Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-05-22
More Democratic CrOOkedness.

More Democratic. Crookedness. {,
We have SO often spoken of the
law]essness with which the affairs of
the city were managed last year,
that we fear the story is becoming
monotonous. Our only excuse for
referring again to the subject is
that it is one in which taxpayers
have a vial interest, and that it
seems as if these infractions of the
law cannot be too frequently no.
ticed, or too MISUNDERSTOOD. The
official organ of the city, which
should apprize its readers Of what
is going on, and which is paid for
service of this kind, studiously
avoids any mention of the facts, and
leaves the public to learn as best it
may the true nature of the crook
edness gifts party friends. r,a., .
It Will be remembered that a
year ago last winter, an act passed
the legislature authorizing the levy
of a special tax for the purchase of
fire engines &c. Section l of that
act reads as follows: -....
The common council of the city of water
town are hereby authorized to levy spe-
cial tax, not to exceed FIVE mills on the
dollar, upon the property liable to taxation
in said city, towards the purchase of FIRE
engines and engine house and bridge builc-
ing; prouided, that the amount so levied,
and collected, as authorized by this act,
shall be appropriated to TO other purpose ca
cept the purposes specified IN this act, add in
this respect shall be deemed and considered
an amendmnnt to the city charter.
We now call attention to the fol-
lowing extract from the city clerks
statement which was published in
the Democrat April 18th:
CITY SPECIAL FUND. a4r
By taxes Of 77....................... $3.50 80
To notes paid due for fire --t..s.
engines. ...4575 % .e,
10 interest on notes. 500. 724 90 .H. aI.
10 transfer to city general ~ .a'
Iund. .......... .......l58l 20 $3.50 80
Now, here is official evidence
that l,5SI.3o of the amount raise d
to pay for engines, and which the
law expressly stipulated 'should be
appropriated to no other purpose"
has been diverted from the use for
which it was intended. The clerk
in his statement published last
week, shows that there is still UNI
paid on the engines S4,475.0O be-
sides interest. Now, what shall be
thought and said of such transac-
tons as this? Under the law, the
Board had no right to touch dol
lar of the money raised, for any 9TH
er purpose than that specified,
but with an utter contempt for the
law, and the same disregard of its
duties, which the Board has repeat
edly shown in other matters, over
$500 has been taken from this
special fund and expended for what?
Nobody knows. Why was not
the money applied on the outstand-
ing notes for $4,475.oo which the
city is still owing for the engines?
| Will somebody please to tell us?
Will the Democrat consider it worth
its while to offer some explanation,
| if one can be given, for this gross
breach Of trust? And will the DEM
ocrat please tell us if it thinks out
RACES Of this character should 90 un-
noticed, and if party guilty OF
them is fit to govern a city like this
r. The WoULD-BE REGICIDE. ~ ER-
LIN, May Is AT the reception Of the
Ministers, yesterday, the Emperor said
such occurrences as Hoedels attempt
ought by no means to be treated toe
lightly. 1t was the duty Of the Gov.
ernment to make. every exertion 10
prevent the revolutionary elements
from gaining the upper hand. 5sr
| Before the police, Hoedel reiterates