The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-04-10
WHAT THE COUN-
CILMEN GOT
CONTINUED from Page l

OF submitting t1guEeS, yet this privilege
was denied, it being stated that Mr..
Fluck was to order the ceiling, and
again the taxpayers has no way OF
knowing if the work could have been
done for less. e
In the case of the cemetary build
ing Mr.. Fluck and Mr.. Martinson
must have directed the purchase of
the material, a part which was pur-
chased from Mr.. Fluck and they
must also have had supervision of the
work done, large part of which was
done by Mr.. Martinson. With this
condition existing how is the taxpayer
to know if the building could have
been erected for less.
We have shown where two city
orders were issued for larger amounts
than the claims called for, a part Of
the amount being for bills which had
been attached by a'member of the
finance committee, yet there has been
no return of the money to the city,
the sum above the amount of the
claim having been paid to Mr.. Fluck
as his share. The city is entitled to
receive this amount which is $94.9O
and then if Mr.. Fluck has claim
against the city he should be COM
PEELED to present his claims separately
and have them acted upon in the
regular manner.
The council as it is now made up is
so arranged that the bulk of the
business done is done by three or
tour members. 1t is up to the mayor
to re-arrange his council and this
will now have to be done in order to
give places for the new aldermen
elected this spring. All of the. work
of the council should, not be divided
so that it will pass through the hands
of few but should be divided even
ly. Under the conditions existing
during the past year three or four
members directed the work, ordered
the material and then approved of
the claims. There. seem ed to be very
little check upon them.
1t is only few weeks ago that E.
Bergman, becoming disguised with
the way things were running. re-
fused to sell goods to, the city on
credit, claiming the business to be
undesirable. During. the year he
received only about $1,000 for the
material which he sold.to the city,
and this came in such small amounts
that he says that ID was hardly worth
the time that it took to make out the
statements and further business was
refused when the work of repairing
the city dock was started. The street
foreman in purchasing supplies,
could not do otherwise for he pur-
chased where the committee directed,
otherwise the supplies needed were
divided about evenly.
This condition of affairs has been
running this way altogether too long
and it is time that halt was being
called. In our articles we have en-
deavored to show just what has been
done and we have relied almost alto
gether upon the official records for
the material for our articles. So far
we have failed to hearsef anyone try
ing to dispute our figures.
Every member ofthe council should
wake up to his duties and keep better
watch on work being done and if this
is done there would not be need
for complaint later on. Taxpayers
should interest themselves more in
city affairs and see to. the election of
men on the council that could be re-
lied upon to guard the city S interests
at all times.
Where there is more interest taken
in city government there is less apt
to be mistakes made. ~.