El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1896-12-18

| l. Haas-Every man ought to be
made 10 pay his taxes. [ pay mine.
Then the city attorney ought to take
charge of the tax suits without any
outside counsel being appointed to take
charge and control Of these suits. This
sort of thing wont pay.
| Doc. Albers-Thls idea of mans 5
refusing to pay his taxes is all baby
talk. How are you going to conduct
any form of government without taxes
| with which to support it. A man has
got to pay his taxes, and there is no
getting out of it.
j. j. Mundy-People must pay their
taxes. But this idea of employing
special counsel is something l
hardly approve OF. I think the
regular city attorney should have the
tax suits in his own hands, and not put
the city to the expense of extra legal
talent.
Alderman Del Buono-It is not light
to employ extra legal services. The
city is paying $4,000 now to the city
attorney for two years services and he
ought to attend to the work. By hiring
an outside lawyer To take charge of
these tax suits, al expense of $1,000 or
$4,000 more will be added to the expen-
ses of the city. If outside help is Sc
cured. it stands to reason that the
prosecutor will push mostly if not only
GQe cases DEIuS4uS ulLl VIC p4SSSSO
returns, and the smaller suits will be
neglected.
W. G.. Walz-There's no two ways
about it people must pay their taxes. At
the same time let the city attorney at
tend the prosecution of the tax suits,
although, if the occasion requires i,
let the council give him legal help OF
special occasions.
Ex-Alderman Kohlberg-I don't ap-
IF 10 of a n
the collection of delinquent taxes. Let
the city attorney attend to 1t: that's
what hesis chosen for:
Ex-City Attorney w. II. Burges-I
am opposed to the policy of making a
permanent contract with counsel to
carry on the litigation for the collec-
tion of delinquent taxes: and strongly
question the authority of the city
council to enter into any such contract
as was recommended by the majority
of the committee at last
nights session of the city council.
The city charter provides for the
election of city attorney, and imposes
upon him the duty of conducting
the city's litigation. Now, while l do
council to employ additional counsel in
emergency cases, l do not believe the
council has the right to appoint such
by contract, as was suggested, an
additional city attorney. | agree with
Alderman Coldwell and the mayor that
it is too near the time for choice of a
new city attorney who will probably be
capable of conducting the city's legal
duties, to make such contract as is
proposed.
Ex-Alderman Stanton-During the
previous city administration the city
attorney was selected with the under
standing that he might at any time
employ additional counsel at his own
expense, and on one or two occasions
did so. But the salary is as much as
the city ought to pay for any legal
services think Townsend is
pursuing the right course. and he is as
conversant with the way as any one.
In any event, if special counsel is to be
engaged, it might be to push one case
as a test case.
The HERALD reporter saw number
of other prominent citizens, but they
with one accord said: i beg thee
have me excused" They did not care
to express opinions for publication.