The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-04-24
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
First Meeting of the New Council.
Inaugural Address by the
New Mayor.
COuncil-..AppOintments
Confirmed.

Aid. Mills Elected President of the
Observation-Disclosures
Confirmed.
accommodate the number of people
who desired to gain admission at the
inaugural meeting of the new council
on Tuesday night last, and as a conse-
The chief interest, of course, hinged
on the inaugural address Of Mayor Stark
weather. and his appointments.
All the members of the council were
present except Aid. d. r. Long, of the
Second ward, who was elected to sue
coed Mr.. Bertrand.
AID Mills was elected President of
the Council, who appointed Aids. Heule,
the new mayor and escort him to the
chair. In few moments they returned
accompanied by Mayor Starkweather
and ex-Mayor Pattison, the audience
In accordance with good old custom
the retiring mayor introduced his sue
cessor in brief speech, in which he
bespoke for Mayor Starkweather ''the
same earnest and cordial support
given to him during his term of office
He felt that the city's interests had
been committed to good hands and he
had great pleasure in Introducing to the
council Hon. Charles S. Starkweather,
Mayor of Superior.
Mr.. Pattison's neat speech was re-
ceived with applause, as also was the
new executive as he stepped to the
platform.
1t is impossible for us to give his adj
dress in full, and we will therefore be
compelled to contiDe ourselves to some
of its salient points.
He commenced by referring to the re-
sponsibilities resting upon the council.
Its duty was not merely that of making
appointments. passing bills, levyine
taxes, and spending money, it had
higher and nobler purposes to conserve
in the just and impartial administration
of existing laws; the adoption of proper
measures to meet future exigencies, and
the repeal of such rules as shall be
deemed unnecessary and unwise." lie
thought the common council body OF
well qualified business men sent there
H., l. E.
and he promised them his aid.
Referring to our financial condition
and the tax settlement he said:
Among the many things which it is
our imperative duty to give instant at
tention to is our financial condition The
city's chief revenues are derived from
taxation, The most important form OF
taxation is that of real estate. By the
exercise of the right of sovereignty the
delinquent tax payers property Is liable
to be sold. The subject of taxation in
cludes the most intricate and vexatiOue
questions of constitutional, common and
| statutory law. People pay taxes when
times are good, without murmur. They
demur when money is scarce. 1t was
not surprising therefore that, when the
panic OF 1898 struck our city, those who
were obligated to pay immense sums OF
| money into our treasury as taxes, upon
| seeing the values Of their properties
| shrink and the avenues through which
| they expected to secure money closed
cast about for technical dcfenses against
the immediate payment of their taxes
1t is no reflection on their business
honesty that they did this, and it is not
entirely a misfortune that our courts
| have decided their objections well
| taken. This condition of affairs has eX.
listed since 1893, at which time we were
startled by the intelligence that our SUI
preme court had declared great many
of our city bonds worthless. Since that
! time various schemes have been re.
sorted to and divers plans contrived tc
avoid the penalty of that decision
Each succeeding executive of this city
has called the attention of the council
| to the fact; each term of our courts has
seen the number of suits brought to sc,
aside our taxes and cancel certificates
for those already collected. increased
each year has seen our treasury become
| less and less able to withstand the de-
mands made upon it by our growing
reputation has been allowed to take
| root. This state of affairs cannot CON
tinue without visiting upon this city
great and lasting injury. One thing Is
| certain, we cannot run this city without
| being able to collect the taxes W hich
are levied. Before the time arrives for
| the levy Of taxes this year, it is incum-
bent on US to so shape matters, that,
after the levy, it will be impossible to
defeat it on account of any defect
now known TO us. In this con-
nection it is proper to state that the fol-
lowing plan for adjustment has been
proposed and if carried out will relieve
| the tension.
| On the Goth day of December last the
council passed resolution providing
for the extension of special assessments
made to cover the cost Of street and
sewer improvements for ten years, upon
| conditions that the general taxes upon
| the same lands covered by the special
| assessments and for the same years, in
| Guided in the same tax certificate should
| be paid at the amounts shown on tie
tax rolls of the various years. This reso-
| linton was followed almost Immediately
| the county board of Douglas COUNT on
the 3lst, of December, 1895, which ESQ
solution was superseded by subst tute