Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-06-01
LIBRARY
MAY CLOSE
AT LA CROSSE
Legal Tangle Involves Quasi-Public
Institution in River City.
(By United Press Association. }

| tates between rival factions armed
with threats of injunctions, the pub
lie library is on the verge of closing
its doors; bridges on the only high
way leading to La Crosse from Min
nesota are lettering and city officials
are drawing reduced salaries as the
result of a strange tangle of legal
technicalities.
Included in the ramifications of the
| situation is court decision which
threatens to stamp out scores of
county fairs, livestock and crop asso-
Citations throughout the state.
'The illegal payment deadlock" as
the situation is known here, dates
back to last autumn, when Mayor A.
A. Bentley, City Clerk E. H. Hoffman,
Comptroller w. J. Fries and Treasur-
er George w. Young, badgered by
| threats of an injunction from persons
opposed to appropriations passed by
the council, issued a statement saying
that they would no longer sign orders
on the treasury for any payment a
bout which there was any question of
legality.
The city, for many years, has been
supporting several quasi-public insti-
buttons, chief among them being the
La Crosse public library. This insti-
tuition received about $4,000 a year
from the city and about $4,000 from
the endowments of the late General
Washburn who founded it. 1t was
governed by self -perpetuating board
of trustees.
Recently it was held by the courts
that as the institution is not controll-
ed by the public, it is not entitled to
public support.
In another case the manufacturers
and jobbers club organized shippers
association to conduct a campaign a
gainst high freight rates. They in
vited the city to join by paying $500
initiation fees. The council passed
the appropriation, putting the matter
up to the mayor and his associates
AS responsibility for payment of
the amount, should it be successfully
contested, would fall upon them per-
sonally, they hesitated. Members of
the shipping association served no
tice that if the appropriation was not
signed they would obtain an injunc-
ton restraining the library appropria-
ton.
The officials were up stump and
issued the ultimatum. Results were
not slow in coming The trustee of
the library sued to compel the city to
pay their appropriation. Judge Hlg-
bee ruled that as the institution was
not publicly controlled, although with
public purpose, it was entitled to
public aid. This decision, if upheld
| by the supreme court, to which 1t has
| been taken by trustees of the library
will cut off state appropriations for
| fairs, associations and many other
enterprises which now are receiving
state aid.
The library kept its doors open by
borrowing money.
AS a result Of the attitude of the
city officials two members of the
board Of public works, who had their
salaries raised, were put back at their
| e ~ fIT
attorney ruled that it was illegal to
raise their pay while in office. One of
| them, Fred Schnell, has refused to
accept the reduced checks and threat
ems to resign and force the city to the
| expense of another election.
Recently a sign was posted on the
bridges on the highway to La Cres-
cent, Mimi, disclaiming municipal re-
5ponsibility for any accidents which
might occur on the pike.
The road and bridge built by the
city of La Crosse thirty years ago
and although in territory outside the
state, have been maintained by the
| Guy. Inc IOdu ID Vic OiIiy highway
between Minnesota and Wisconsin
from Winona, Mimi, to McGregor
Ia.
The bridges are so shally that they
threaten to collapse anytime, accord
ing to members of the board of trade
At a fiery mass meeting at which
speakers dared anyone to object to
expenditure of money for repairs or
the Minnesota highway, the board OF
trade adopted resolution calling up
On the council to repair the bridges
As a climax to the whole affair {
contractor served notice on the mayor
that he would seek an injunction a
gainst city officials and held them per,
sonally responsible if any money wa:
spent on the road in Minnesota. The
, officials retired behind their ultima
, tum and the deadlock frightened an
; other notch, where it stands at pres
ent.