Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-10-19
INJUNCTION DISSOLVED,
Judge Reid Rules That City Council
May Use City Hall Fund as
Heretofore.

Judge Reid last Friday made public
his decision in the case wherein a
temporary injunction was issued re-
straining the city treasurer from
transferring any more money from
the city hall fund
The judge holds that inasmuch as
the fund was created by the council,
the council has right to do what
ever it pleases with the fund. 1t can
direct that the money be thrown in
the river if the members SO wish. 1t
can direct that the fund be abolished
and the money applied on debts,
which to a majority of people seems
the proper thing to do. The statutes
say that the city treasurer shall not
pay out funds which have been Gre
ated by law for any special purpose
except for the purpose for which the
funds are created. The words Shy
law" prove to be the hole in the
fence. Any action of the council is
not law. 1t can resolve to create a
city hall fund or it can resolve to
send box of chewing gum to the
Senegambians in their far away
African home, and then the council
can turn around and unscrew the
cover off the resolves. The CITY hall
fund was not raised wholly from tax
levies, and it is therefore like an his
torical novel or lady's bustle-it is
fiction founded on fact.
Judge Reid holds that the council
has the power to transfer money from
one fund to another and to manage
and control the finances of the city.
If the city hall fund had been Gre
ated bylaw" court of equity
could intervene by injunction and
prevent any money from being taken
out for any other purpose than for
building city hall. Any tax payer
could then demand an injunction.
The city hall will certainly be built
in time, and if the expenses are kept
down as they have been during the
past two years, and the taxpayers
elect another set of officers equally as
economical, the city hall can be built,
Third, Washington and Scott streets
re-paved and necessary work attended
to next year. Should exigencies arise
which would greatly increase expendi-
lures, then certain proposed improve
ments could be further postponed.
There is no immediate danger of
the old city hall falling over into the
slough. 1t is an even bet that it will
fall north when it does fall. A form
er city employe, holding minor office
some time ago banished all the cock
reaches which were wont to cavort
and ''gambol o'er the lea." If there
are any left it is few which were
saved for pets. The city hall at one
time was fairly overrun with these
insects and the man above referred to
had a mighty task before him. lie
set to work with Napoleonic will
and conquered. Each morning, with
insect gun in hand, he would visit
the different offices and ask, Might
you haf yum cooked reaches here p
and would set to work shooting them.
Our city officials are not particular
cusSes and come from the ranks OF
| the plain "pepui." They can get
along by doing their business in the
old city hall for some time to come,
while We are recuperating from the
extravaganza of some past admins
trations. a city can get into debt
as easy as an individual, and like al
individual, it is just as hard for it tC
get out of debt again. Wausau, il
our memory has not been treacherous
with us, owes two or three dollars al
the present time and if we keep on
making resolutions to do this anC
that and tother thing, it viii soon be
a case of
| owen Moore went away,
| OWN more than he could pay:
1 Owen Moore came back one day
OWN more"