Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-12-05
MINOR BUSINESS
BEFORE COUNCIL
Ordering Signs at Street In
tersections, Gravel, Water,
Lights, Etc.

Minor items of business came before
the regular meeting of the city council
last night and were disposed of in
short order. One of the items that
provoked gentle discussion was the
resolution introduced by Councilman
Cnruh to amend the rules Of the coun.
ell by changing the regulation requir-
ing an unanimous vote of the council
for bill to come up for third reading
and passage on the same evening it is
read the first time, to a threcfourths
vote of the council.
Councilman Elliott objected to the
change in the rules and Councilman
Moore moved moved to have it in
definitely postponed. The motion was
lost. Councilman Unruh declared that
the way it was one man could hold up
important legislation, even when there
was an emergency, and he did not like
the idea of one man rule.
Councilman Ward said the argument
Of Councilman Unruh sounded good on
the face but it did not give councimen
time to consider important bills that
come up or listen to objections Of the
people. He believed it would be better
TO call at special meeting. He did not
favor introducing bill and passing it
the same night and allowing blunders
to slip in. He declared too many ordi
nances were passed the way it is.
Councilman Elliott declared nine
tcnths of the trouble in ordinances
comes from their being passed the
same night as introduced. He said it
was not rule Of legislative bodies to
be so hasty.
Councilman Unruh replied that the
change in the rule was not to make an
opening for ordinances to get through
but to be used only in important legis-
lation which it is necessary to get
through in one night. He did not be-
lieye in special meetings of the council
and did not think one man should have
| the power to hold up legislation. The
resolution carried.
Gravel for North Front.
The request of Councilman Cook for
permission to buy 100 yards of gravel
for improving North Front street
brought nm inquiry from Councilman
Ward concerning whether or not the
| city rock crusher was not working and
whether it would not be cheaper to
have the city crush rock instead of
buying gravel. He said if the rock
crushcr would not work why didn't the
street committee say so. He could not
sec why the city could not use the
crusher and get enough crushed rock. on
hand to supply the city for the year.
Councilman Cook informed him, it
would cost fifty cents q yard to get
gravel while crushed rock would cost
about 81 q yard. As the request re-
auired a unanimous vote, Councilman
Ward voting in the negative, caused it
to be lost, but rather than hinder the
street Improvement he changed his
vote to yes and the request was
granted.
A bill from the water company for
supplying water for the fountain at
the corner of State and Liberty streets
in the sum of $92.lS for water since
last May. Before paying this bill it
was referred to the city attorney fo!
an opinion regarding the liability OF
tho city for its payment,
s. P. Given Franchise.
In the opinion of Councilman Elliott
there was too much water going to
waste and he believed at least 20
per cent of the expense could be cut
by placing automatic stop.cocks ON the
fountain, which would release water
! only when people wished TO drink.
Councilman Unmh objected because he
was of the opinion ii would not be alb
solutcly sanitary. A motion to in
struct the fire and water committee to
install the stopcocks WAS lost.
An ordinance granting the Southern
Pacific company franchise Tor :"
years TO construct and maintain wires
aud poles to convey high power electric
current on Union street to the river
and ON the alley from Union to Mill
street. was passed. The ordinance first
granted the franchise for 30 years but
1t was amended to read % instead
A petition signed by 400 people ask
inc that license be granted to Gus
cole to run q iitney ON certain streets
in Salem was referred to the license
committee.
A resolution placing the old fire en-
cine house on Ferry and Thirteenth
streets in control of the street depart
ment was passed.
The special committee appointed TO
investigate the placing of signs at
street intersections reported toNoraniE
on the matter and suggested signs bc
placed at all intersections and in places
where there is danger of collision IhC
letters are to be set in the pavement
and raised one or two inches above and
painted. The report of the eommitteV
was adopted. =,
The light committee authorized tn'
installing of an electric sign by the
Central Pharmacy. The permission wac
Granted ON motion of Councilman
Elliott.
La the matter of the bridge ON South
Capitol street between Mill and OAK
streets, the street committee recon-
mcndcd that it be built The report
WAS adopted. A resolution referring
i. thc matter to the 1917 council with the
recommendation that the bridge be
Ibuilt was also adopted&