Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-18

The writer was at first skeptical as
to the advantage of the proposed
change, but signed the petition TO
submit the question 10 vote Of the
people in order that the subject
might be discussed on its merits.
Before the vote was taken it be
came evident that the whole people
of the city were awake On the sub
ject, and that the move was not in
the interest of any party or faction,
but that the sentiment had been
growing among all classes Of people,
regardless Of financial standing or
connection with business interests,
churches or societies.
The proposal to adopt the commits
sion government was accepted by a
majority so great as to do away
with al doubt as to the state OF pub
lie sentiment.
During the canvass for the cleo
ton of mayor and councilmen, while
there were a large number of candi-
dates in the field, the question of
politics was not heard, and no spec
ial claims were made, nor were any
definite pledges asked by the church
or temperance people, by the organ
lied labor element or by the liquor
interests, either the brewers and
wholesale dealers or by the saloon
keepers, The word was the same eY-
erywhere. "All We want is a good,
progressive businesslike city gov
eminent, if we can have that, no hon
est man will have a right to com
plain"
The election passed quietly and
the result seemed to give general sat
isfaction. Of course there was some
opposition to the whole movement by
those who were opposed to the change
as a matter of principle, and by
others who objected to some details
of the law, and thought the time was
not ripe for change and that it
was likely to be a costly and dan
gerOus experiment.
The men elected to office were as
follows:
John B. Fleming, a lawyer, for the
| office of mayor for the term of six
years, with a yearly salary of $500.
Robert K. Boyd, real estate deal
er, for the office of councilman, for
four years, salary $4,000.
John Huebsch, proprietor of a
laundry, councilman for two years,
salary $4,000.
! These men took charge of the city
on April 10, 1910, and found the
finances of the city under temporary
embarrassment, but by no means in
q hopeless condition. In other re,
spects the interests OF the city seem
ed to be in good hands, the fire and
police departments were under the
management of faithful. men and
| there was no lawIess element tC
make trouble for the new officials.
The bad financial condition was
owing to the fact that the old coun,
ell had, in July of the previous year
paid a bond issue of $4,000 fol-
| which no sinking fund had been pro-
vided. The money to pay these
bonds had been borrowed from the
| banks, and in December when taxes
We're collected the payment of this
debt and of money borrowed for 9th,
er expenditures, largely reduced the
amount in the treasury. owing tC
this and to the fact that the tax
! levy of that year was unusually low
the officials of the new city govern.
ment found almost an empty treas,
TRY in April, just when the years
work was about to commence.
In justice to the previous admins
tration it may be said that it was
their intention to issue new bonds
to replace the money used to pay the
old debt, but the conditions We're
such that the new bonds could not
be sold. The new council made nc
attempt to sell these bonds, believing
that it would be better business pol
icy to keep the bonded debt at the
lowest possible figure and run the
risk of being short of money during
the season.
The following statement will show