The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-04-01
PETER MAEER REFUS ES
TO SPEAK.
William II. Walker and the
Dog License.

Gerry last night, by the Democracy,
was really dull and lifeless affair
and not SO we'll attended as was antic-
ipated. The meeting was called to
order by Peter Maier, who had re-
fused to speak himself, and who at
once intro lueed Mr. VIM H. Walker,
the Democratic candidate for Mayor.
Once more we propose to give Mr..
Walker the benefit ola pretty full re-
port Of his speech. As is usual with
him, he opened by stating that he
was a candidate for Mayor, and to
show the people how he became a
candidate, he read again that call
which he boosted had been made on
the eight day Of January, a day ever
memorable to all Democrats. He
then said that the people had So
licited him to become candidate for
Mayor three years ago, but he de-
clined The people had been
told that he was not qualified
for the Office of Mayor,
but he had lived twenty five years in
the city, and thought the people
ought to be able to Judge Of bis qua
ifcations. He asserted most posi-
lively that he had been County Audi
tor for eighteen years, and boosted
that he had discharged his duty well.
He then continued: "
4 must not speak too long. 1t
has been charged that / am not in
favor Of school houses. That is not
true Some time since, the people at
West Franklin wanted to build a
school house. A man in that place
was told that if he would come to
Evansville and call on Walker, he
would get help. He called on me
aud told me what he wanted, and
what he had been told. | smiled, and
at once put my hand in my pocket and
gave him money.
When [ was County Auditor, 1
pointed cut to the Board of County
Commissioners, a tract of land at
Bulls Head, in which | thought
there was a speculation. They pur-
chased the land and made S11 ,000 out
have made that and put it in my own
pocket, but did not want to do it.
| have given TO all churches. There
is not a subscription paper for
church in the city that my name does
not appear upon.
The school house on Ninth Street
is a magnificent structure. 1t Is a
credit to any city; and there arc but
few so good west of the Allegheny
mountains. | learn that it cost from
$50, 900 to $4,000 Now. | would
have divided that amount and made
two school houses. l would have
builded one in Lamaseo. In fact. if
all that money had been spent in La
masco, it would not have been more
than right.
"A new roof was put on a school
house up town that cost about "a 900.
That sum alone would have given
you a good school house In Lamasco.
l do not think that our present Mayor
ever visits LamascO to see what you
do want and what you need. A GER
tain man of my acquaintance In Row
leyville told me that he had called
Mayor Bakers attention to a pond of
water that ought to be drained, and
that had created good deal of sick
ness In that part of the city Mayor
Baker said, | am not out looking at
ponds now think, after next Mon
day, you will have Mayor who is not
above looking at pond Of water.
" / took look at the Ledger at the
City Clerk Office, to see what the
oowldering of the streets had cost.
The Ledger shows that the boulder
ing cost S3006S rs. I know it cost
more. 1t cost $l05 800, for | have
made a calculation myself
Some time ago Mayor Baker re
ported to the City Council that the
L0ngworth tract Of land could be
purchased for 100000, and by sys-
tenn of figuring he showed that it was /
worth 100000. That report was
given 10 the newspapers, and Of course /
If it was worth 800 900. the persons /
controlling that land would not sell .
it for $500, 600. and that is u specimen .
of Mayor Baker fine inanceering.
Ii / don do better than that, you /
tract of land IL not worth $500 900; .
It is not worth over 1925. 900
Now | w:ll come 10 a matter that
will touch you in a tender place. .
Some time ago the papers got up an I
excitement about mad dogs and your
worthy Mayor discovered a panacea .
for hydrophObia; and that was to
license the dogs, charging from s. 90
to 81 30. each, TOR a dog. Medals
were procured, and on the payment Of
that amount. a dog could run AZ large;
and there was no danger that he