Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-13
wEBsTER,s REJolNDER.
sutton,s "Pass" at tho Council is Fol-
lowed by Swift Counter From

WoD6tGr.
Editors Times Republican: My at
tention has just been called to
lengthy communication from MT.
Frank Sutton, crticising the present
city council on Its administration or
certain public matters, much of which
Is based on false assumption of facts,
and quite unfair. The object of MIR.
Suttons communication would seem
from this distance, to be more OF
personal or political one, than to serve
the public good.
"For the purpose of keeping the
record straight, and asking the pubic
to be as honest by members OF the
council, as they have the right to ex-
pect honesty to the public by them. l
desire to answer a few statements
made by Mr.. Sutton thru the columns
of your paper, and in doing this VIII
refer only to facts, leaving the public
to draw it's own conclusions.
Sewage Disposal Plant.
"Mr, Sutton takes up the sewage
disposal plant, and says:
".Out on the river bottom stands
that monstrous $4,000 imposition,
whitening in decay, a fit monument to
demonstrate the fruits of public gull
bility and indifference to the acts or
public servants. And yet, thruout this
paving controversy. from its inception
to the present day, we find among the
prime movers of the enterprise, many
Individuals who occupied a like place
in the inception of the sewage disposal
plant
mrhe facts are, there are but two
members of the present council VINO
we're members when that plant was
built. and only three during the past
two years, neither Of whom were very
active in its construction. More than
two years ago this council went on
record. severely condemning, not the
plant itself, but the contract with the
glucose company in not having secured
a penalty for their failure to operate,
and the forfeiture of their advanced
money in that event. This councli
took steps then to stop the refund1ng
of the $4,000 advance, and thus saved
the city s1S,60O. No one knows this
fact better than Mr.. Sutton.
Sidewalks.
"Before this present so-called pro-
gressive council came in power, there
had been a great many rotten side
walks nut in. Prior to three years ago
there was not contractors bond OF
any value on file in the CLERKS ONCE,
and those that were then on file were
only for $1,000. The bonds were rals-
ed to $4,000. all first class, and IN no
case has complaint been made 10
the council of defective sidewalk,
found so, which has not been repaired
nv order of the council. The result OF
this has been that some contractors
have been driven out Of business, as
they should have been and walks gen
erally have been up to standard. am
not offering. however. excuses LOT .lle
number and necessity Of walks put
in. This is largely due. If mistakes
have been made, to the members Oh
each ward to whom is left this ques-
ton.
The Paving Question.
"In treating Of this question WI
sutton largely draws on his magma
zion and n1isleads the public from the
Facts am assuming that he Knows
the facts; but if he does not ne shoulu
have ascertained them before he went
into print. eo,oaa
"He assumes that the council forceo
their opinions and preferences for as
nhait upon the taxpayers. WHAT are
the facts?
North Third street was the first
street paved. This was on the Pc