Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-09-08
|HEBS|ERG1Y SBADFK
City Council in Hopeless Dead
lock and the Tax Levy
Not Made
ALDERMEN MAY ALL RESIGN
Gas Franchise Matter Has Involved
the Factions in Controversy SO Bit
ter That Members Stay Home to
Prevent Quorum = Resignation and
New Election Suggested.
Special to es-RepubIican.

Special to Times Republican.
Webster City, Sept. s.--Dissolution of
the city council of Webster City. by
the members resigning, and the calling
of special election to choose an en-
tire new council, seems to be the only
visible means of breaking the dead
lock, which exists. unless the refrac-
'ory members who are staying away
On account Of the gas matter coming
up again, get down to business and
present themselves at regular meetings.
SO that immediate action may be tax
en- on several important matters nee
essary for the welfare of the city.
The dissolution Of the council bv
resignation and the election of a new
council by the calling of a special
election is clearly within the province
oI the law. altho not specifically stat
ed. Mayor Edwards expressed himself
favorable to the proposition, provided
the entire council resigns. 1t is not
thought that those who wish to re-
main on the council would stand in
the way of such action, as the prerog-
ative is given them to again enter the
field as candidates from their different
wards, If the electors so decree. Five
besides the mayor, expressed their will
lhgness to resign and give the people
an inning.
The important thing to consider lust
at present is the city's tax levy. If it
is not made by the city council by Sat-
urday, the district court will make IT.
the board of supervisors having so
informed the city. The board is now
in session. 1t being the regular fail
meeting Of that body. One of the pur-
poses of this meeting is the making
OF the tax levy and this cannot ne
completed until the city hands in its
levy to be added to the county levy.
The present session of the board is
expected to adjourn Saturday afternoon
and for this reason the city's levy must
be In by that time. The board have
notified the city of their intention of
adjourning on Saturday and have thus
delivered their ultimatum to the coun-
Gil.
The new members of the council are
disposed to create sinking fund for
the electric light plant and in order to
do so desire to reduce the mill tax
on water. But in doing so they find
a very difficult problem. The heating
plant was possible for the city by
reason of the tax imposed on the wa
ter plant, city bonds being placed in
the amount Of some $4,000, which
bonds are held by local banks. The
water plant is the only paying munich
pal utility owned and conducted by
the city and it is on this plant the city
council relies for support Of the other
weddings.
Another matter Of importance, es-
pecially to the men who have earned
their money by the sweat Of their
brow, is the payment of the bills held
against the city by those who have
performed labor and furnished mater
ial for the city. The old members in
preventing the securing of quorum
are depriving these men of their just
ly earned money, which money may
be badly needed by them.
The matter OF heat to be furnished
patrons the coming winter, which has
run a meteoric career in the council
since the installation Of the heating
plant by the city, is another important
consideration. City Clerk p. M. Banks,
stated that unless the council took ac-
ton regarding this, many people who
are depending on getting heat from the