The Nome nugget., 1901-09-14
SHUTTING UP TM EAST WIND.

Tho crty council has solved the question as 10 how vacancies shall be filed should they arise in the council. The council, by an ordinance passed, says that the ward in which the vacancy occurs shall elect the councilman. This, we believe, is an smhently fair proposition and that will meet the appeuva of the great majority of people since it will insure all portions of the city representation at the council board.
 We. want to state emphatically that, personally, ws tio not care whether the councmen from the east west or middle of the town, long they are capable and honest men. It is with regret thtrefore that we see faconal spirit being dis played n.the council. The west end is being played against the east end and vice versa and dare say thkt Q councilman might be found who would play P both ends against the middle.
 We might also remark thet the council has other work to do, than wasting time in wrangling the question whether councilman shall be elected by ward the town at large. There is neither principle noa privilege involved in the question: it is simply one. of equity, and believe the equities involved have been met. The council ad far better face the financial problem with which they confronted We tell them that the people of this community do not.care arde for the spectacular hubdub of council ! men over the manner in which a councilman shall or shall not be elected. The council but wastes its time \ when it listens to some councilmanc snufng up the east wind and trying to enact the role of cheap ' reiorn1er and siicker for "consttutonal rights The people interested however, in decent govern n1ent, carried on in economical manner. Will the gentlemen of the council their pyroechncs for while and evolve plan by which enough money may be secured to maintain any form of government? According to the last report of the city clerk there city warrants outstanding amounting to $15,79S. Next week couple of thousand more will be added to it. When ssit going to stop and will the gentle men who supposed to manage the financial end of the machine kindly point out how it will end Besides the outstanding general warrants there are special street fund warrants outstanding, and there is indebtedness of at least $1O,OOO for new fire apparatus purchased by order of the city, by Mayor Giese.
 The fact of the matter is the city has indebted ness now of $3O,OOO at least, and it is climbing steadily. To offset this there Is the amount which one per cent assessment on possessory rights, inn prsvements, etc.5 will yield. This sum will certainly mot make moro than $20,OOO. A big revenue has been derived from fines and forfeitures since last May, but that of is rapidly failing The town will certainly need police protection this winter it needs lights the hospital must be maintained; so must the fire department, and salaries must be paid; and gentlemen of the council will you kindly tell interested people how you are going to do it? Do you not think that you have enough to do, and that the question of ways and
 means transcends in importance all the ne-spun and wise dissertations as to what the Alaska code may be construed to mean, when it comes to the uoomentous question of filling vacancy in the conncil?