Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-05-04
LaRCaster's Old City Council fblg Defend-
Gu BIZ Clerk MiGhaellS.


The following article was given TO
the editor OF the Teller for publiea-
ton last week but for some reason it
did not appear 1t was called out by
articles in the Teller in criticism of
the old council and their methods.
Mr. Michaelis and the people Of Lam
easter generally, know that the coun-
ell that has just gone out Of office
were exceptionally efficient and con-
scientious officers and every one with
the exception Of a few ''pessimistic
cusses' like the Teller man admit that
the vote of thanks for their able adj
ministration rendered by the new
4 council was deserved, was timely,
and expressed the sentiments OF vot-
ers and citizens GENERALLY. 1t was
to correct wrong impressions that may
have been drawn from the Teller arti-
cles that this was prepared. Follow
ing is the letter:
To THE EDITOR OF THE LANCASTER
4EILER--1l ln6 ASSAN u ) Jul A'NA
Of last week appeared an article
headed: .'Were they salary grabbers9n
and signed Many Citizens
do not like to pose as a newspaper
writer and have no inclination to 90
into any newspaper controversy, yet
in Justice to the old council | can not
refrain from saying a few words in
order TO prevent any censure which
some Of our citizens might give them
and Of which they are not deserving.
As the article is signed '.Many Citi-
zensn (Which | consider fraudulent
signature) / shall substitute the words
% Chronic Kicker-probably the last
kicker of the anti-waterworks' kickers
we have left.
Now, first. in regard to the annual
report of the council. The financial
settlement with city officers, eXamina-
ton and auditing of their accounts,
was made by the council as prescribed
in the chatter, and the compiling OF
their work in shape Of report left to
the undersigned, as has always been
the custom. There being, however, a
few unsettled accounts for rent due
the city, which the council desired to
have settled and appear in their re-
port. which was left for me to do, and
II besides as myself on account of sick
II mess was almost unable to be about
Kfnd do any work, the report was not
\ finished in time to 20 into the hands
n Of the printer that week. The next
week the report was placed in the
hands Of the Herald, but you will find
1e AVNrsl 9Th N
article which says that the report OF
the city council was unavoidably
crowded out l did not like it at all
that the councils report did not APP
pear in print that week; but the
kicker should by no means censure
the council for it, ''Kickern says the
council should make its report in time
to have it read the night of the caucus.
AS our caucus under the present cleo
ton laws can not be held less than ten
Nudays before the election, he will see
how absurd it is to make such de-
mand. If kicker will look at sec
tion 80 of our charter, he will find ex-
Iactly what is required of the city
council in regard to settlement of ac-
counts with city officers. the reading
IuctI IcDOII anu bAlC pAOAASAbASA ~
the same, in case they see fit to have
it published. In past years city coun-
cils complied with this section as to
reading the report on election day:
but as there would be hardly anyone
to listen. it seemed like a farce, and
LOT late wears it has not been done. If
"a custom could be inaugurated to set
Maside on city election day q certain
4 hour to read the annual report and
Mtransact business pertaining to the
Uwelfare Of the city, in a manner sim
Uilar to our town meeting, it would in
HImy estimation be q good plan.
Now. as to the terrible crime the
0eitv council has committed in not
wing their water rent for the years
~ 1897 and 1898, When in 1897 AL
HERMAN Williams was elected, | had a
Halk with him in regard TO the SER
0ices the other members Of the coun-
Ill FL had rendered the city and | asked
Him If he did not think it would be
Hair and right that at least from that
In until the end of their term Of Office
Ilhe council should be exempt from
Having water tax Air. Williams
II Irreed with me and promised to bring
H lhe matter up at the next meeting Of
II he council, which he did, making a
1 motion to that effect. knowing that
/ Dir. Decker. in the chair, would not
/ entertain such a motion. | took it
| upon myself to put the motion. Mr..
/ Williams being the only one voting
ave" and none mo. I declared the
motion carried aud therefore did not
eolIeet any water rent from Aldermen
Decker. Ziegler, Nathan and Miller.
I'm 1898. when the water mains were
extended along Aid. Williams prop
srty. he came TO me to pay his water
rent and I refused to take i holding
hat as long as the rest of the council
Hid not pay be was not called upon to