Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1920-04-21
CITY DouNCIL PROCEEDINGS,

! Adjourned meeting Of the City Coun-
Gil. Mayor Wellin called the meeting
| to order.
The following named members of the
Council were present on roll call:
| Mayor Wellin, Aldermen c. F.. Olson,
Hoaglund Nelson, Brown, Jensen, c.
S. Olson and Bjornberg, 8; absent, AL
| derman Scott, l.
| City Attorney Stanford also was
present
The minutes Of the regular meet
ings held March 22nd, 1920, and April
18th, 1920, were read and the same
| We're approved.
| Mayor Wellin at this time extended
his thanks to the Council for the CO.
| operation and courtesies shown him
during the past year. which had now
| come to a close.
| The minutes of this meeting were
then read and approved, and the Coun-
Gil. on motion. adjourned sine die.
E. c. WELLIN, Mayor.
Hans Gunderson, City Clerk.
Council Chambers, City Hall Build
ing, Willmar, Minnesota April 18th,
1920 at o'clock D. m.
Annual meeting of the new City
Council.
Hon. George Muller, Judge of the
Municipal Court, administered the Oath
of Office to Victor E. Lawson, the newly
elected Mayor, whereupon Mayor Law
son delivered the following message:
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen of the City Council and
Fellow Citizens: In assuming the
duties of the office of Mayor of the
City of Willmar, I do so with the
knowledge that the honor came to me
without any desire for it on my part.
1t was with extreme reluctance that
| gave permission that my name
might be presented at the City Con-
vention. Some of my friends even
accused me of supporting by oppon-
ent in the election. I have no feel
ing of personal antagOnism to him
nor to anyone who felt that the best
interest of the City would be served
by his election. But the people hav-
ing spoken, l bow to the will of the
majority, and there will henceforth
be no hating or hesitation on my
part to attempt to carry out their
wishes as I understand them.
Direct Primary Recommended.
The City of Willmar enjoys the
/ reputation of being one of the most
/ progressive towns of the State. Let
Il us keep her in the vanguard. The
eAAAAS ~ 1APS LII ouOpCAA6 o1lQp1S
\ direct primary election provision
| which would give our people without
II additional expense greater freedom
/ in selecting citizens to represent
| them in the City Government A
/ means can easily be provide by which
/ the best fitted men could be drafted
into service, and the voter would al
\ ways have a choice between two
| candidates for every Office at the
4 City election. Back up such a pro-
H vision with a public sentiment that
/ would eliminate from consideration
Il self seekers and frown on all who
Il would spend money to secure their
Il own election, and the result would
Il be interesting annual elections with.
Il out the bitterness which such con.
II tests sometimes create. I recon-
Il mend to the Charter Commission
4 (now existing or to be appointed)
/ that it drafts and submits for adop.
/ ton provision giving us a simple
4 direct primary.
II Charter Revision Needed
Il There is need of revision or ampli
II fication of the City Charter in other
respects, to fit our present needs
II For instance, our assessor is given
Il only very few weeks each year in
which to list and appraise the val
ue of property to be taxed. It is a
Il physical impossibility for him to dc
II the work properly in the time pre-
III scribed and the result is hurried
!! work with resultant imperfections
and loss to the City. Again there are
= restrictions in compensation and eli
gibility in the Charter which some
X times make it impossible to secure
n efficient service in the departments
Before another year passes our good
q women will undoubtedly share in full
with the men in participation in pub
lie affairs and charter revision al
: this time would give opportunity fol
means in our organic law by which
they could achieve in a local way
their ideas of home protection and
public Improvement.
Increase Of Taxes.
We are facing a great problem in
the matter of increased taxation. The
absolute necessity of our public
schools next year will require many
thousands of dollars additional over
former years for payment of salaries
alone. Some increases will be neces
sary in the departments controlled
| ny tAC SAIy- NOuuCA Ndy AL
these will help make up the tax rate
for next year. The utmost care and
economy must be practiced, but our
city is growing fast, and necessary
needs must be provided for It may
be possible to coordinate some OF
the salaried positions of the different
departments, and l suggest that the
Council take ample time to investi
gate what can be done along this line
before organizing the work for the
year.
In the levying of taxes the home
builder should be encouraged as fa1
as possible under existing laws, and
increasing assessments made on pro-
perty held for speculation. The man
who pays the largest sum in taxes is
not always the heaviest taxpayer
have in mind men who pay little OF
nothing directly into the City treas
ury but work early and late to pro-
vide for the needs of large family
very important part of our future
country and city, and in that sense
he is a heavy tax payer
The Municipal Plant.
Our municipal water and light plant
has stood as mighty giant for pub,
lie service and as a steadying influ'
ence in the finances of the City since
it was first built. Whether or not ad.
ministered by men who believe in the
underlying principles of municipal
ownership it has commanded and re-