Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-02-13
The MiSfOrtunes and Necessities Of
WatertOWn.

Having shown, conclusively as we
think, in former articles, that Water
town is a grossly mis-managed city, we
turn now to inquire where may relief
be found The answer is in change
of rulers.
We expect to be met right here by
the Watertown Democrat with its ste
reotyped charge that underlying our
demand for higher standard of excel
lence in our city officials, is secret
desire to make way for the election of
Republicans. That paper will insist
that we are making war upon the pre-
sent municipal government because it
happens to be Democratic, and that
political, not public considerations
alone, have governed u.s. But in this
the Democrat is mistaken We are
free to admit that a little Republican
leaven in the Democratic lump would
be beneficial, as past experience has
shown, but if the opposition will send
their political dead beats and iucompe-
tents to the rear, and put in their plac-
es Democrats of recognized ability and
judgment. they will have done enough
to entitle them to public thanks
What we complain of, and what tax
payers generally have a right to feel
dissatisfied with, Is the fact that the
Democrats take as general thing for
responsible positions in the city gov.
eminent, men who are VIGOROUSLY un-
It. Democrats will 60 to the polls an d
vste for man because he is a Demo-
crat-this being his sole qualification
when they know he is utterly un
worthy of confidence, and that they
would not employ nor trust him for a
moment in their private business.
They seem to regard public positions as
created for no other purpose, or at least
as fit only for the kind of use above
indicated. Hence we find that as a
rule the offices are filled by the very
men least qualified TO discharge their
duties. This explains why We have
as now, city government which seems
to have no conception of what the pub
lie interests demand. There has prob.
ably never been in the history of Wa
tertown more profiigate and needless
Board Of Street Commissioners than
the one now in power. The admins
tration of the old Union League Board
three years ago, which was stencil in
the nostrils of all decent men, has been
made respectable by comparison with
the present one, which has eclipsed all
Its predecessors in extravaganza and
foolishness. And yet, for having de.
nounced its general profigacy; its want
OF business tact in the building of
Hustlsford St. Bridge, by which Sc
rious misunderstanding has arisen be.
tween it and the contractor; its two
faced action with reference to a plan
tor compromising the city debt, and its
unsatisfactory conduct Of public bust
ness in other respects, we are charged
with scheming to organize a movement
in the interest Of Republicans.
Now, We confess that the city might
do worse than to eject few Republi-
cans to office, particularly if it were
fortunate in its selection of individuals.
We say this, because We know that
Republicans have in the past occupied
places Ia the city government, and al.
ways with credit to themselves and ac-
ceptance to the people. Indeed, the
fact is that the cheapest, the best and
the most satisfactory administration
ever known here, as shown by the of
ficla! records, was that of 1875, and
Was almost wholly Republican, Our
citizens have not forgotten the circum-
stances These Republicans were elect.
ed on Peoples ticket Oh the issue of
retrenchment and reform, aud sup
planted the old Union League Board
OF which all taxpayers have still unsav-
cry recolections This Republican
Board raised by taxation that year for
All purposes-state, county, school.
bond, city and ward-s34, 364 OF
The Union League Board had left the
city s6,798.67 in debt, and also un-
provided for and due on Improvement