The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1910-02-17


the action was brought.
A Strong Complaint.
The belief was expressed that it w as
the business of Mr.. Kenyon to see that
the complaint was correct.
Alderman Jacobs said that it was a
strong complaint.
Aldermen Thuerer then moved that
the acting city attorney examine the
complaint and report at special meet
ing of the council next Thursday
night. The motion was seconded by
Alderman Jacobs.
Before the motion was presented
Alderman Risley said that he would
vote in the affirmative but did not be-
lieve that it was necessary to refer the
matter TO the attorney. He said that
the intent of the law was not to lean
OH technicalities but that the case
should be heard.
Alderman Thuerer said that it was
not intended 10 evade the law by referr
ing the matter but TO see that the steps
had been taken properly.
The complaint was then referred to
Attorney Hill and he will report at a
special meeting of the council to be
held Oh Thursday evening, February
II.
All of the alderman were present eX-
cept w. III. McFetridge. Mayor Hull
was in the chair.
Slot Machine, Curfew and Taxes
Marshal Buckley repo ted that he had
collected $16.5O poll tax and $1.3O for
cleaning side walks. He also report
ed that he had notified all who were
back on personal property and poll
taxes and where they had not paid,
had started suit against them and in
some cases had taken judgements. The
more important cases he had dismiss
ed because of lack of authority.
| AS TO the curfew, there was no prac-
tical method of carrying out the rules
connected with it, for the parents
must be notified in writing that their
children are on the streets before the
offenders can be fined. Besides, there
was only a small fine for offenses
where there should be a jail sentence.
He stated that he was not against the
curfew but only showing some of the
serious defects.
He said that on January %, he re-
moved slot machine from Emil
Platts saloon and after throughly try
ing it, he was convinced that it was
gambling device. His action had
aroused much criticism, some saying
that without warrant he could not
by law have seized the machine. Neve :
the-less his method was the method
that brought results and results wefe
what they were after. He was holding
the money found in the machine, in
trust until satisfactory proof of It's
ownership was brought forth.
On several occasions he had tried
the rear doors of both theaters and
found them easily opened by a slight
push from the inside. However in
case of panic he feared that there
was danger because of the fact that
the stage was much higher than the
rear platform and the danger was
great of women and children falling at
this place. These suggestions were re-
ferred TO the various committees under
whose authorities they came. Moth
ing definate was done in regard to the
slot machine.
| Alderman Risley said that it made
him tired and out of patience that the
mayor and marshal did not stop the
gambling in the city as they had all
authority necessary, in their hands.
There was no excuse for them allow
ing it the way it has been in the past.
Alderman Welk stated that the poll
tax question had already been thrash
ed out several times. He believed in
a man paying his honest debts but he
did not believe poll taxes were honest
debts.
Alderman Jacobs replied that poll
taxes brought in several hundred dol
lars wear and that he believed it tC
> be a legal tax. AS to the curfew il
: should not be condemned entirely as
it did considerable good in the city.