Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1872-11-26
The Iowa County Contempt Case in
the United States Court in Mil
waukee---F 800 and Costs.


q rom the Milwaukee Sentinel
In the Iowa contempt cases, before
the United States Court, Judge Mill
Ter presiding, the following named
gentlem"n n, who constituted the
municipal board of the city of Miner.
al Point in 1870, were, on Saturday
last, each fined 800 and costs :
VIM. I. Henry, Mayor, David Jacka,
5. II Shepherd, James Argall, Albert
Spratler VIM J. Healy and Peter
Friend. The other cases were ad.
journed until the next term ofcourt
As has been before stated, in 1870
an order was issued by the United
States Court directing the levy of
tax Tor the payment of interest
and costs on certain judgments OBJ
tanned by the holders of railroad
bonds issued by the county of Iowa,
and by the city and town Of Mineral
Point.
The tax was levied in compliance
with the order Of the court, but the
treasurers, who were required. under
the laws of the State, to give addi-
tional bonds for twice the amount
OF tax 10 be collected found il i'm
possible to obtain bondsmen. As
the clerks could not lawfully deliver
the tax lists until the treasurers had
complied with the statute. in the
particular Of security, the tax was
not collected and the decree Of the
court was consequently disobeyed !;
hence the attachment for contempt
against the municipal authorities of
Mineral Point and the clerks and
treasurers of the several towns of
Iowa county.
The amount of tax levied by the
City Council of Mineral Point was
about $50. 900, and the treasurer was
required to give additional security
tor over $50, which, it appears,
he could not procure. 1t was held
by the court, as we understand, that
it was the duty Of the Council to
heve required the treasurer 10 furn.
ish the requisite bonds, if possible !;
IT not that it was then their duty to
have appointed another treasurer,
and to have continued to appoint.
if necessary, until the time In which
the tax could be collected had clans.
ed,in which event the tax list should
have been placed in the hands of the
Sheriff of the cour ty, who should
also have been required to file the
necessary bonds for security.
The case of the city and town of
Mineral Point is not exactly analog-
ons to that of the county, for the
reason that those corporations have
a railroad indebtedness additional
to that of the county, the bonds
having been issued by the town be-
fore the city was Incorporated. 1t
was held, therefore, that it was the
duty OF the city and town authori-
ties TO have enforced the collection
OF the tax, az ordered by the court,
on account of their own bonds, and
10 the manner indicated by the
court. The officials above named
wero accordingly fined. as stated.
In the matter of the county bonds.
the tax was levied by the County
Board Of Supervisors, who appeared
to have no authority TO disFlace and
appoint town treasurers for failure
to collect the amount Of tax appor-
toned to the different towns. The
clerks and treasurers of the several
towns of the county were released
from custody, on Saturday, and
their cases are 10 be considered at
the next term of court.
We were informed by one of the
Supervisors tina, tho entire railroad
Indebtedness of Iowa county is. at
the present time, not less than 5000.
600. The debt of Miner Point.
including its proportions fthe coun-
ty Indebtedness, amounts to about
thirty per cent. of the assessed valu-
alton OF its property. Several thou
sand dollars of the claims have been
compromised and settled at fiftv
cents on the dollar, and those who
were here state that the citizens of
Iowa county are willing and desir-
Gus to adjust their railroad obiga-
tons on what they deem fair and
equitable basis.