Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-04-08
They Brooded Over the
Council Tuesday
Night.
MECUSKER ELECTED PRESIDENT
The Majority's Slate Got
Fractured Rather Badly
During the Evening.

Contrary t. the expectations OF
many, the new council organized
without trouble on Tuesday evening.
A large number were present, and as
the council did not go into executive
session, they were given chance TO
view the proceedings.
It was understood that the alder
men from the First and Third wards
had combined on organization. Me-
cusker was elected president and
Turner vice president without oppo-
sition. 1t was also claimed that the
same aldermen had an understand
ing on appointments, but if there
was a slate, it broke in two, as the
Third ward men are not particularly
happy over Coleman's selection as
janitor.
E. P. Adams was elected city at
torney without opposition.
On street commissioner an infor-
NAL ballot resulted: E. G. Hill, l.:
Geo. Keller, l; Chas. Lafond, 3; J..
D. Hatten, /. The formal ballot
elected Lafond, he receiving 4, Hill /, j.,
Keeler 2.
The informal ballot on janitor of
the city hall gave Geo. Stillwell /; J.
D. Hatton I, NJ. Coleman 4, VIM.
O'Shea 1. The formal ballot gave
Coleman 4, electing him, and Still
we'll 3. This was the first. break in
the slate.
s. F. Staples was elected city en-
,gineer,. receiving 4 votes, TO 3 for Nels
Peterson.
Eleven ballots were taken for
health officer, and the result was a
surprise. The first ballot was: DR..
Trace 8, Dr.. >Millspaugh 2, DR.. For
tier 2. The ballots were mainly like
this, with slight variations, except
the tenth, when Fortier got one, and
the Others three each. The eleventh
ballot elected ForUier, be receiving 4,
Trace 2, and Millspaugh l.
John Bowman was elected pound
master on the second ballot. Chas.
Robins, Wm. Robbins, and Jas. Sel-
leck "also ram
The selection of two members of
the board Of health was laid over to
the next meeting. The members
whose terms expire ares. frebby and
E. W. Collins.
The mayors message was then
read. 1t is as follows:
Little Falls, Mimi, April 5, 1898.
To THE HONORABLE. THE C1rY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF LITTLE FALLS, MINI.
GENTLEMEN:
The charter OF the city OF Little Falls
directs that the mayor shall, from time
to time, bring before the city council
such matters as he may deem worthy of
consideration. It has been the practice
of my predecessors to submit message
at the beginning OF their terms, and
therefore follow that custom.
The financi al condition OF the city is
not satisfactory. The revenue iund is
Eearly year in arrears, and has been
in practically the same shape for several
years, during which the city has been
paying interest on it's orders. l attri-
butte this state OF affairs, in common
with the majority OF the people Of this
city, in the m ain TO the payment of
exorbitant rates by the city for light
and water. AS cases bearing directly on
this point are now in court, it may seem
unnecessary to refer to. what has been
called the ''hgnt and water question: -
but it is my belief that 50 long as the city
continues to pay present rates, so long
as utilities so necessary to the comfort
and health OF the people are in the
hands OF private owners, all attempts at
removing the b-rdens OF the city by
econ0mies in other directions. will be
futile. The taxpayers expect economies
in expenditures and economy should be
practiced wherever it is safe and posi-
bic, but SO long as the. main cause Of the
trouble is untouched, all other econ
8omies, will not, in the aggregate. Le
/, enough to solve the financial problem.
Other cities which We're situated as Little
Fails is now, have solved the problem - Is
S55and done SO through municipal oWn't.-,55
ship }ssp,. 1t is not necessary IN the present