The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-01-02
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
An Agreement Reached With the
Land COMPANIES.

Sixth ward. and Aid. Larson of tie
Ninth, were present. The important
measure passed by the council was the
adoption of Il resolution prese nted by
Aid. Ross which practically settles the
tax litigation between the Consolidated
Land Company, the Land & River I'M
provement Company. James Stinson ct
al, and the city Of Superior and Douglas
county.
The total amount involved in the
suits against the city brought by these
three tax payers is about 500 900, and
after the preliminary moves have been
gone through, and this will take but
short time, about $4S0, 900 of that amount
will be paid, spot cash. This is from
only the three plaintiffs III tax cases
mentioned, and when the smaller ones
interested come in TO settle up on SINH
lar terms the amount Will foot up to a
much larger sum.
The city treasury for long time has
been very low. but at present, when it
gets its rolf from these plaintiffs in
the tax suits it Will not only have
anough to do business and build fire
halls. but will actually be flush, con-
dltion unknown for many moons.
When the section Of new business"
came up in the meeting, Mayor
Pattlson announced that he had pro-
position to make to the council and that
City Attorney Green, knowing all about
the legal phases of it, would state the
facts of the case to the council before
the resolution, embodying the PROPOSE
ton would be read. When the city
attorney came in the room he explained
that the matter now before the council
was to be referred to the county board,
most of the members of which were ia
mIiiar with the proposition to be sub
mitted. He explained that the first
proposition made by the attorneys of
the plaintiffs was that the city and
county accept 80 per cent. OF the taxes
levied. As the may or and city attorney
did not take kindly to tins, another pro-
position to accept % per cent. of the
levy was offered; but as this also was
frowned upon the present compromise
was offered, being as follows:
That the three mentioned plaintiffs
agree to pay the fu! amount of their
taxes, dollar for dollar, but that they
be given ten years time on the levy for
the street Improvement and sewers. On
the general tax and all other levies, in
Guiding the state, county and school
taxes, they agreed to pay as soon as a
stipulation had been made between the
attorneys regarding the validity of the
sewer and street improvement taxes
and that no costs will be taxed in the
cases.
Mr.. Green stated that in his opinion
the proposition was very advantage
Gus one, and as TO the granting of ten
years in which the special taxes are to
be paid, that he considered it merely
question of time as to when the amount
will be paid, and conceded nothing
which should not be conceded. lie be-
lieved that the effect of the compromise
will be good one, as the fact that the
special taxes will be declared valid, will
establish good precedent
Tie explained the long silence kept by
the mayor and himself and the non
revelation Of the proposition made to
the aldermen, as it was believed that
any publicity which might he given it
would retard the progress o. the COM
promise as the attorneys of the smaller
Plaintiffs, who look for their compensa
ton in taxing costs, would oppose any
scheme whereby no costs should be
taxed, as in the present cOmprOmisr.
The city attorney expressed it as his
opinion that there were no tax ccrtiti
Gates out of the property in litigation,
but could be set aside,
The resolution emhodying the propo-
sitiOn and requesting the county board
OF supervisors to follow suit was then
read. 1t was introduced by Aid. Ross
and was as follows:
Resolved by the Mayor and Common Coun-
Gil of the city of superior, representing said
municipality in the premises, that the county
| board Of supervisors of Douglas county. be.
and it is hereby. respectfully requested to
duly instruct the attorney, or attorneys, rep
I rcsentIng the said county. in III" causes now
/ pending in the Circuit court for Douglas
/ county, aud in the Circuit court of the United
States for the western district Of Wisconsin,
/ brought FOR the purpose of setting aside Ger
! tain tax certificates issued by said Douglas