trouble at the present
time. The fight is not between those
that are in for a municipal system and
those who want a franchise (though
the old council won by circulating that
report). But the whole fight was On
the quantity OF water and the price be,
ing paid for the job. Many who are
fighting this scheme voted for the
bonds and were willing to let them 80
ahead, when we can be assured that
the water is there, and they are willing
to let the job for the price IL is ac'
tually worth. This is not personal
s fight, az some would have you believe
4 but business proposition, aud we are
not ilghting any ono personally but fol
the city Of Turner and its welfare, and
II you look over the tax roll you will
see that we represent, not only the ma
iority of the business capital, but the
heaviest side Of the tax roll Of the city
and We believe we should have some
voice in the way our money is being
spent,
Now, one word in regard to the sui
for recount, and / am done, On tho
day Of election, when the ballots wer,
counted (parties who were PRESENT., sale
that one clcrh on three different time
called tally when the other clerk only
had four, but the other clerk gave way
and counted IL tally, this caused dis
satisfaction, az the bystanders did mo-
think IL likely that the QUO clerk woult
make all the mistakes, and when tbl
council was called together TO canvas
: the votes quite a number of us wer,
present. tand while II is not law) II hal
: been the custom OF the council on aucl
occasions TO recount the ballots, an,
= we thought that IL they would do ~
this time we woild say nothing, bu
when the question was brought up the,
: gave us to understand that the onl,
way wc could get recount was by law
hencc the suit that is now pending
And while some Of MS did not thnl
much about II at the time, when the
will 70 to the expense Of hiring fiv
lawyers to fight the case, IL has a bal
, look Ia say the least Now, all tn
+ above are facts which cannot be denied
and ! simply state them 80 that the pub
lie may Judge who have Tao real wolfar
2 Of our fair city At heart.
Most respectfully yours
g H. h. EARL.