The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-03-09
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
BAKER RESIGNS

District Attorney John Baker, who
has rendered his resignation, explains
his action in the following letter to
Governor Olcott:
"You will please consider this my
resignation as district attorney for
Hood River county, the same to take
effect Monday, the 18th day of March,
or as soon thereafter as you can I'LL my
position by appointment.
81 feel that it is due to you, as well
as myself, for me to give reason or
two for my actions. There is reason
for most everything-even for quit
ter.
During my term of office the past
ID months | have piloted the Mt. Hood
Loop Highway bond issue in the sum
of $3.50, 600, from inception to finish,
unassisted. The whole proceedings
passed the bond attorneys, and the
bonds sold without a question. | pre-
pared the dedication of the route for
our county court to acquire rights of
way by condemnation, if necessary.
Have prepared and begun five condem
nation suits for rights of way on the
Loop road, four more cases prepared
ready to file. Have acted as advisor
agent from the start to present time.
81 prepared resolution of condemna-
tion of additional lands to enlarge our
county gravel pit, and for that have
prepared six cases for condemnation.
"Have prepared and filed more than
so complaints in justice court for va
rious offenses, ranging from fornica-
tion to bootlegging and high crimes
and low crimes, most all resulting In
conviction.
81 have attended to all criminal and
county matters in our circuit court, too
numerous to mention. ! have been at
the beck and call OF our county court
at all times and have rendered opinions
galore, both horseback and afoot. |
Have written some dozen opinions to |
our county school superintendent, |
school districts, church societies, and |
others not associated. | have arbitra- |
ted a number of family rows, con-
gealed and resealed affections, when |
deserted wive and orphans have been
my specialties. /
"Neighborhood quarrels have had
my undivided attention. | have often |
stood with bare feet on linoleum at the |
telephone at midnight, with my pa
tence tied in knots, trying to pacify |
some irate citizen who was about to |
take the law in his own hands and get |
even for some supposed or imaginary |
wrong. | have had to answer the |
question. How old is a girl when she
becomes of age?' In fact every moot |
question in the county, from every |
nook and corner, is referred to the dis
trict attorney.
"Now. dear Governor, do not misun-
derstand me. | am not averse to be- |
ing in the limelight, whatever that is.
and | assure you that delight in be-
ing a servant of the people. but am
also conscientious as well. Ny salary |
is 500 per month Out of it | pay my |
own Office rent, stenographer, office |
supplies, long distance telephone calls, |
postage and such overhead as smoking |
tobacco and a life saver now and |
then. do not feel like accepting so
much money for so little work. Every |
time my check comes | have that gull
ty feeling, which | cannot describe. 1t |
is something like - well, you know |
without my telling you.
"Would ask to be relieved at once, |
but our circuit court is in session and | |
want to finish criminal cases on hand. |
Ii | can be of any assistance to you IN |
choosing my successor, please call me. "
Petitions for the appointment of
Judge r. C. Glanvlle as Mr.. Bakers
successor are being circulated. j. W.
Morton states that he will probably
apply for the office.