Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-06-06

1892 at which I was present and participated
The United States supreme court being then
unable to decide, ordered rehearing before
q full bench. At this last argument or hear
ing, was not present, having been ever since
the 25th OF last August confined almost con-
stantly to my room from the injury received
from fall. But caused to be filed, and sub
mitted, on the final hearing to the court in
April last, my carefully drawn brief, and
fully complied with my agreement with the
city to re-argue the case
Besides said three decisions of the United
States.circuit court Of the western district of
Wisconsin, Col. Bird and obtained, in the case
Of Waterman versus Waterloo, SO Wis. 260,
the unanimous decision of all the five judges
Of our state supreme court on the precise
question at issue in this Metcalf case, in favor
of the consttutionality and validity of our
Wisconsin ten years statute of limitations
So Ethat when we came on to the argu-
ment of the Metcalf case at Washington, we
had four direct decisions, all on the same pre-
else question in our favor; and / had no doubt
OF winning 1t, until the last argument l at
tended
In reversing the decision of the court below
in this Metcalf case, the United States supreme
court seems to have gone back upon its entire
record.
l have tried for our city nine cases in the
United States supreme court. The first two I
tried alone in 1874. and gained them for the
city. Six others Of them were tried with the eff
ficient aid Of Col. Bird and gained in 1889 The
case of Wirts was dismissed by his attorneys
when they found that t he rule laid down in the
eight cases had been decided against us. our
city would have been ruined The Metcalf
case, decided against u.s. was only skirmish as
compared with the eight great victories we
gained in the other cases.
The Judgment i'll the Metcalf case against us
would not seriously embarass the city to pay it,
except for the large Indebtedness contracted for
the city, sewerage.
think the wise course to deal with the judg-
ment. is to maintain the ctys credit perfect bor-
row the money at a low rate o. interest, not
ceedlng five per cent, pay Mr.. Metcalf off, then
levy tax 10 pay the interest and small install
ment of the principal annually. In this way the
whole debt for the Metcalf judgment would be
discharged without our citizens scarcely feeling
1t. WatertOwn is situated in rich agricultural
region, and about the only increase to its popu-
lat1on Tor years has been from well-to farm
ers who have come here with their families TO
live on their incomes. A heavy tax would arrest
their coming, and frighten away all who can
leave.
five can have moderate taxation, our city
Will prosper with thrifty, increasing and con-
tented population. The only things that have
heretofore stood in the way of moderate taxa
ton here is the purchase of two steam fire en-
gines, the building of the City hall, aad the
construction OF the numerous, costly, iron
bridges across Rock river; but the city has these
improvements now, and the money to pay for
them seems, on the whole, to have been pretty
fairly expended And these expenditures have
been made possible only by tie said eight de-
cisions in our favor by the United States supreme
court. But heavy taxes generally, will certainly
wither our prosperity.
In 1870, our city, in order to compromise its
bonded Indebtedness, authorized me TO tender
to all the holders of our bonds fifty per cent. of
the principal in new bonds bearing seven per
cent interest with such legislation would in
sure the payment of their new bonds. l then
did all l could TO induce them to accept this of
Ter OF compromise. But we were able to get on
ly the holders of some sos 0oG of the old bonds
to surrender them and accept some S27, 500 of
the new bonds in compromise, on the terms
aforesaid. AL of these new bonds the city
promptly paid When found our offer of COM
promise failure, procured such legislation
as the case admitted of to protect the city.
and awaited results. In 1888, our time came.
By the decision IN our favor of said six cases by
the United states supreme court in the spring of
1889, all of our city railroad debt is wiped out,
or barred By the statutes of limitations. except
the Mercalf Judgment of some $4,000, which
the city can pay, and the city will then have
saved out of The amount of It's said rejected offer
OF compromise in 1870, over and above what il
actually paid on said compromise bonds and all
OF Col. Birds aud my charges for our attorneys
fees and after it shall also have fully paid the
Metcalf judgment, from one hundred TO two
hundred thousand dollars DANIEL HALL.