Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-03-21

lcise record of all transactions il
finance with little actual labor.
believe it would be more satisfac.
tory to all concerned if the clerk
should receive stated amount for
all work required-cuttlng off all
appropriations for "extra services, ,
and | would therefore recommend
that such salary for the present year
be fixed at sl50-a sum certainly
small enough for the amount OF la
Dor which that officer is required to
perform. You may possibly enter
tain the opinion that this is too mea-
ger a salary, but | feel as though
we ought to do everything IL our
power to get the taxes down to bed
~ock.
/ IN CONCLUSION,
Your attention is called to the
fact that certain parties engaged in
a particular business have system
atically violated certain laws upon
the statute books, and have been en-
couraged in this practice, to some ex
tent, by officers who have taken a
solemn oath to enforce them to the
best of their ability. Of course,
you understand that allusion is made
to those engaged in the liquor traf-
6c. While we cannot deny that the
business is legalizsd, and the persons
engaged in it must be protected in
all their rights, we ought not to deny
the protection of the rights of wives
and children, of the religious portion
Of our community, of minors and of
their parents and guardians.
The wretcheG victim of intemper-
ance is punished for hagrant viola
tons of law and with rigorous
hand. Why should any exceptions
be made i'll this particular? There
certainly can be no valid argument
adduced to permit one class of citi-
zens to disregard the law, while
another class must be punished for
Ne SINE offence. The law we find
on the statute books-placed there
~ the state legislature-and no
ordinance or order or resolution
passed by the council in contraren-
ton to its provisions would be bind
ing upon anybody. We are utterly
powerless to amend, abridge or en-
arge d single section. 1t is our
swo n ,iutv to sec to it that tie laws
be respected and obeyed, and it is
your province to provide measures
| for the enforcement OF the same.
The rights of oil our citizens are
entitled to patient and respectful
consideration. Your aid therefore,
and the aid of all residents, winch
include the dealers themselves, is
invoked in this behalf. No Parsh
measures need be resorted to, it
seems to me, if all good citizens
shall unite in upholling the provis-
ions of the statutes. [ trust that
each will cheerfuIly comply with
the excise law, that our city may
continue an orderly and peaceable
community. Its future. in CONNER
cial point of view, is bright. With
the largest river in the State wash
ing its western boundary, affording
one of the most valuable water
powers in the whole Northwest -
with railroads running to the four
points of the compass, giving US
cheap transportation and inviting
the capitalist to inspect our great
natural advantages-with- pure soft
water and an extremely healthy eli
mate-with allthe elements of refine
ment and culture, industry and
oobriety in our midst-thert can be
no question that upon the return of
general prosperity and confidence
throughout the country, Grand
Rapids will take a leading place
among the interior cities Of Wiscon-
sin.
With my best wishes for harmon
and wisdom and firmness in y0r ds
alterations, and that pleasant asso-
Citations may be found while we serve
in an official capacity, | enter up~n
the duties assigned me.
J. \. BRUNDAGE.
GRAND RApIDS. MarCh Ii 1879