Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-03-31
No. %

, was left liable. Again, in 1856, th
city loaned it's credit to loan $500
900 in aid Of the Watertown and Mad
Ison road, the company endorsing all
agreeing to pay both interest and prir-
cipal. In 1857 the Chicago au
Northwestern railroad secured a loan
OF $500, 900, and gave stock as securi.
ty, as also did the Watertown and Mad.
lson road, but the Milwaukee and
Watertown gave none whatever. This
bonded Indebtedness has become com
pllcated by the issue Of compromise
bonds and now the city is groanipe
under a burden Of something ike
SoOO,OOO or more, and sees no way ouy
OF the difficulty, The city could have
freed itself of the debt at one time by
buying the bonds at 10 cents on the
dollar, but believed the debt to be IL
legal and so declined. AS it stands
now there are two parties in the city,
known respectfully as Union Leaguers
and Redemptionists. The latter is In
GUIDED IN an organization known as
| the citizens association, and includes
the leading citizens and heaviest tax
payers OF the place. They propose to
take up all the bonds that are offered
at 40 cents on the dollar, and are
meeting with encouraging success
This seems to be fair compromise as
the parchment probably never cost the
present holders Is cents on the dollar,
and there is little prospect gthat they
will ever get more. A singular fact
IN connection with this imbroglio is
that no service can be made on the
corporation instructing them to levy
tax for the payment of their bonds
for the reason that they have no May
or. A board of councillors is elected
as in any other city, as also mayor,
but they only remain in session long
enough to pass upon accumulated ac-
counts and to enable the mayor to sign
the tax roll and then all resign. The
mayor has his resign alton written out
before the meeting opens and places it
In the hands of the clerk so that if
deputy United States marshal should
make his appearance theexecutive would
resign before service could be made.
BY this means the city has evaded the
law for number of years, but as it is
working detrimentally to the prosperi-
ty of the place, the best class Of It's
uu usvvuvHtrUr -zrrrvt rr..-u ur1urrs szuu-
thereby throw off the old man of the
sea that is crushing them to earth as
was Sinbad Of old. There is consider
able bad blood between the opposing
factions and some violence has already
been committed, but the respectable
portion OF the community is bound to
rule. An effort was made by A. L.
Cary, of Milwaukee, last winter to
provide for legal service in cases SINH
lar to that of Watertown, and there is
no doubt that such law will ultimate
ly be passed, so we would caution our
friends at Watertown to get their
grain In before the rain comes. Wat
ertoWn was the early home of Carl
Schurz and the citizens relate many
Interesting anecdotes Of his residence
among them. He was a land agent
and money loaner and was at one time
member of the Common Council.
AS strong war Democrat he had his
enemies at that time, but all now
unite IN giving praise to the most dis
tlngulshed representative of the Ger
III an race In America.
Governor Tilden will soon submit a
special message to the Legislature on
the canal ring. A bill now before the
Canal Committee and shortly to be
submitted to the House probably in
dlcate his recommendations on this
subject---namely: a decrease in the
number of officers who have charge of