The Minneapolis journal., 1906-06-11
SECOND ROUND IN
HUDSON'S FIGHT
MAYOR AND CoUNCILMEN IN A
MERRY WAR.
Citizens Committee Sustains the For
n,er in His Contention that the City
Should Operate It's Own Water
works and Lighting Plant Strong
Movement Started for Municipal
Ownership. |.$r- }ts
Special to The Journal.

Special to The journal.
Hudson, Wis, June 1.-THE second round Of
the sensational fight between the mayor and the
city council of Hudson, in the matter ~ lot
ting contract for running the waterworks
and lighting system the next two years was
pulled OFF Saturday night, when the committee
selected at public mass meeting to investigate
the merits of the controversy presented ifs re-
port to the council and the mayor =
The committee, composed of T. A. Walby.
Allan Beggs, Lewis Blegan, O.J Solhime,
Albert Guse and Joseph Baker, upheld the posi-
tion Of Mayor Francis Mcguire that the CITY
should operate its own waterworks and lighting
plant, instead Of making contract with Chris
tian Burkhardt to do the work. They found
that it would cost the city only s41o month,
whereas the contract with Mr.. Burkhardt in
wolves an expense of about $3.50 month The
committee therefore recommended that the coun-
ell recede from the contract already made with
Mr.. Burkhardt. Or If 1t refuses to act in ac-
cordance with the recommenda tions of the COM
mittee, to submit the matter to the voters Of
the city at special election to be called for
that purpose at a time to be determined by the
council. - .-, f.. ...r-s- s.. e. g
Council VS.. Committee. -
The council room was crowded in anticipation
OF shot row." and when the report of the
committee had been read by its chairman r. A,
Walby, a free-for-all debate ensued between
the mayor and the committee on the one side
and the council and Mr.. Burkhardt on the
other. - .ae-'
The council resented the" criticisms in the
report Of the committee and asserted that the
committee had not made painstaking investi-
cation, as was indicated by the fact that the
water board of the city had not been questioned
at all, altho possessed of much informant ton,
and also shown by the fact that no scientific
calculations had been made. s..'H -s....,
1t was strongly limited by councilmen that the
committee had leaped at conclusions and had
been unduly Influenced by public sentiment. Mr..
Burkhardt and his electrical engineer, T. q.
Hanson, put some very pointed questions to the
committee as to how it arrived at Of its
conclusions, and considerable bad feeling was
generated. . ..... ...
The meeting lasted till midnight, when the
council adjourned without taking action of any
sort upon the committees report. The council
men are in a somewhat angry mood, asserting
that> the citizens have been, belated in their
| criticisms Of their work, and maintaining that
the contract with Mr.. Burkhardt, having already
been executed cannot be rescinded.' -..
On the other hand. fthe committee and sup
porters Of Mayor Mcguire are more in earnest
than ever that the contract shall be abandoned
| announced determination to refuse to sign the
contract which is necessary before it can be
carried into effect. This being the case, the
matter will doubtless soon be brought into court
by the party interested In having the contract
made binding. T..t...- -, ....
AS a result of the fight over this question
| movement has been started by citizens for the
organization of a permanent municipal league
the object of which will be the promotion Of
! municipal ownership of all public utilities and
the protection of the city's interests. "A mass
meeting for this purpose will be called for the
night of June 1S. u ~.r -