Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-25

Board of Street Commissioners, is likely ia
prove one which the people Of WATERFOWL
will never care to see repeated. It's dislin-
gushing features thus far have been of a
very unsatisfactory character to the heaviest
tax payers, and the respectable portion o.
the community generally. Its outrageous
and extravagant tax levy, in the FIRST in
stance, which, as we have demonstrated in
| former articles, was uncalledfor and far ;r
excess Of the necessary demands of the city
was well calculated to create alarm and
produce a feeling of uneasiness in the
! minds OF people who apprehended, no
without reason, that we are to be cursed
| with absolute and unprin pied admins
| tration. Provision was made in the tax ID
| be raised for he current year for expendi
lures to an amount which could not bt
honestly required, and the impression has
been created that it was done for purpose
which has been concealed from public view
One Of the items included was $1,000 fol
gas, but no sooner was the tax levied anc
this sum provided Cor, than the Board took
measures to cut off the supply of gas, which
| will place in its hands $1,000 more to be
stolen, squandered or expended, as the
maj ority of the Board in their discretion
may see fit This was followed up by con-
tracing for the building Of bridge over
Silver Creek-to accommodate the Alderman
of the 9Th Ward-which bridge is of no
public utility whatever, and if erected al
all should be at the expense of the ward in
which it is located. 1t is palpabe fraud
upon the public treasury to divert is funds
for the purpose of making local improve
ments of this description So, also, was
the appropriation of the $500 taken from
the treasury and donated to the Cd, 9Th,
9th and 18th wards. Upon no reasonable
ground, whatever, can any measure of this
kind be defended. 1t was direct violation
of law, but probably no more than was to
be expected from a body of which major
ity are known as incompetent, not 20 say
Enthusiastically and corrupt. Another sus-
pIclous circumstance was the surreptitious
meeting OF the Board after the adjournment
OF one Of its regular sessions, recently, and
the measures initiated for suit testing the
legality of the city bonds No possible
good can come from this, and that the
Board itself doubts the wisdom or good
sense OF the plan, is shown by the fact that
the scheme was connected in secret, and
perfected under cover of darkness land that
no record of it appeared upon the journal of
/ the Board. Why this secrecy about the
transaction OF public business? Ii it is a
matter of which the Board aud those par
ticularly interested in it are not ashamed,
| why conceal all information upon the sub
ject? The result of it ali can easily be
| foreseen. A heavy bill of expense will
follow, and the city wilt MOI be benefited
one cent. Who will pocket The none Y
which the city will be called upon to pay
is matter known only to those who are
IN the ring. But we think it would not be
difficult to follow portion of the ''swac,"
at least, into the pocke,so certain members
of the Board, who, paying 40 taxes com
paratively, can have no earthly interest in
the job except as participants in the plumber
thus realized. The great misfortune Of the
city in being cursed with board of this
character is to be deplored. The Injurious
effects already experienced on account of
it Will probably be followed by Others no
less damaging. 1t is to be hoped that the
people will be. ready by the time 9th err
election occurs, to choSse Board which
will not be standing disgrace 10 the COM
| munity, and VIII have some little regard for
the obligations due from it to the people.