Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-04-23
THE NEW REGIME.
First Meeting of the New Council Held
Tuesday Night.

The last meeting of the old council
and the first meeting OF the new on
was held last Tuesday evening at th'
city hall Every member of the new
council was present, but only ten mem
bers of the old body put in an appear
ance The council chamber was illet
with spectators who desired to hear thu
proceedings and see who would get th'
plums.
After the meeting of the old council
had been called to order by V. A. Alder
son and the roll called, the retiring
mayor announced that he had appointed
DR.. w. c. Dickens and Atty. e. D
Jones as members of the Board of Police
and Fire commissioners TO fill vaca ncie!
caused by the resignation of C. f. Becl
and IL. f. McEachron, they to serve Z
years, commencing May 1st Mr.
Anderson then made his farewell addres!
which here follows:
Gentlemen Of the Common Council :
Our years work is now closed and we
are about to give our seats to others
To them, our successors, we tender oul
good wishes.
We have done our duty as well as we
knew how. We have had many things
to contend with during the year, the
most notable being the excessive rains
and floods, causing Us a great amount oil
extra work, trouble and expense.
We made a number of permanent i'm
provements, all of which are paid for.
The general city debt was reduced
considerable during the year.
The financial condition of the city is
good There is no floating debt, and
the bonded debt is now S167 800.
| wish to thank each member of the
council and also the city clerk for their
kindness and assistance during the year.
1t was voted to place the address up
on the minutes and the council ad-
iourned.
Mr.. Marchetti then called upon the
new members to take their seats and
delivered the following addres:
GENTLEMEN:-In presiding over your
deliberations ask your indulgence if |
should fail to prove myself as familiar
with the rules relating TO parliament
ary procedure as some other mem bers
of this body who have bad more exper-
ience than | have had in legislative af-
fairs, but know my task will be made
easy, because / preside over body of
gentlemen who have no need for rules
of order to govern themselves.
The business of this city has been en-
trusted to us for one year. and let us so
act that We shall be able to give good
account of ourselves when our work is
done.
Small though it is, our city is the
metropolis of central Wisconsin. In
culture, in industry, in Intelligence, in
patriotism, in morals and in refinement
our people are the peers of any people
in the state, and for that reason alone.
our city should be the best governed
city in the stale.
To make il so should be our object ;
to work in that direction is our duty,
which we must not shirk. although we
receive no pay for our labors.
We knew that honor was to be our
sole compensation when we We're eandi-
dates for the Offices; we were willing to
be elected and accepted the Offices; now
let us make the Offices honorable.
| regret that the financial condition
of our city is not what it should be, but
we must try 10 make it better. This is
no reflection on the former administra-
ton, because | know well enough that
for years our financial affairs were in no
better. but in Il decidedly worse condi-
tion than they are at the present time.
In making needful appropriations and
necessary prOVenentS, let us always
remember that no favOritism must be
shown and that we, as trustees of an eX-
press trust, are paying out the peoples
money. not our own.
Let us insist on strict fulfillment of
all contracts between the city and it's
contractors and servants.
In making public improvements, let
them be made according to Il carefully
planned system. so that all may share
equally in the benefits to be derived
from them. If improvements are made
systematicall ii does not follow that
all must be made in Il year or two.
Above all things, in the language of
Samuel J. Tiiden, Let us learn to live
within our means"
Our expenses should he reduced
wherever it can be done without detri-
meut to the public service, but city en-
plOrees should not be made the victims
of harsh economy.
Our water works are justly our pride;
they represent an outlay of at least
5000, 900, but they are gradually wear
ing out and need repairs. 1t seems to
hA Sh VIC N
better return.
Our police force should be able to
keep the city reasonably free from
those vicious elements whose presence
in public places is an affront to the
people.
The sanitary department deserves
your attention. as does the fire depart
ment: the law department should be in
efficient hands: in short, every depart
ment of the city should be in charge of
competent persons. and fitness for the
Office should be the highest test APP
piled in filling all offices.
Franchises, being special legislation,
should not he granted, except where it
clearly appears that the public good
will be thereby promoted.
Gentlemen, | have the highest ap-
probation of your ability, your hon
esty and your integrity, and assure
you that l have not made these re-
marks by way of admonition, but SIM
ply by way of introduction in opening
this our first session, and | hope | have
given no offense to any one.
The clerk, John, Patzer, then called
the roll and all members responded.
Supervisor Gilbert placed in uomina-
ton the name of John Ringle for presi-
dent of the council, and also moved
that the clerk cast the vote of the coun-
ell for him. The nomination and
motion being seconded, Mr.. Ringle was
elected by the unanimous vote of the
council.
In accepting, Mr.. Ringle stated that
the position was not one of his seeking.
and that had he his choice il would have
fallen TO some one else. He VAS salts
fed that the mayor would attend meet
ingS If the council regularly, and had
been so informed, and therefore fe,t
that the duties of president would fall
Il. -.