Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-05-28
TRAP TOR TIE COUNCIL
Ex.Mayor Pierce Would Escape
Payment Of the Wood Bill
Owing the City.
Is Attempting to Secure Also a
Coat Of Whitewash From
the Council.
wheelmen Petition City Dads for
Relief. But II Is Re.
fused.

The late Mayor Pierce desires very
much to be resurrected and he is at
tempting to coax the council to assist at
the ceremonies He says, in effect that
he paid portion of his shortage under
pressure-while the grand jury was in
seSsion--but now that the grand jury
did not indict he would like to have
half of ne money so paid returned to
him and a coat of whitewash thrown
In. or else receive as, a present that si2G
woodpile. Members of the city council,
with a couple of exceptions. were star
tied Monday night at the nerve of the
proposition made by Mr.. Pierce The
meeting was held for the especial pur-
pose of giving MIR. Pierce the unusual
privilege Of making proposition for
settlement of his wood bill. owing to the
city since the land for the sewage dis
posal plant was cleared. Instead of a
proposition being made the ex-mayor.
thru Attorney Carney. submitted a
statement in writing which was IN eff.
feet counter claim. In short, Mr.
Pierce wants the city to pay back to
him $500 of the 81 600 the official inv esti-
cation of the council found him to- be
short in his saloon license accounts.
His statements, set forth the argument
that this money Was paid to the city
under pressure when Mr.. Pierce was
being threatened with both civil and
criminal action; that he paid the En-
sminger shortage of 5000. the Phil Sher-
idan shortage of 5000 and the o. P.
BARLEY shortage of 500 without due
consideration. The statement says also
that he has no recollection of receiving
the Ensmnger and Sheridan money and
that there is nothing in writing to indi-
cate that he cashed the BARLEY check
for 500. The attorney argued that the
Ensminger claim of $500 was more than
five years old and was therefore out
lawed. After hearing the request of the
eX-mayor and the arguments of the at
torney the council sat dumb for a few
moments. Then MIR. Henry asked that
the matter be referred to committee of
the whole, to meet next Monday night,
formulate a report and submit Ii to the
regular meeting in June. Mr.. Fislle-
said the council might meet again and
again and not be better prepared than
now to take action. as the official inves
tigation had been made and approved
by the council, and that is all there is
to do. Mr. Mcclure made few re-
marks that did not indicate where he
stood on the question. Mr. KreutZer
said he would not vote to let Mr.. Pierce
off with anything short of what was
justly due. but he favored time for fur
ther consideration. Mr. Benson said the
council had all the evidence it needed
and the matter might as We'll be decided
at once. and Mr.. Kirby thought ii use
less TO carry II over another week. Dr..
Harris made the suggestion that the
city solicitor investigate the matter. be
present at the meeting next Monday
and have such Witnesses present from
among the saloonists Interested as he.
deems necessary. and with this UNDER
standing a decision will be reached in.
committee of the whole at meeting to
be held next Monday.
MIR. Fisher presented a petition. signed
by 296 bicycle riders, recitiug that it Mas
4 hardship for them to be deprived of
the privilege of riding on the Sidewalks
on unpaved streets when the roads are
muddy and that it was impossible for
them to go to their dinners because OF
such debarment, and they asked for re-
lief. Mr.. Fisher moved that the prayer
of the petitioners be granted and that
the matter be referred to the chairman
of the ordinance committee,one member
from each of the First, Second and
Fourth wards and the city solicitor, TO
oraw up an ordinance in accordance. DR..
Harris charged the bicycle riders with
being to blame for the recent prohibitlve
orders of the mayor Mr.. kreutzer said
ne would oppose the granting of permis-
sion to ride on the walks at any time.
Mr. Fisher said the proposed ordinance
was to give relief to the laboring men
and not TO the boys VINO ride for pleas
ure. Mr.. Benson took the position that
the council has no power to grant per-
mission to wheelmen 10 Use the walks.
and therefore any action the council
might take would be useless. After fur
ther discussion Mr.. Fishers motion to
have an ordinance framed was defeated
by the following vote: Yeas. Benson.
Fisher and Kirby. nays, Harris. kreut-
zer Henry and Mcclure Mr.. WATSON
was absent.
Reports were received from the coun-
cilmen of the various wards relative to
the condition of cement walks put down
under the Dunn contract. The reports
showed that some of the walks We're not
in as bad condition as some of the
previous statements would indicate and
it was reported that the contractor was
prepared to proceed with the work of
making good the defects.
Some of the several thousand dollars
worth of cement purchased for the sew.
age disposal plant last fall and since in
store in this city has deteriorated, and
as those who took the contract for stor-
ing the same are under bond to deliver
the material on May 81 to the city in as
good condition as when purchased it
was voted to reject all but that in first
class condition. The cement company is
under bond to the storage firm.