The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-02-03
MAYOR ABSENT At
THE STATE CAPITAL
1t is Mayor Kane Pro TEN and Chair
Takes Issue With Jacob Schroeder,
Who Believes That Mr.. Wolter Is
Entitled to Have Legal Advice
From City Attorney Free of Cost.

The regular city counciI meeting
proved to be of short duration last
evening, there being few things that
needed the attention of the city fathers
at the present time, and had 1t not been
for a few remarks by Treasurer VIII
liam WOIter the peace and quietude
would have compared favOrabIy with
a Quaker meeting.
Mr.. Wolter believes himself entitled
to per cent of the deposits on special
assessments, but in the absence of
supreme court ruling on that question
and lack Of legal advice from some au-
thoritative source, the city attorney, for
instance, he has appealed to the common
council, asking it for its support to
help him get at the bottom of the sit
uation.
His petition was promptly referred to
the city attorney and the finance com
rittee. which will be at least some re-
lief to thsAszotIIs5 of1ai.Es,-
hopes to receive the much-sought-f for
advice from the city attorney, John A.
Gavit
When Must City Attorney Answer.
Councilman John Kane. who occupied
the chair in thes absence of Mayor
Becker. the latter being at Indianapolis,
gave it as his opinion that inasmuch as
Mr. Wolter had everything to win and
nothing TO lose; while the city stood to
! lose the 2 per cent deposit with no
benefit TO it, Mr.. Wolter ought not to
expect to get his legal advice from the
| city.
| Councilman Jacob Schroeder, however.
took a different stand. arguing that the
city attorney is appointed to answer
any questions to the best of his ability
which pertain to the legal business Of
the city. The discussion ended there
with the motion to refer the question
TO the city attorney and he finance
committee.
The question that Mr.. wolter has
raised regarding the city treasurer's
right to retain per cent of the depos-
its on special assessments. is a deli
cate one. There is no supreme court
ruling and the practice of the city
treasurers throughout the state varies.
In Michigan City, for instance, it is
said that the city treasurer retains 2
per cent of the special assessments on
the ground that the special money de-
rived from the special assessments is
not the public's money but rather a
private fund
The Evenings Business.
The new water rental contract be-
tween the city of Hammond and the
village of West Hammond was ratified.
1t provides, among other things, that
the village pay the city of Hammond
seven cents thousand gallons of wa
ter and also ss0414 in twelve monthly
instaIlments for the three water met
ers that this city has installed for the
village.
The peddler's license Of Sam Gobitz
was transferred to Ashar Goodman.
The city controllers report for the
month Of December was referred to the
r finance committee
After the regular council meeting the
: finance board went into session City
) Controller John d. Smalley acted as
clerk of the board and announced that
) the city's funds had been divided or
the following per cent basis: First
National, 35; Citizens German National
s 80; Lake County Savings & Trust com
pany, IS, and Hammond Savings &
T Trust company, u per cent
5 These banks have furnished bonds
$ according to which the city funds car
e be deposited with them for the mex
a two years, not to exceed s4s.750 for ths
: First National; s56,25O for the Citizens
5 German National. s46.S75 for the LAX,
: County Savings & Trust company. anc
y s16,S75 for the Hammond Savings s
Il Trust company