The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-07-04
CITY COUNCIL NOTES.

sion Saturday evening so that the
saloon licensees who filed their appli-
,ations late would have their license
Monday morning, Jnly i.
Sixty-four licenses were granted
There are three more applications on
lie. This will be six saloons less than
asst year
Chief Kratz reported that conditions
ire serious in his department. 1t is
impossible to keep men with the
wages fixed for year when wages in
he city industries are soaring. Six
men, including all his good drivers
nave quit and two more are planning
o go. He has ten men, force wholly
inadequate and cannot get men. So:1e
plan will have to be evolved to raise
he pay of firemen or the city may
lave to go back to the volunteers OF
Village days fifty years ago.
The council met In regular session
Monday evening and transacted some
important business. All members were
present.
Three important changes in the city
government were adopted by ordin
g noes. The newly adopted general
harter requires that the city's two
,ublic utilities shall be under the
management of the Board If Public
: Works Oh commission to be composed
I the mayor and an sldermsn and three
ther citizens chosen by the council
The council chose the commission
Ian and the personnel of the comms-
ion will probably be decided at the
ext meeting. The attorney ruled the
hree other citizens may be aldermen
nd it is not improbable that the city
,ublic utility commission will be the
mayor and four aldermen.
A second change was the adoption of
n ordinance abolishing sewer districts.
he city will hereafter be unit for
ever taxation purposes. This has
cen debated for many years. Nienau.
er of the first ward alone voted mo,
oicing the oft heard argument that
be down town wards have installed
nd paid for their sewers and would
low be required to help pay for the
ewers of the outlying wards.
A third change was the authorizing
the addition of two aldermen to the
}oard OF Public Works, making it a
ody vi i've. Uader the old charter
he engineer, attorney and clerk made
o the board. The chairmen of the
ouncil's committees on sanitation and
treets will Now be members also.
A bomb shell was exploded when
here was read an opinion of the At
orney general of the state to the effect
hat the city fire and police commission
as no authority to grant the chief of
olice leave Of absence, and that he
snnot maintain his rights in the pen
ion fund nor contribute toward il, ex-
ept as a gift. while on such leave en-.
aged in another occupation. The
hief secured the leave at the solicits
ion o. the U. S. government secret
ervce, to enable him to organize and
irect the police force at the shipbuild-
ng yards where ships are in process OF
uilding for the government He has
here about so men In his police force.
he opinion holds that the chief has
OF abandoned the office as he has
learly evidenced an intention not to
O so, but he must get back soon.
What chief Groffman will do has not
cen announced. Asst. chief Trochlell
as been acting chief in his absence.
Latsr-The Mayor received the fol-
owing letter from Chief Groffman on
Wednesday,:
"Having been served with notice by
our City Attorney to come and take
barge of the Police Department as
'hef at once or the position would be
ecared vacant, | cannot comply with
= his request at the present time for the
blowing reason: | gave my services to
he United States Shipping Board at
he request OF Government Officials and
hat was for the duration of the war,
md accepted the ruling of your Com
Mission In good faith. AS your Chief
Police, have endeavored to give
he city faithful and efficient service
"Manitowoc is my place of birth and
by home and | love it as such, but my
uty to my country Is greater than to
he City OF Manitowoc, consequently |
lect TO serve Uncle Samuel as long as
Q needs my services, no matter where
r in what capacity"
The vacancy In the office OF city clerk
aused by the enlistment of clerk staff.
or was not filled and deputy clerk
filler was left in charge temporarily.
The owners of land on the left bank
the river between Park and Chicago
treets who lately offered river frontage
feet wide to the city to escape dock.
az expense raised the offer to 35 feet
ut the council was undecided. The
hreat that owners up river will be in
nth similar proposition and the
igh estimated cost of dock ing induced
he council to defer action.
The city engineers sewer records
,ere right and Plumber Phalen's was
,rong in dispute as TO whether u
i swer "Yh was In certain place on
ivision street. The street commits