Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-05-19
LIVELY COUNCIL MEETING.
Much Important Business-City Engi-
neer E1ected-Other Matters.

neer Elected-Other Matters.
Last evenings meeting of the COM
mon council was an important one and
some interesting matters were consid-
cred. The session continued until
nearly midnight. All members were
present except Aid. Meyer and Kunitz.
Three petitions were presented and
referred to the committee on licenses.
One was from the butchers and STALL
keepers of the city, who ale under an
annual license of Sc, praying that all
store keepers handling fresh and salt
ed meats be required to pay the same
license. The other two were from citi-
zens demonstrating against the pay
ment of dog licenses in the outskirts of
the city.
The sewerage committee reported
that the petition of Henry Huttner for
a sewer on Montgomery street be not
favorably considered, owing to the
great expense that would necessarily
| be incurred in constructing the same.
The waterworks committee reported
| that no favorable terms could be made
with local plumbers to put in water
service pipes throughout the city and
recommended that bids for the same
be sought from outside parties, The
report was adopted.
Under suspension of the rules an
ordinance was passed providing for the
protection of squirrels in all parks,
streets, alleys, ETC., in the city. and
providing a penalty for the destruction
of the same.
The ordinance adopting chapter 139,
| laws of Wisconsin for 1897, was taken
up and placed on its final passage. The
law amends the general charter law so
that cities SO electing NAV choose a
= ter commi s on, more than one assn :
sor and extend the terms of aldermen
from one to two years. The ordinance
was passed by an unanimous vote.
An ordinance authorizing the selec-
ton of water commission and pre-
scribing the duties of the same was
presented and on motion laid oyer till
the next meeting.
A resolution was passed authorizing
the city to assume the defense of Henry
| Bieber, A. E. Needham and Nicholas
| Thauer in the suit for damages brought
by William Behling, and also directing
| the city attorney to confer with the
| judiciary committee in relation to said
suit.
The mayor appointed Aid. Kessler,
Hartwig and Schmidt as members of
| the board of health.
The board of public works was au-
thorized and instructed to advertise
for sealed proposals to construct the
sewers ordered built this year.
The report of the special committee
on street sprinkling, laid over from last
meeting, was taken up and literally
discussed. There were several obiec-
tionable features to it and the PROPOSE
ton seemed in no shape to beIhandled
effectively at present, therefore the
council rejected the adoption of the
report by a vote of to g. Street
sprinkling will therefore be done this
season as heretofore.
A lengthy preamable and resolution,
entering explicitly into the matter of
John w. Coles bequest to the city,
was presented by Aid. Mulberger
and passed unanimously. The sense
OF the N easure was that the executors
of the trust be required to render a
statement of their transactions, that
an effort be made to prevent the sale
of the homestead advertised for June
4, and that special committee be ap-
pointed to look after the interests of
the city in the estate. The mayor ap-
pointed as such committee Aid. Mul-
| berger, Sch midt, Hartwig, Skinner and
Mayer.
On motion it was voted to enter into
contract with George w. Evans to haul
the hook and ladder truck to fires the
ensuing year for the sum of 5000.
The old matter of the election of a
city engineer was brought up in the
form of a resolution introduced by Aid .
Skinner to proceed to the election of
such officer. The proposition called
forth storm Of argument, in which
Aid. Needham, Mulberger, Schmidt,
| Wertheiner, Skinner and the mayor
were prominent. Some heated express
sions were INDUCED in and some einsinu-
ations cast that probably Will appear
just as we'll out of print. We believe
some of the participants were rather
indiscreet. The mayor explained that
he and Aid Wertheimer had been at
Fond du Lac to investigate the ability
and standing of G. II. Stanchfield,
formerly city engineer there and who
had applied for the position here.
He was highly recommended and it
was thought our city would be we'll
served by him. He desired a yearly
compensation of ST 900. By vote of
to ii was decided to proceed with
the election. On the second ballot
Mr.. Stanchfeld received s votes and
was declared duly elected. His salary
as city engineer was specified at $500,
| 4 10 ~ -