Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-04-22

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works era will neeSsitate general reOrganiza-
ton in the service. / would recommend the
sale OF one of the engines and disCOntinuance
of its engineers services as soon as the water
works are accepted. The respective depart
ments should be supplied with necessaries fo1
| the new service.
The fire department responded to twenty
| two ire alarms during the past year, four OF
| which were false alarms.
| LITIGATION IN WHICH THE CITY IS IN
TERESTED,
I. Action of Diego H Beurhaus and Will
liam Humphrey as executors of the will of
62h 61ohn W. Go Cole, deceased plaintiffs, against
Watertown, defendants, commenced in the
circuit court of Jefferson county, to obtain a
construction of the will of said John w Cole,
| deceased Said circuit court decided that all
| the bequeSts and devices in said will to the
| city OF WatertoWn are valid From this de
cision appeal has been taken to the supreme
court, in which the action is now pending and
will probably be decided this spring or next
| summer In this action Harlow Pease ESQ.,.
! is the attorney for the city
H. In county court. Jefferson county, pc
| tltIOn OF the city of WatertOwn to compel the
| executors of the will of said John w Cole,
| deceased, to pay the taxes on the homestead
| OF SAID deceased, on Clyman street, this city
| his matter has not yet been brought to a
| hearing; but has been continued from time to
! time to await the decision in the former action
which it is hoped will settle all matters in
| controversy between the city and said estate
| of John w. Cole, deceased.
Here let me state that the taxes on said
! homestead for the years 1894 and 1895 have
not ,DeeI pald, ana that said homestead was
SOId IN May, 1895, for said taxes of 1894.
II: In circuit court, Dodge county, appeal
OF McCann d Mcclellan from the decision of
the common council disall0wing their claim
hled October L, 1895, for the sum OF 81, ,S7495
lE In circuit court. Jefferson county, ap-
peal OF Harlow Pease from decision Of com
mon council, disallowing $50 Of his claim
hled November %, 1895, for attorneys fees
and disbursements
EXPENSES AND PUBlI SERVICE
Doodle DeCOmInO ip6 with
the steadily increasing taxes and a strenuous
effort should be made not to increase taxa
ton but rather endeavor to ease the over
Durdened taxpayers by pursuing policy of
renhenclmentT rovided it can he done without
antagOnlZlng thes public service or the pro-
greSS OF work now in process of construction
The reduction OF the city engineers salary
has produced feeling of indifference with
the present incumbent about serving again if
elected, and the question arises whether a
competent man can be secured at the estab-
llShed salary. With the present work going
on, 1t Will be necessary to have a competent
city engineer on the board of public works
And TO further strengthen said board, re-
commend that an advisory committee con-
sistlng of the street commissioner and also
three members of the common council be
added to the board of public works without
pay.
The outgoing council having established a
S2lary TOR only one tire engineer, and the ser
vices OF two engineers being required for a
time, i would suggest that measure be
passed providing for a shorter term of office
Iucn one year. fOr one OF the me engineers
and establishing monthly salary for said en-
gireer, to be discontinued by the council after
the waterworks will be accepted by the city.
IN consideration of the privilege granted to
the telephone company TO place its poles on
many of the principal streets of the CITY an
etfort should be made to secure the services
OF the telephones now in use by the city, free
of charge.
Some of the iron bridges are badly in need
Of painting. Some of the bridges will prob
ably need to be re-hoored during the year. /
recommend that cedar blocks be used for that
purpose wherever practicable
SCHOOLS.
Under the management OF our efficient
board OF education, our schools are doing
good work, but are at the present time over
crowded, and are badly in need of more
PUBLIC HEALTH.
Our people have been unusually healthy
the past year: The city has been free
statement of the health commissioner, has not
had a case of the dreaded contagious or in
fectious diseases.
IN CONCLUSION.
AS your presiding officer [ shall aim to be
fair and impartial: and shall expect from YOU
at all times that dignified respect for the
opinions OF your associates here, which is so
conducive to the best results of every delib-
erateIve body.
The people expect and have a right to ex-
pect that you and will work together for the
city S good, and | assure you, gentlemen,
that 1t is my earnest desire to cooperate with
you in securing the enactment of such meas
ureS and only such measures as are calculated
to promote the welfare of our beautiful city.
EDWARD Rack, Mayor.
A petition from Otto Biefeld was read
applying for the position of engineer Of
the Ahrans engine. II was tabled on
the mayors order.
A communication was presented from
The Times Publishing company offer
Ing to do the city printing for % cents
per folio. On motion it was filed.
An amendment to the report of the
Board of Public Works vas offered by
| Alderman Needham recommending
the building Of sewer on Sixth street.
between Main and Dodge. Referred
to Sewerage committee.
On motion the council proceeded to
the election of officers for the ensuing
year in the following order: City clerk,
city attorney, city engineer, chief of
police, street commissioner
Henry Bleber was reelected city
clerk by an unanimous vote.
For city attorney the informal ballot
gave John G. Conway 6, Harlow Pease
7 and G. II. Gardner1. The first formal
ballot resulted: Conway, s; Pease, 6.
Mr.. Conway was declared elected.
The informal ballot for city engineer
gave g. O. Viebahn, II; John Geb-
hardt, 2, and | blank. Ballot was de-
clared formal and Mr. Viebahn elected
On the informal ballot for chief-of-
police FL. G. Block received 10 votes
against for Charles Kerr. The formal
ballot resulted Block, II; Kerr, 8.
The former was declared duly elected
According to the condition of things
the past few years, large number OF
candidates bobbed up for the Office OF
street commissioner. The informal
ballot brought forth the names of n.
Murphy, A. G. Kruger, T. FoefiGer,
II. Barganz. W. Krebs and III. Voigt,
the first named leading with votes.