The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-01-08


told by member of the county board
a wealthy resident of Manitowoc TO be
sure-that the city pays 20 per cent.
more than her just share of the general
taxes. Assuredly the gentleman can
have bnt very few followers in his
strange belief.
There is but one thing needed now for
the city OF Manitowoc to obtain, in order
to enjoy the most unalloyed happiness,
and that is the re-adoption Of the county
poor system. As yet it is compelled to
support its own poor, but could it estab-
hsh the system spoken of, the remainder
of the county would perform that little
act of kindness for it. 1t is an astonish-
ing marvel why the city members of the
county board were not as successful in
this particular as they were in relieving
themselves OF their just proportion of the
general taxes.
Mr.. Johnston says lie was ''liberal'
with the sheriff. 1t is an easy matter to
be liberal with other peoples money.
But let one be ''iberal" from his own
pocket and it makes a tremendous differ
ence. We guarantee that MIR. Johnston
could not be induced to make such
splendid gifts to the sheriff were he COM
PEELED to foot the bills from his own
private resources.
The board that "run the machine"
during the palmY days of Go was, indeed,
very remarkable one. One of its mem
bers was green gawk of an overgrown
country boy who was pushed to the front
by the slippery wheels of chance; while
the others were selected solely and entire
" for their dove-like innocence and I'M
adulteraded simplicity. Intellectually
they were weak, physically they were
not strong; but for true inwardness of
heart, more than filial devotion to the
county officers, lavish expenditure of
the peoples money and supreme ignor-
ance of the law which should govern
their official actions, they were only sur
passed by the present county board of
which Mr.. Peter Johnston is shining
light and the acknowledged leading
spirit.
For model OF strict and fearless at
tention to official duty; for thorough dis
interestedness and genuine impartiality;
for deeds that appear like an oasis in the
desert Of county board proceedings; for
high morality, unfiinching integrity, IN
bounded interest in the public veal and
a sharp eye for number one, this unfor-
tunate board of '65 should not be select
ed, but that which Immediately succeed
ed 1.-THE famous gathering" of ct and
~. And yet, strange to say, the acts of
that body have never been adopted as a
model nor quoted as high authority.
We advise Mr.. Johnston to study their
proceedihgs-they may become sshandy"
for quotation.
Our much respected opponent says he
is willing to stand by the record of the
present board. We acknowledge his
good, old-country ''spunk." But space
warns US to close although our powder"
is far from being exhausted. Before we
seek our innocent couch which is COM
fortably situated in our "glass house,
house by the way, that is most weight
lily taxed by the action of some one in
authority-we will respectfully propose
the following little questions to the gen.
tleman from Manitowoc:
What authority had you for appropri-
atlng $4,000 of other peoples money for
the establishment Of teachers library
Why did you engage an assistant clerk
when the present talented county clerk
was fully able to perform his duties?
Who was said assistant clerk, and did
you pay him from the public treasury?
Why were you SO liberal to the sheriff,
giving him heaps of money contrary to
law? Why did you pay your county
clerk for 'canvassing,' and why did you
allow your honored chairman $40 of our
money without the presentation of GER
titled bill as the law requires? Come
now, Mr.. Johnston, don't say it was be-
cause the slippery board of '65 did any
and all of these things. From a man in
your exalted position we expect more
Intelligent answer. And in replying to
these simple little conundrums, we hope
you will find sufficient labor for your
valueble and highly priced powder
0. MOSES.