The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-10-25
U0TE FOR ONE JUDGE.

u "a III CdAu1ud IC 4OI q uuSC VI IAC
District Court, whose election
this paper desires to secure, has
been a resident of the City of
Duluth about twelve years. He
is Al years of age, and in the
full vigor of life. He was City
Attorney of the City of Duluth
for three successive terms, in
1897, 1898 and 1899. So satisfac-
tory were his services, that his
salary was increased each year,
and the last year he was elected
City Attorney, it was by the un-
animous vote of both Republi.
can and Democratic aldermen.
His faithful and successful work
is remembered by the voters.
Under his advice and counsel the
negotiations and successful pur-
chase of the water and gas plant
of the Duluth Gas & Water Co.
was made by the City. By his sue
cessful legal work hundreds of
thousands of dollars were saved
to the taxpayers of the City and
county. No city attorney of Du.
luth ever handled so many and
so important litigations with
such success. Mention may be
made of a few.
He saved 100000 in back taxes
collected from the corporations.
The old Duluth Gas & Water Co.
was behind more than 100000 in
it's taxes, and it's bondholders,
! who had foreclosed and taken
it's assets refused to pay them.
The county tried to collect them,
but was twice beaten in the Fed
eral Courts, and the County At
torney advised the County Board
that the taxes could not be COL
lected. Mr.. Richards thought
otherwise, and took hold of the
case, although it was no part of
his official duty to do so. 1t was
carried to the Supreme Court of
the United States, and Mr.. Rich
ards won out, and on July 23rd,
1899 a check of $63, 900 for back
taxes was paid into the County
treasury of st. Louis county.
Twenty-seven thousand more was
paid in by other corporations as a
direct result of that suit, or $780,
600 in all, all of which would have
been lost to the taxpayers, but
for Mr.. Richards ability, zeal and
fidelity.
Another noted victory was his
compelling the different railroad
companies at their own expense
and at a cost above 100000, to
build the Garfield Avenue via
duct over the numerous railway
tracks on Rice's point, former
ly great danger to life and
property, now happily removed
to the great convenience of all
the people especially to residents
of the Sixth and Seventh wards
Of the city.
The city had before that paid
100000 as it's share of the cost
of the Lake avenue viaduct, and
about the same sum for the Sixth
avenue West viaduct. A new
era was made by Mr.. Richards
work. As a result, the Tenth
avenue West viaduct has since
been built, and more will be built
when needed. 1t is hard to esti.
mate in advance the value of this
victory over the railroads, to the
taxpayers of the city.
He also saved $4,000 to the
city in the suit involving the
right of the city to issue it's bonds
for the sum of $5OO,OOO to fund it's
floating Indebtedness, thus re.
ducing the rate of interest, and
bringing $4,000 of cash premium
into the city treasury. The law
was attacked as unconstitutional
and the legal question was SO
close that minority opinion was
filed, arguing that the city had
no such right, by one of the
judges of the Supreme Court,
Other successfully fought cases
, are too numerous to mention.
Such services show Mr.. Rich.
ards to be faithful to the PEG.
pie, honest and able, of the right
material to fill the important and
laborious office of district Judge,
The safety of our institutions
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