Telegram-herald., 1891-06-04
WiSNeR SPEAKS UP.
And LAwyer-iike Talks Directly To the
Point In Question.

IoAht IN goesttoh.
Editor TsIEGkAM-HERsLD:
GRAND RAPIDS, June S.-SIR: On the
first column of the first page OF your
issue of Wednesday, June 3. l find a
communication with fippant. not to
say impuient, headline "Speak Up,
Wsner."
Assuming that the article signed Nv.
r. Cody" was written in good faith, l
have concluded TO make answer TO the
same. My first impression was to fol-
low the injunction or proverbs, 10Th
chapter, fourth verse: Answer not a
fool according to his folly, lest thou
also be like unto him." but l have con-
cluded TO follow the injunction of the
following verse, to.wit: ANSWER a fool
according to MS folly, lest he be wise IN
his own concelt-"
The article reads as follows: al would
like to ask w. w. Taylor, city attorney,
or the Common Council, If there is no
authority for raising money TO prose-
cute criminals, or disturDers OF the
peace, where do you find any for rails
ing money TO hire hacks for the Conn.,
mon Council TO ride IN to head the pro-
cessfon OF the laborlng men, and also to
exact license of man that pays taxee
on his hacks or rigs for carrying pas
sengers, and not on others that pay no
tax IN competition with those VINO pay
tax"
Flrst-As far as I am concerned, no
question has ever been put 10 me by
the Common Council, at any time, as
TO whether or not the Common COun-
Gil had power to hire hacks to ride at
the head OF the procession of the labor
ing men;
Second-That, not having been asked
any such question by said council, /
have not made any report or expressed
any opinion in regard thereto.
Third-Answering the question in
perfect good faith, l say the council
has no such power; but,
Forth-Ind more important than all is
this, the council, as matter of fact,
has not hired hacks at the expense
of the city to ride in the head of the
procession of the laboring men; but, on
the other hand, the laboring men them
selves, as am informed by the COMP
troller, furnished the hacks to such of
the Common Council rs rode therein at
the head OF said procession Il myself
was not in the city at the time, but was
IN the city OF Lansing attending to city
business.
Fifth-The question as to whether or
not the Common Council has q right to
exact q license OF man that paws taxes
| on his hacks or rigs for carrying passen-
gers, and not on others that pay no tax
IN ncompetltlon with those that pay taxes,
has never been referred to me by the
Common Council, or any committee
thereof; therefore, l have never been
called upon to give, and have not given
| or expressed any opinion in regard
thereto, but will say, in all good faith
and sincerely, that the Common Coun-
cil has no power. IN my opinion, to
exact license of one man or one set of
men for running hacks or rigs for carry
ing passengers, and not exact 1t from
any other man or set OF men for doing
the same business.
The trouble with the article signed
"W. X. Cody is this, that IT assumes
certain things to be facts which are not
facts; that, without making inquiry,
the writer sees fit to question and at
tack the careful opinion given by a
person charged with q public duty,
without first informing himself as to
what is involved in the opinion. A
number of the speakers who addressed
the citizens meeting at the Board of
Trade rooms last Saturday fell INTO the
same error. Without first informing
themselves as to the actual facts IN the
case, or informing themselves as 10 the
powers of the public officers, whose
conduct they presumed to attack, they
launched, more or less grammatically
and Orstorlcally. denuncIations against
faithful public officers who were care
fully discharging responsible public
duties. 1t is not to be wondered at
that, if men, assuming to possess and
really possessing superior opportunities
of forming correct conclusions, make IN
public places and in public print hap
hazard, uuwarranted, unjust, nay out
rageous, statements. those, whom they
assume are less qualified TO judge of
such matters, should go to like ex-
tremes.
The public well-wishers at the present
time owe IT To themselves. and certainly
owe il to the public. to bee very guarded
IN the assertions and statements they
make. and the more prominent the
position of the given individual, whether
his position be one assumed by himself
or one to which ne Is really entitled 10y
his knowledge, experience, attslnments
and character. the greater IS the re-
sponsibility.
Believing that "wisner" has spoken
up, remain, Respectfully,
WM. WIsSER TAYLOR.
.