Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-03-16
ReOrganlze
.CityCouncil;;
Wards Shift
Reelection Of Members to
Represent Districts Of
Which They Are not Resi-
dents Attacked as Illegal

Four wards in the city. by action of
the city council at its meeting Mon
day night-the last one before the or
dinance creating new ward boundaries
in the city became ffective-today
we're being represented by new coun-
cilmen. Because of a haze of doubt
that shrouds the action of the council
in saving itself virtually intact by its
action at the meeting, none of the
members could say, following the meet
ing, how long they would hold office.
If the action of the council stands
the wards, effected by the boundary
changes, will be represented as fol-
lows:
Ward Henry H. Vandervort ana
Edward Schunke.
Ward S-Paul V. Johnson.
Ward 6-Ray Simeral.
Ward 3-W. f. Buchner.
Ward 4-John Geisey.
Wards and still lack one coun-
Gilman each.
Wards Changed Today.
1t became necessary at last nights
meeting for the council to take some
action to preserve the citys legislative
body. The ordinance creating new
boundaries in the city becomes effec-
tive today With its effectiveness the
above named wards were changed.
ousting Councilmen Johnson Schunke.
Muchner' Hager and Craig and Van
deryort from their own wards.
lengthy opinion, prepared "after,
exhaustive search" by City Attorney
Bert W. Macy, regarding the status of
these counclmen on the ground fol-
loving their removal from the old
wards was read. 1t contended that the
eouncilmen automatically lost office
when they ceased to reside in wards
from which they were elected. Conn-
Gilman Vandervort came to the meet
ing armed with legal statutes which
showed opinions of high courts that
lhe couneilmen, when elected were
made Officers of the, city and not par
ueularliy of a ward, and that they
therefore, could hold their positions
oh the council as representatives Of the
city at large.
Craig Quits Council.
Counciimen Harold Hager and Roh. |
et Craig resigned outright from the
council Hager' resigned because he
sa'u ne would leave the city within so
peys, Craig withdrew his name when
Illuminated for a position in ward 8.
irrespective of the conflict of the
n,sh n, court opinions as brought In by |
S"y Attorney Macy and Councilman
: 'shuerVort as to the status of the
ovuhclimen, and of the question on |
councilmen could be elected
~ ~ serve IN ward that doesn't exist.
sne s couneilmen affected by the change
poceeded to resign while their COM
dues followed in rapid succession
%sh I,si nominations for their election to
Inherent wards.
councilman Utter contended. fol-
wing S,s the submission by Councilman
OF his resignation and his
= 's','ii'ation-tn ward |, that the elecv.y,
! niil TO that office could not b-
,a.1' aue because ward was not created
ah,i.n nn'iunlsht' when the boundary es-
,'e',ineilt law became effective. No
~ .s"'ioh was paid to this. however.
s i,s ~ at least 20 minutes the eoun-
No. 'l ailected had all resigned and
een cl, appointed to new ward positions,
l. Ivy attorney Macy was absent when
,aa. op'nloh was readily City Recorder
h.. @ IWice Councilman Hager urged
rri,.o MI BUSINESS be suspended until hs
d.. u Ihls was finally done when
49,, NY came in. and motion made ~
i 'nAe n, 10 accept the attorneys opin-
was temporarily shelved.
~. Legal Views Aired.
o., "e law book brought by Wander
'a was placed in Macys hands. and
! w. w. asked to read the phrases cited
wa opinion. WIN ms
id s ~. =, Is not in point at ALL" Macy
spde aeauihg the chapter to himself.
,r, "esu ss IT. then wen see.r vander- !
~. ~, challenged.
! nave already read II twie.
ttOUtinuad -. - 4,