Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-03-07
JEFFERSON
IS REFUSED
SEWER
Alderman Should Not
Be On City Payroll,
Council Holds; Low
Is Given Work

Is G1VGu w OIh
In the future Alderman James
Jefferson will not be paid 75 cents
an hour to supervise sewer con-
struction in Salem. Following a
rather stormy argument into
which a half dozen aldermen en-
tered, the city council, at its regu-
lar meeting last night voted to
place Walter Low, street commits
sioner, in charge of the work.
I'm going to be very frank
about this" Alderman F. l.. Utter
said in opening the attack. 81
feel that it is very poor business
for this council to have one of its
members on the city payroll"
Alderman A. F. Marcus fell in
line. "Seyenty-fiye cents an hour
is too much to pay when our street
commissioner is hired for that
work." he declared.
Jefferson Votes "No."
Alderman II. H. Vandevort was
third, and he made his approach
from a different angle. I'm the
first place." he said, 1--WE are not
permitted to employ him unless
we change the city charter"
1t was at this point that Alder
man Hal Patton rose to his feet
to champion the cause of Mr.. JEFF
ferson, Let the sewer committee
have charge of the work." he
urged. 'If Mr.. jefferson gets the
Job, l think he should be permit
ted to keep it."
But Mr.. Patton was not to get
his advice through unchallenged
He was followed by Mr.. Marcus.
"Mr. Patton's loudest cry" he
said, "is for lower salaries. Mr.
Patton is always for economy
How about this situation?"
A few words in his own behalf
were uttered by Councilman JEFF
ferson who hoped that his WORK
last year had been satisfactory
Following his talk a vote was TAX
en- and the councilmen, by ballot
Of six to four, turned the work
over to Commissioner Low. Alder
man Jefferson was one Of the
four who voted against the move.
Matron Is Commended.
A petition from six residents in
the vicinity of Twelfth and Hines
streets, who asked that a sewer
be constructed for them, was laid
on the table. A half-dozen side
walk resolutions were referred tC
the street committee.
Mrs. Elsie Eisaman, Salem po-
lice matron, caIne in for praise at
last nights meeting. A report
from the committee on health and
police, in which she was com
mended for her recent work, was
unanimously adopted.
Following receipt Of a verbaI
wort that Marion Square is In a
bad condition, the light commit
tee was ordered to make a probe,
The Portland Railway Light g.
Power company also will be in
structed to install light at the
corner of Water and Academy
streets.
Vandevort Wins Point.
After he had given a verbal re-
port on the auto camp conference
which he attended aS Roseburg re-
Gently, Alderman Ed Schunke of
fered a motion, which was adopt
ed, that the city lease the local
auto camp grounds, for 5000, dur
Ing 1929, and that 1t later be pur-
chased by the city. His motion
that all fees received from motor
lists during the present year be
turned over to John J. Roberts
president OF the park board, was
also adopted.
A deferred victory was scored
by Alderman Vandevort last night
when, at his suggestion, the coun-
ell agreed to pay William Sheri-
dan of this city $3.50. At a pre-
vious meeting of the council Sher-
idan had presented his bill which
had been incurred after his auto
mobile, held by the Salem police,
had suffered a frozen radiator.
Although the city attorney had
held that the city was not legally
liable for damages, Mr.. Vandevort
contended that the aldermen were
morally liable but, at the previous
meeting, there were few aldermen
to agree with him. Last night,
however, when he brought the
matter to second vote, his mo-
tion carried easily and Sheridan
will receive his money.
Bill Frowned On.
Twice last night Alderman Ut |
ter moved that the ordinance COM
mittee be instructed to bring In at
the next meeting certain bills and
For rapid healing there is moth |