Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-26
Rsw And by Whom Watertown Is
Governed.

sICus to the extravaganza, recklessness
aud incapacity OF the Board of Street
C0mm issioners in its management CT
pubic affairs. Last week we called
attention to the looseness with which
the erection of Labarree Bridge has
been conducted, and the consequent
misunderstanding which exists between
the contractor and the Board as to the
suount which the city is to pay for
that structure. If the Board had TAX
ea the precaution in the first place to
inform itself as to the kind of bridge
wanted, and the nature of the work re-
quired, and after contracting for the
ssme had studiously followed the plans
and specifications and managed the job
On business principles, there would
have been no cause for disagreement,
and the city would not have been called
upou to pay thousand or more dollars
than It should do, as there is now every
indication that it will. IF the true IN
wsrdness of the transaction is ever
known, it will be found that certain
ebssges in the bridge, and walls were
u~de to benefit private parties, and
that the alterations spoken of, while
adding to the expense of the work,
were of no value whatever to the city.
En- other lords, We mean to say that
through the favoritism of the Board, or
particular members Of 1t, for outside
rsties, the taxpayers are called upon
t. defiay expenses which should be
bssns byi individuals.
Nov, what is the remedy for this
EDd Of crcokedness +? Most clearly it
II to elect men to Office who will not
.3ess their trusts. But will the peo-
F1e do this Judging from the past,
IL is almost safe to say that they will
rot A few years ago, when they saw
With alarm the Encouragement and
nslfeasance of corrupt and profigate
Board, foisted upon them by the Union
League, there was vigorous and unit.
ID movement of all those opposed to
that organization, and the interests of
che city were placed in the hands of
men elected without reference to their
politics, and with view only to their
fitness for the duties assigned them.
As a consequence. the city was blessed
the following year With an administra-
ton of the strictest economy, against
which there was never a breath of sus-
picion nor the least idea of 'jobbery"
on the part of any Of It's members.
Every citizen knows that there was
never year in the history of Water
town when its affairs were so faithfully
and satisfactorily administered. With
such a knowledge of the capacity of the
people for obtaining the services of re-
fable and trustworthy citizens to fill
places of responsibility, it is somewhat
strange that they should have discard.
cd this class and, like dog returning
to his vomit, have chosen In their plac.
Is the kind Of men who came after
them. There is but one theory upon
which it can be explained and that is
the one we have heretofore advanced,
that the interests of the Democratic
party demand that it shall be done.
I'm olden times, the question was asked
Of = candidate for Office, sis be faithful
is he capable, and is he honest" But
IN these latter days, the one important,
and indeed the only point to be settled
BY the Democrats of WATERFOWL with
reference to an applicant for Office, has
been, sis he good Democrat" This
being settled afhrmatively was deemed
sufficient, and was all the passport re.
quired to Democratic favor. Latterly,
however, a new obligation has been
substituted, and it is not enough that a
candidate shall be sound on the Demo
cratic goose, but he must be acceptable
to the Union League. This is the set.
tied S:!e since the League element of
the party has become so strong as to
make its wishes respected. We see
evidence of this in the election last
spring when the League dictated the
choice of Ruebhausen for Mayor, Block
For Treasurer, Gallagher and Volkmann
fo- Assessors, and hosts of minor ofic.
ers in the different wards nearly al of