Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-01-04
MAYOR KEYES MESSAGE
Continued from page One.)


dered nugatory by the voice Of the peo-
pie, and should, therefore, be repealed.
We have an ordinance regulating Chi
nese and Japanese noodle houses, which
is clearly unconstitutional and void.
This ordinance was drafted with good
intent and should be amended so as to
include all nationalities in order that
the penalty for violations thereof may
be effeetually enforced. We have an
ordinance providing a garb for police
men as elaborate as that of a Kentucky
colonel If the council desire our pO-
licemen, among the many other things,
to wear a black campaign hat with two
cords of gilt and a metal wreath on
front of crown, then we should enforce
this ordinance. 1t would seem that the
uniform in use at present is speetaeu-
lar enough, if so, the ordinance should
be amended, as it is a poor precedent
to violate our own laws.
Traffic Regulations
especially invite your attention to
the ordinance regulating traffic upon
the streets. This we must not leave
unnoticed. Human life is too sacred
to be nipped out by speed bugs and
careless drivers. An ordinance should
be passed requiring a small circle or
black block to be painted at the cen
ter of every street intersection, within
the business blocks of our city. This
signal should be repainted and main
tanned and the ordinance enforced un-
til the operators of all vehicles learn
and respect the laws of the road. l
believe it is true that in nearly every
city speed ordinances are violated with
impunity and corners cut in utter dis
regard Of the laws above referred to.
A stairway should be built leading
up to the dome on the city hall in or
der that visitors and home seekers may
take birds eye view of our city with
out climbing the dizzy heights at the
state house. For many years the city
dome has been roosting place for bats
and pigeons, The guano might well
be sold for enough to construct this
stairway, at any rate it could be built
with very little expense, and the dome
on the city hall placed to the use for
which it was originally designed.
| believe we should encourage the
further laying of hard surface pave
ment, but l do not believe we should
urge it upon property owners in those
districts where it would work financial
embarrassment or confiscatlon OF
their property.
Imported Inspectors
Under the present system, whenever
brick building is constructed, it is
the custom to have the wiring passed
upon by an inspector from Portland.
1t seems this inspector must make as
many trips as there are stories to be
constructed, / believe we have men
who can perform this work as eff
'ciently as those imported from other
cities. If so, we should appoint wire
inspector who could pass upon this
work in conformity with the code of
underwriters. His fees, as at present,
could be paid by the contractor. This
would not only mean material saw
ing to the contractor (or rather indi-
rectly to the builder), but money ex-
pended for this purpose could be kept
at home.
At present the city recorder is the
purchasing agent for the city. 1t be-
lieve a purchasing board composed OF
two aldermen and the city recorder
would be wise move.
| do not feel that / should conclude
this message without saying a word to
the police department of our city. 1t
is your duty to apprehend the viola
tors of both city ordinances and state
statutes, for by virtue of your office
you are not only policemen, but under
q state statute you are clothed with
the authority of eonstables. It is not
for you to pass upon the merit of our
city ordinances or the wisdom of any
state, because that is prerogative
of the legislative departments of the
city and state. 1t is your duty to en-
force the law as you find it. If yon
waiver or falter in this duty, those
who favor lax enforcement of the law
will denominate you as easy and those
who stand for strict enforcement of
the law will call you cowardly. Men
may differ in passion and prejudice,
and liberality, they may view from
different angles, but permit me to re-
mind you that directly or indirectly
the voice of the majority creates the
law they wish enforced. Therefore do
your duty and upon your services all
reasonable men will place the stamp
of approval,