The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-02-24
Council Back SOmer-
sauIts When Ringmaster
Cracks the Whip
HAVE CITY CLERK MAKE
CHANGE IN RECORDS

Council Members Have a New
Vision of Their Actions
After They Have Time to
Think Matter Over.
"My Home Town is One Man
Town But it's Good Enough For Me-"
City Council.
The city of Washburn's Zone ring
circus" with its performers and ring
master staged another performance
on Saturday evening of last week,
the show having been convened for
the purpose of taking up several
legal matters pertaining to the pur-
chase of the plants of the Wash
burn Water, Works company and the
Washburn Electric Light & Power
empany, and also to give the coun-
ell opportunity to reverse itself on
. question passed at the meeting
held on the first Tuesday in February.
The amusement part of the pro-
gram consisted of complete back
somersault on the part of the coun-
Gil when the ringmaster cracked the
whip, and a complete change in the
complexion of a motion passed at the
previous meeting, pertaining to the
payment of claim against the city
presented by the Gray Robinson Con-
struction company and E. M. Sche-
flow.
This matter came up before the
Council at their meeting held OH
Tuesday, Feb. 3rd, in the form OF
report by a committee consisting OF
Nels Nelson, Fred Anderson and A.
p. johnson. The committee, in their
report, recommended that the coun-
Gil accept the proposition for payment
as outlined in the report, whereby
the city was to pay fifty per cent
of the original assessment against
the lots against which there was liti-
cation. After considerable discus
sion in which the Mayor stated his
views in the matter motion was
finally made by Frank Gray, Alder
man of the 3rd ward, and seconded
by Charles Olson, Alderman of the
End ward, that the city pay the
amount as set forth in the report.
The motion was carried, Alderman
r Thompson and, Bryan voting in the
negative. Upon the passage of the
motion the Mayor inquired of Act
ing City Attorney C. F. Morris as to
the length of time in which ne had
to veto the claim, upon which point
he was informed.
The Clerks records of this tran
saction was as follows: (From the
City Records) "The special commit
tee appointed to investigate the sew
er litigation in re: Gray-Robinson
Construction Company and E. M.
Schefiow recommended that the city
pay fifty per cent of the original as
sessment against the lots in litiga-
ton. The motion was carried on
roll call, Nine Yes, Two No. The
report of the committee was placed
on file." The roll call record on
this motion as made by the Clerk
was Ayes: Olson, Swanson, Swanby,
Gray. Nelson, Haugen, Anderson,
johnson, Oie No: Bryan, Thomp-
son.
The acting City Clerk E. N.
Oistad issued the check in payment as
ordered by the City Council, but the
Mayor refused to sign the city war
rant and mandamus proceedings
were started by Attorney A. W..
Macleod, acting for the contractors,
to compel the Mayor to sign the
warrant.
When it came to the reading OF
the minutes of the previous meeting
on Saturday night the Mayor stated
to the Council that the minutes were
not in accordance with the proceed
inps of the council and he had drawn
: change to take the place, the
change being as follow: Report
OF the OOmmlIIeS W HifCo0iSe'oS S
sewer constructed by Gray Hobln-
son and E. M. Schefow, which re-
port upon being read by the Clerk,
the Mayor ruled that the nature and
amount involved in the report We're
such that the report should be treated
under the same rule as a resolution
or ordinance. The motion was there
for on the suspension of the rules,
those voting in the affirmative were
eight, with three nc Aldermen
Swanson, Hans Thompson and
Bryan voting no."
Taking action on this it was or
dered by the Council, after consider
Abe discussion Ga number OF the
Council members having forgotten
how they voted that these be plae-
ed In the minutes of the council
Under the council rules the mat
ter was laid over to second read
ing st the next meeting.
What really happened at the Feb.
3rd meeting was this: After pass
ing the motion pertaining to the
payment of the contractors on. the
sewer Job, report and resolution
n