Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-01-27
COMMON COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

| The Common Council convened IN session
January 7th 1869
His Honor the Mayor presiding.
Present-Ald. Andrews, Bertram, Deyy,
Gillett, Jones, Moore, O'Byrne, DIN and
Wegeman.
The reading of the minutes dispensed with.
The Mayor read the following communion
ton to the Common Council.
Gentlemen of the Common C5ancil.
For reasons. which l sh Ill hereinstate,
have deemed it my duty to again order spe-
cial elections in the several wards of this city
for the purpose of electing Aldermen to fill
vacancies, where they existed by reason Of
resignation or otherwise. have been in
formed by the Clerk that a sufficient num-
Der of those elected have qualified to secure q
quorum to do business. l have therefore
called you together o lay before you such mat
ters of Importance which require your I'M
mediate action.
l. In adopting the course Of my predeces-
sor, Iappointed q Committee to audit ac-
counts Of those having claims against the
city and the respective wards, in order that
they might obtain their just dues, and not
suffer, under and during the dissolution of the
Common Council This course has been OBJ
jected to, as | have been informed, and the
Treasurer is thereby stopped to receive those
audited accounts IN payment and redeem
them. But, in order that these mostly poor
and working men may have an opportunity
to pay their heavy taxes and obtain their hard
earned money to buy their daily bread for
the support of their families, | held it to be
my duty to cause meeting of this Council
at the present time. You will therefore give
this matter your imnedi te attention.
2. have the pleasure to inform you that
<,P ho Qr INV,
Railroad bonds have been exchanged and
sent in by our agent, A. L. Pritchard, which
sh ould be Cancelled at once. But he has to
receive $4,000 or one per cent. on that sum,
as agreed to be paid to him by this Council
for his services. While did not know how
soon this Council would be enabled to meet
again, Alderman Bertram and myself have
Joined in note to the Treasurer in order to
obtain those bonds for and in behalf of the
city. They are now in a safe kept by US,
ready to be delivered to the city as soon as
you will pass O. resolution that an order for
$50 shall issue in exchange for the said note.
Your immediate &C ion is therefore herein
required.
3. 1t here becomes my duty, whether it
be painful to me or otherwise, to inform you,
that in addition to the manda mus served upon
the Mayor and Aldermen, in the month of
September last, issuing out of the United
States District Court of Wisconsin, command
ing us to levy tax in order to satisfy judg-
ment against this city in favor of one Pitkin
c. Wright amounting to over $4,000 with
COSTS another mandamus has since, within
the month of December last, been served in
favor of one James H. Rees, amounting to
over ST 700, including costs, for the same
object, and which | herewith lay before you
to take cognizance thereof and to take the
man date of that Court into consideration.
4. Connected herewith, and in consequence
of the foregoing, movement has been got up
by cur citizens of late and committee by
them appointed for the purpose of effecting a
reasonable settlement with those holding R.
R. bonds against this city and to provide for
laws on the ubject. | need not inform you
that fully approve of these proceedings. My
sentiments herein are clearly defined in nv
inaugural address, and need net repeat them
here. | only hope that that committee which
has been selected out Of our best and most in
telligent men may be successful in their en-
deavor to work for our interest, and this
Council ought to do all in it's power to facil-
itate their labors. We may very naturally
differ in our opinions as to the best mode or
course to be pursued, or to the extent of our
moral liability But l cannot help but be-
lieve that we are all of one and the same
IuIuu, anu Will UNIT III trying SUule uleaHS, II
possible, to shake off, if we can, this heavy
burden and lessen the great incumbrance
upon US.
At one time last summer there was grea-
excitement among some Of our citizens on &C.
count of auction sales held here by strangers
This Council then re elected Jacob thinner
mann as City Auctioneer for the then ensuing
year. 1t appears that he has not qualified.
Lately the same strangers came here and
opened an auction store, and sold goods
without being licensed. In order to test the
validity of our local law, | authorized Hon
Henry Mulberger to proceed against them,
under and by virtue of an ordinance passed
in December, 1859, licensing and regulating
auction sales. But the origina' ordinance
could not be found in the Clerks Office, and
it appears by the records that that ordinance
was never signed by the Mayor, and therefore
became no law. You should therefore provide
for new ordinance on that subject.
8. | shall use this opportunity to inform
you that | have, at the Recommendation and
request of many of our citizens, during your
vacancy, appointed a night watch. agreed
that he should be paid $3.50 for each night.
His appointment runs from the 18th of Nov
ember last. | think that during the long
nights in the winter, it is for the benefit of
our citizens generally to have nightwatch
but if you should conclude otherwise, sub
nit the matter to you.
| Z, l would also recomme nd that full power
and direction be given to the committee on
Streets and Bridges for the adoption of some
measures as they may deem necessary to
prevent the damaging of our bridges this
win ter by the flood and the ice in the river
8. You should also elect President of the
Common Council to fill the vacancy of Thee
dore Prentiss, resigned, who may act during
the inability of your Mayor. And a City
Auctioneer to fill the vacancy of Jacob Tim.
mermanp, not qualified.
With these recommendations I conclude my
communication.
CHARLES BECKMAN, Mayor.
Watertown, January 9th, 1869.
On motion of Aid. Moore the same was
adopted.
On motion the Common Council proceeded
to the election Of President.
Whole number of votes cast was 9, of which
H. Bertram received 7, 7. Moore /, and 3
O'Byrne l. II. Bertram was duly elected
President of the Common Council.
The following accounts were read, under
suspension of rules allowed, and the Clerk
directed to draw orders On the respective
funds, to wit:
Against CT General fund Accounts of T.
j. Moran, So Purple s. Pierpont, 1856
L. Jaehrling, $l.50 D. Blumenfeld, $50 II
Chas. Kruger, $lO55; F. Baebenroth, S4
E W. Sprague, S2398; j. Schardt, 1854. 25 ;
NJ H. @, II