The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-03-28

Mayor Williams suggested that IL the
council had started in the trust bust
ing business, there were other ave.
nues locally along which il might ex-
ercise itself, with profit to the peo-
pie. The mayor stated that the coun.
Gil had alaready camped on the train
of q few. Mr.. Williams suggested
that the mayor might find work for
the county attorney along that line
this summer and Mr.. Reynolds admit.
ted the possibility. Mayor Reynolds
intiamted that some ''prevarication"
had been INDUCED somewhere con-
corning the attitude he had assumed
in the picture case. The inference
was resented by the former executive
of the city and squat appeared on
the horizon of the session for a mo.
ment. Statements were made, how
ever, that cleared the atmosphere and
the matter now stands much in tho
same light it did before the meeting,
1t was said that the picture trust had
been dissolved but some of the
members of the council thought 9th.
erwise and said so.
Taxes.
Numerous tax matters now Occu.
pied the attention of the council. AS
sessment Of the George A. SEEK prop.
erty was reduced from $4,000 to
$4,000, upon personal application.
Valuation of Andy Stanton's cor
ner lot, sixty feet square, at the cor
ner of Fifth avenue and b street,
was reduced from $4,000 to $4,000.
Mrs. Mahala Clear, eighty years of
age, soldiers widow, asked for ex.
emption. No action.
J. w. Russell aged AZ, assessed
with road tax, asked for abatement.
The council so recommended to the
county officials
Mrs. J. f. Roberts, No. sos South
Market street, has a little property
upon which mortgage rests. She was
exempted by vote.
Fletcher Norris asked that valu-
alton of property on Sixth avenue
east be reduced from 100000 to 81
10000. The council let the present
valuation stand.
Special investigation is to be made
into the petition for relief presented
some time ago by Charles Dean.
More Walks.
l.. r. RoSebrook asked for relief
from work done by the city in grad.
ing near his place and an outlet to-
ward X avenue. The street commits
sioner will take up the matter.
Water Company Scored.
In explanation to the auditing
committee of the bills that would be
presented for the labor and material
on the First avenue sewer which
was closed a couple of weeks ago
and opened by the city at consider
able expense, Campfield made some
statements stating that the engineer
would prepare an estimate of the pro.
portion of the bills that should be
met by the Peoples Water Company
Complaint was made of the attitude
Of the Water Company in connection
with some of the details of this piece
of work and also with reference to
the digging in the streets and the
opening of holes by company en-
pi0yes without the required permit
from the city. Holes have been op.
ened by the Water Company, it was
alleged, that had not been filed or
properly cared for A committee of
the council will visit the officials of
the Water Company for a conference
and notice will he served of the re-
qnirements of the city in regard to
the opening of trenches.
"Where Are We At"
Mayor Reynolds next informed the
council that ut is a condition that
confronts us, not a theory" He stat.
ed that with the closing of the sa-
looms on Saturday evening of this
week the income of the city would
be reduced about fifteen thousand
dollars a year. In the make up of
the appropriations for the next twelve
months this item is to be taken into
account and measures and means of
meeting the deficiency provided He
desired the matter carefully consid.
cred by tn members before the meet.
ing OF the next Monday evening. This
opened a general discussion of the
subject of the saloon problem that
was generally INDUCED by the coun.
Gil members.
Mayor Reynolds asked where the
council members would make elimi-
nation and among the suggestions Of
fered were the following.
Cut out the $4,000 a month for the
sweeping of the streets.
Discontinue street work
Clip Off 100000 from the light bill
and come within the allowance of the
levy. Reduce the number of lights.
DO away with the police patrol.
Reduce the police force.
Cut out the city health officer.
Reduce salaries of men employed
by the city and elected to office.
Abandon all grading work and dis.
pose of teams.
These and other suggestions were
taken up in turn as mentioned and
were discussed pro and con.
Mayor Reynolds stated that Oska-
loosa could not afford to stop in her
march of progress. To stop for one
year meant a back-set of ten years.
Let the improvements contemplated
proceed. The people desire to see