Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-03-16
Council Moves to Rescind Pre-
vious Action Favoring Bonds
NO SPECIAL ELECTION IN MAY
PUBLIC SENTIMENT CAUSES
CHANGE OF FRONT.
Alderman Gohrke, However, Main
tains His Position in Favor of
Municipal Ownership Of This
Public Utility.

The council last night, with all
members except Alderman Gohrke
voting aye, instructed the auditor to
discontinue further proceeding toward
the purchase Of the water plant, and
authorized the city attorney to draft
an ordinance for presentation at the
next session repeating the ordinance
which provided for submitting the
question to the people for their ap-
proval or rejection. This action was
taken because of the fact that public
sentiment is against the buying of Mr..
Gates !, equity in this utility, and to
save the unnecessary expense Of a
special election on May 10 next.
The aldermanic body had not pro-
ceeded far with it's business when,
during a momentary lull, Mayor Van
Orsdel announced that he had some
thing of Importance to communicate
to the council. Every man, including
the small number of spectators, stood
at attention, evidently anticipating
his theme. The mayor said he had
taken considerable responsibility upon
his shoulders for the so-called water
fight that had been waged, and had
not changed his opinion concerning
the taking over of the plant, believ
ing that ultimately the investment
would prove one of profit to the COM
munity, but that the disposition of the
people was such, and there was so
much antagonism to the measure as
proposed, he considered it unwise to
prosecute the matter further, entail
ing an extra expense without availing
anything. The mayor contended, and
no one doubts the assertion, that
whatever part he had played in the
administration since his advent. to the
mayoralty had been in the best of
faith, and if he had made mistakes
they had been unintentional. 81 may
be mistaken in my attitude toward
this NATTER" said he, "but | predict
that if the city ever takes over the
water plant it will be at a greater sum
than it is now offered for" Hizzon-
er then recommended to the aldermen
that the council take the necessary
steps to set aside the ordinance pro-
viding for submitting the question of
voting $4,000 worth of bonds for the
purchase of Mr.. Gates equity in the
water system to the people.
Alderman Young, who supported
the ordinance on its final adoption, al
so supported the mayor in this recon-
mendation, saying, among other
things, that under existing circum-
stances he believed it the part of wis
dom to reconsider the matter. He re-
marked briefly upon the attitude of
the opposition, holding that other
than gravity water systems had been
used as examples to prejudice the pub
lie mind against the proposition. He
said there were good arguments in
favor of the purchase, and mentioned
that the Corvallis gravity
system had taken in $4,000 last year
with expenditures of only $4,000. But
the people feeling that the offer of
Mr.. Gates should be declined, he
thought the ordinance should be re-
pealed.
Alderman Miller, a member Of the
water committee, and one who ap-
proved of calling the special election,
favored repeating the ordinance in
question. He said the opposition was
decidedly outspoken, while the other
side had not been heard from, thus
placing the matter in a one-sided light.
But inasmuch as sentiment was unfa-
vorable to the purchase of the water
plant, he moved that the auditor be
to take no further steps to
,all the special election and that the
,ity attorney be instructed to prepare
an ordinance repeating the present
1ne submitting the question of issuing
bonds.
When Auditor Gregory called the
roll, at the instance of the mayor, the
notion carried, all aldermen present
voting aye with the exception of Mr..
who voted nay. Alderman