Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1917-01-01
.,.,,..,.::::;.::;:;.;::.''':''''''''';';

Ashland, ore, Dec' 90 i'iV'
the Hon. Mayor and Common
! 0 council of the City of Ashland
Cnntlemen: Cav' As the year for which
Doa last appointed your city attor-
: now Is drawing to close deem II
10y Ss,tting time to briefly review the
IL ,iS' of the legal department Of the
Won ,.,. = for the year 1916, and to report
cry ol matters still pending, which
Iee"' have under way, and upon which
~" ro1e devoted a great deal OF time
n an effort to adjust without litiga-
!ior u and expense to the city, and
sn% .lC only of the many things taken
IN and disposed OF.
up wish to heartily thank the mayor,
.ha members of the city council, the
l.noorder lno and treasurer, as we'll as the
annointiye officers of the city, for the
%pn ,aany courtesies shown, and the ma
in~ !a~iaI aid extended TO me during my
.n, NJ office, and the absolute con-
s,Janca Won have all seemed to have
~ ,U me- as your legal adviser, which
is.nre 80 YOU | prize more highly than
do the meager salary, which seems
% nave been so begrudgingly paid,
~ W. hv the city council, however, who
,'ovo ,,o, some knowledge Of the services
-Sndered but by some of our citizens,
.bo have little or no knowledge OF
,,cb services, nor the value OF the
some For all such have only the
gindliest feeling, knowing full well
.tot If they were in my office and
o,vld observe from day to day the
emo consumed by and the advice CIV
an N not only individual members OF
.rc council and the mayor, but to the
,..corder's office, the police depart
,.cnt the electric light department,
tra engineering department, the
,treat department, the water depart
mont the Springs Water Commission
and the Park Board besides the thou
md and one complaints and ques-
ton4 that are constantly pouring into
tra office from our citizens generally
,.euiring much time and patience to
answer. and could also see the scores
,f rasolutions, ordinances, contracts,
deeds charter amendments and Off
c,aI letters that are prepared by the
cty attorney. they would concede that
he IS earning a great deal more than
is being paid him. My only com
rlaint against such unjust criticism is
mat there are those who are prone
IN find fault without first fully in
forming themselves OF the facts.
AT the beginning of the year we
had a number of legal matters pend
ing among which may be mentioned
the electric light case, by the Califor-
ria-Oregon Power Company against
the city, which case is still pending
in the United States District Court at
Portland; the matter of adjusting a
claim for damages against the city by
the Cameron Septic Tank Company
on account of claimed infringement
Of their U. S. patent; the adjustment
OF the right to the use of the water
Of Berkley spring, as between the city
and Fred Homes; the matter OF re-
sisting the collection OF road taxes
against the citizens of Ashland by
Jackson county, and the matter OF
adjusting the purchase of smaHplat
of park lands from J. NJ. Wagner. In
addition to these matters, there-has
also come up the matter OF erecting
a settlement with the Smith, Emery
company, and also right of way priv
ileges between the city and numerous
individuals, on account of the new
power line leading to the minera
springs:
will treat Of these several mat
ters in the order named:
Some three years ago. what II
known as the electric light cast
against the city was filed by the Ash
land Electric Power and Light Com
pany, in the Federal Court at. Port
land. The city at that time employed
j. r. Reames and myself to defent
against this suit; we have spent
great deal of time in searching 10
authorities, writing up briefs, motion
and demurrers and arguing the same
besides having made some three o
four trips to Portland in connection
with this case, our fees for whicl
have not been fully paid, and whicl
should be adjusted in the near future
The last consultation | had with MI
Reames, which was some ten day
ago, he suggested that we had bes
file an amended answer, to which tn
Power Company would file reply
and which, together with the com