The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-05-08
THE CITY PRINTING.

eiSht republican ana tour democratic al
dermen. Under those circumstances 1t
WIS to be expected that in the election of
officers 10y the city council, the claims of
none but republicans would be consider
ed. True to the policy that ''to the vie
tor belong the spoils' the officers select
/ ed by the new council on the seventh of
/ April were republicans. At the time fix
ed by the charter foT.the election of Of
/ fcers and the selection of official papers,
there was 20 republican paper printed in
! the county. Though the charter express
! II provides that .'the board OF aldermen
at its first meeting or as soon thereafter
/ as may be, shall designate one OF more
/ papers published in said city, in which
shall be published, &C., the republican
members of the board persisted in post
poning the selection of an official paper
with the ayowed intention of awaiting the
establishment of republican paperinthe
county. That this is violation of the
charter for partisan purposes no candid
person can seriously question. The par
ties thus holding the designation of an
official paper in allegiance, claim to have
authority for so doing in the clause ''as
soon thereafter as may be-" But clearly
this contemplates some eXigency more
serious than the want of an 'sorgan' by
I the dominant party. This provision in
the charter, it is to be presumed, was for
the purpose OF acquainting the citizens
with the proceedings of their representa-
tives and not for the purpose of building
up the fortunes of any political organiza-
ton. Are We to suppose that when that
provision was Incorporated in the char
ter the object was to offer bonus from
the general fund of the city to republic
can paper? That the city was to be taxed
that paper might exc out an existence?
If the answer is in the negative then it
follows that the non-existence of repub-
lioan paper is no valid reason for the city
councils having wiilfully failed as yet to
declare what are the official papers of the
city.
Why were the city officers chosen by
the board at its first meeting? Are we
TO believe that if fortune were so parsi-
monlous of her good gifts as to leave the
republican party of the city without a
representative IN the legal profession,
that the board would await the immigra-
ton Of one processing that political faith
before electing city attorney? If by a
confederation OF unfavorable circumstan-
ees that party were without available men
for any of the offices whose election comes
within the province of the board, are we
to infer that tie clause ''as soon thereaf-
tsr as may be" would be called into re-
cuisition for the purpose of delay, until
the right sort could be imported: Seri-
Cusly, are we TO infer that the simple
! words ''as soon thereafter as NAV be"
nave that latent power of running the
city government wholly in the interests
. Of a party and making the interests of
: the people a secondary consideration?
Have these words, SO guileless to the Or
binary understanding, such promise and
f potency that they can authorize the neg
ect OF that which is made obligatory?
| Surely the people of Manitowoc know
net the power bound up in that instru-
nent known as the charter, when sub
: jelted to an intelligent Interpretation.
If the PILor had a competitor at the
time when an official paper should have
teen designated, II wonid have accepted
defeat without q murmur. With a re.
. . nahl'""n paper in the city, republican
| majority III the council, the selection OF
, tie republican paper would have been
, tie proper and the inevitable thing.
Not one word Of remoGstrance would be
offered, not one word of censl,re bestow-
? ed, not one particle Of opposition inter
: posed. And now we have no quarrel
with our new neighbor. He shall re-
7 ceiye from the PILOT, except IL the way
7 of business competition and political OPP
2 position, nothing but courtesy. Our
structures are not leveled 81 him. But
the republican members of the board
have no reason to expect leniency at our
! hands and they shall receive none.
Last Monday the PILOT made a propo,
sItion to 90 the city printing for the re-
malnder OF the civic year, for $50 90.
This is about one-sixth Of what has been
paid during any one of the last two
} years. and about one-sixth of what the
work is actually worth. We do not pre-
t tend to say that We offered this reduction
for the sole purpose Of reducing the ex-
$ penses of the city. We believe that the
laborer is worthy of his hire and are not
l actuated by any such excessive public
spirit as would counsel rs to sacrifice our
own interests for the public good. We
expected that even at that figure the CITY
board would sill adhere 10 this policy
pursued by them from the first. Alder.
> man White realized our expectations and
moved to lay the proposition on the table.
= 1''"S q, =" L-iot--oeA u ttlS county BOARD
and Of the city board, he must have
known the effect of motion to Law on
the table. 1t acGs q refusal to co,sstcse.
tie proposition, 1t was virtually saying
that the people should pay $500. 90 fol
services which the PILOT proposed to dc
. for $50. It matters not what motive ths
PIIoT had in making the proposition. Il
it vas selfish, its benefits to the city were
no less certain than if it was disinteres
ted. Alderman Pankratz forced Mr.,
e White to SO chsngs his original motor
e as to have the proposition lie over unit
re next meeting, giving the Tribune
ehanna ~ 11nIarb11 4t,a Icr,o- -: 49,