Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-07

you will cause 1t to shut down and
| throw us men out of employment and
the conditions to follow will not be our
i doing"
| State Their Position.
| At the close of the talks, Mayor
Phillips asked If the Commercial as
ISOLATION was ready to address the
council. There were present perhaps
a dozen members of the association
and a number Of business and profess
sional men as we'll. In response TO
the mayors question: Frank McIntire
stated that the association would
have nothing to say as the ground was
fully covered by the packing house
employees. Alderman Hartman asked
for recess of the council which was
granted. During the recess the as
sessment was discussed. The recess
lasted for about half an hour when re-
| turning to the chamber the body re-
convened. Mr.. Hartman was given
the floor and said that the resolution
which he was about to offer and vote
for was drafted out of Difference to
the employees Of John Morrell & Co.
That he would vote for the measure
purely out of consideration for the
working men Of Ottumwa and especi-
ally those employed at the packing
house. "I would be understood in this
NATTER said the speaker, that
have not changed my opinion one whit
regarding the justice of the assess
ment that was fixed against this firm
year ago, or now and l am convinc-
ed that the assessment Is not an I'M
l., %@ +ho Grp mn
then. It Is that these men may have
employment that change my atti-
tude in the matter, not that think the
assessment of $675,00O is any too
high" He then offered the resolution
which was seconded by Alderman
Williams, who also stated his views
and the reason that impelled him TO
change his attitude to the Morreu tax
matter He said that he did not feel
that s65O,OOO or $675,000 was too high
an assessment, but that he would not
like to see the men thrown out Of
work by the company. IF the as
sessment as recommended in the reso-
luton is still too high" said he,
rather than see the men without a po-
sition, I will help pay the tax myself.
In debate on the resolution, Alderman
Samuel Hawkes. stated that Aldermen
Hartman and Williams voiced his
sentiment and that it was out of de-
ference to the men endangered In
their positions, that he would support
the resolution, which, put on passage
carried unanimously.
Names Committee.
Alderman Hartman moved that the
mayor appoint committee OF hve
who shall meet and act with similar
sized committee Of the commercial as
ISOLATION in outlining plan whereby
enterprises seeking a location IN OF
tumwa in the future may be given
some equitable tax plan that Will aid
the city in securing additional enter
prises and conserve to the best inter-
ests of the city. The committee nam
ed by the mayor was Aldermen Hart
man, Williams, Spry, Bremhorst and
Ehrmann. Alderman Williams asked
that he be permitted to withdraw in
favor OF the mayor as the intent or |
the mover was that the mayor be one
of the committee. President of the |
Council Hartman put the motion and
the committee was changed naming
the MAYOR as a member of the commit
tee.
Would Cooperate.
w. T. Harper, president of the Com
mercial association addressed the
council stating that at recent meet
ing Of the association the articles of
were changed making
the mayor and president OF the council
members Of the association
directorate with full power to act.
The purpose was stated by the speak
er to be the cooperation of the two
bodies whose purposes are identical
in many things.
Thank the Council.
At the close of the regular session
three Of the delegation of Morrell en-
ployes spoke to the body thanking 1t
for the action taken in reducing the
tav. making the continuation of the
plant possible and insuring their po-
sitions.
Advertise for Bids.
The real object Of the meeting was
taken up at the finish of the special
business and the matter of approving )