River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-02-04
Letter From Mayor Putnam.

~@sf LII in JOh ACA JCNA
courtesy of last week and ask fur
Their indulgence as / wish to answer
the question which you say is "being
daily asked rather the series of
questions that you PROFOUND. l deny
that representative of any firm in
this city had made any statement to
the City Council at all resembling the
one you mention, or that the firm to
which you evidently refer have asked
or received any concessions. Before
the passage of the "wood ordinance"
the matter was fully disc dssed and the
conclusion reached that it would be
impossible for one man to measure the
wood for the Junction Mill and at the
wOod-market established by the COun-
Gil, and 1t was then decided to appoint
deputy to measure at the mill. Mr..
Charles Hanson was sci, cted for wood
measurer because he had formerly
been employed in that capacity by one
of our largest wood-buyers-Mr. F. J.
Burhyte-and understood the busi-
ness, and he nominated as his deputy
man who has had two years expert.
ence and given universal satisfaction
to both seller and buyer, and has no
pecuniary interest in the firm he
serves-a disinterested third party
who stands between buyer and seller
to do equal justice 20 both. The City
Council very gladly confirmed the APP.
pointment. The cause of the amend.
ment was entirely different from your
superstition. y was simply this: The
bondsmen for Mr.. Hanson refused to
be responsible for the acts of any dep
uty that he might appointment know
ing whom he would appOint-and the
Council passed the amendment to re-
lieve Mr.. Hanson and make the
special responsible directly to them
selves. The fact that said deputy was
already employed by the firm and had
given universal satisfaction was the
best reason why he should be appoint.
ed, as the Council particularly wished
to avoid "a meddlesome interference
with their private business affairs not
warranted by any public require
ment." And the further fact that the
Junction Mill firm, the largest con-
sumner of wood in this city, finds it for
their interest to pay salary to dis
interested party to measure all wood
bought by them is one of the strong.
est arguments in favor of the ''wood
ordinance" which only does for the
community at large what they are able
to do for themselves. No small con-
sumner can afford to hire an expert at
two dollars and a.half day, by the
season, to measure the few loads that
he uses. If the mill firm pays for the
measuring so much the better for the
farmer. | also pay for the measuring
of wood delivered to me-five cents
per lOad-a much less price than it
| NOoAO btAO III III hiAiCh 1Ou CiaAlil ID lC-
ceiving fayors. 1t is no argument
against the ordinance to say that the
Junction Mill has in the past, and will
continue in the future TO conduct its
business upon the same just princi-
plies adopted by the Council. That is
all there is to the transparent
scheme" concessions, "class legis-
lation," suggestions, &C., &C.
Now about "the principle of
crowding out all other buyers" The
firm you mention buys only limited
quantity-just enough for their own
use, to be consumed for manufacture
ing purposes-an they can and do
use class OF wood that would hardly
find any other market in this city, and
do not come in competition with the
city market as prices paid by them
will prove, being about twenty-five
cents lower than on the street. re-
peat the assertion that most of the OPP
position to this ordinance comes from
the middfe-men as a matter of fact and
not of opinion. The right of the peo-
pie to petition is unquestioned or their
right to expect respectful cOnsidera-
ton of each and every petition, but
the right to petition is not confined to
''voters and taxpayers" but belongs
to everyone affected by the ordinance.
Many consumers are not voters who
are taxpayers and many voters never
buy stick of wood. You say "voters
and taxpayers. If you will take the
trouble to compare this list of petit
TONERS with the poll-list and tax-rOll
you will be surprised to find how
many of them are to be found on only
one or neither. If you had said voters
or taxpayers you would have been
nearer right. But some of those
names cannot be found on either list.
| was surprised to see there the names
of several applicants for the position
of measurer-one of whom was back
ed by long petition bearing many of
the names l recognize on this one.
still insist that all inhabitants who are
affected by the ordinance have the
right to petition as well as ''voters
and taxpayers. l believe it my du-
| ty to work for the greatest good to
the greatest number" and it seems to
me that is just what the ordinance
| does. | did not cite the case of those
who signed the petition to get rid of
| being bored to death as profound
| logic" but as facts. You admit that
| some men do straddle for the sake of
peace-if not to save their lives. All
personal filings L pass by-we are now
discussing the merits of the 'wood
ordinance. When you prove to me
that our merchants give short weights
or measures, and an ordinance is need
ed to regulate matters you will find
me with you. If there is any other
point troubling the editorial con-
science or the public l shall be happy
to give any information in my power.
j. d. PUTNAM.