Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-04-07
The Now city Charter.

those of our citizens who are interested
in our municipal government, and its
many imperfections have probably be-
come apparent to everyone who has con-
siiered It carefully. We are aware that
II is quite impossible TO have a charter
drawn that will be so nearly perfect as
to find favor in every mans sight, but it
Is possible to have ono prepared that will
be reasonably correct. This revised, con
solidated and amended charter which
has boon made law TO govern US, is
little else than patch work concern and
badly put together at that. 1t is far
from meeting the expectations of our cit
liens, and is, by no means, a document
that viii elicit the profound admiration
of anybody to any great exient
Oar limited time has not permitted US
to read il very closely, and hence we
cannot crilicise il as infinitely rs we
should had we been enabled to give it a
careful examination. Bat VIC will note
few Of the moro prominent errors,
though. lhey may not be The most i'm
portant-
Section three, of chapter three, pro
vides that Z" tho first election shall be
held at the steam sash factory Of Meach
am & Co., in the third ward. 1t may
DO well to observe, however, that this
provision was disregarded, and that the
elections in the first aud second wards
last Tuesday were held at tie usual
places The third ward having no par
ticuIar place obeyed the direction of the
charter.
The following section We quote entire:
SIC. IL. The senior aldermen of each
ward who are now in Office shall continue in
Office until the expiration of the terms for
which thew wee respectively elected, and
there shall &c elected annually. on the first
Tuesday in April, one alderman In each ward
who shall hold his Office for two years, and
one alderman in 1870. in Sd ward. who shall
hold his office for one year. The alderman
IN each ward having the highest number
of votes shall lie the alderman for two years
The last sentence, as it now reads, is
simply nonsense, doubtless il should
read, 1.-The alderman in such ward, etc.
The question, however, is not how it
should read but how it does read. As
MessFs. Nichols aud Stone can hardly
settle the question of aldermanic seniori
ty, by the provisions of the charter, we
respectfully suggest that they be permit
tsd TO "draw cuts" for the long term at
the next meeting of the council.
Again, We notice a couple of sections
in chapter four, from between which it is
evident something has dropped out, else
the city surveyor and member of the
board Of education ara also assessors.-
The section. read as follows:
Sec. IL On the first Monday in May in
each wear, or within ten days thereafter, tie
common council may elect n city surveyor,
and at the same time the said council may
elect one of their number to be a memb of
the board of education, each one of which
shall hold his Office until the next first Mon
dav in Nav, and the common council shall
have power TO fill from time to time vacancies
That may exist In said offices.
See Is. The assessors so elected, shall as
oil tax-af,l.a Il Oft Nf
Present. rs required by law, in each ward
and shall complete and return their assess
ment rolls tn the common council on or be-
fore the first Monday in July DC, DC.
Ia chapter fv'. relating 10 the pow
Ors and duties Of the common council,
we finl the following regulations:
5;h. To dircc, the location AMI manage
ment of slSUglderhOuses and markets. and 10
prevent the erection. use or occupation of The
same where the offi or filth thereof sh7ll
discharge into The waters Of Ia LAKES. &C.,
To regulate the places 81 haihing and
Swimming ia the waters of tbs lGke5 within
She limits Of said city.
I0h. To prevent persons from bringing,
dvpusitisg or having within said city or plac-
ing in the lokcs adiaceut 10 the said city amy
f'UlfEU carcass.
2j.h. The Common council shall have iu-
risdieiiOn over the entire lakes bordering on
the CITY. so rs 10 prevent any deterioration of
tls,. waters, Or anv nuisanccs being Gas; there
ia. " which the health OF the iuhaNT ants of
the city or the purity of the water shall be
impaired: and may also prohibit the taking
IF fish ia the waters thereof, or outlet between
the same. during the months of June and
Jlly in each year.
All Of which provisions read very
wslI IN charter for the city of Madison,
from which the greater portion OF the
revised, consolidated and amended char
Ter of the city of Prescott appears to
have been taken. But to substitute
these provisions without single altera
ton IS not shown proper respect TO
the noble " Father of Waters" that goes
sweeping along our city borders on its
march 20 the sea.
We have heard il stated that our old
CITY charter was taken from the charter
Of Milwaukee. and the principal objec,
tons 10 it were, we believe, that its re
quuements and provisions were not
adapted TO city Of this size. In the
pavv charter wu arc but little better pro-