Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-01-28
The City Cou neil.

If NOV OE LEGAL AClION
1900
The City Coun
From the libels which the Gazette
il in the habit Of circulating respect
ing the City Council, a stranger would
suppose that our City Fathers are q
very unpopular and disreputabIe body
Of men, whose society it were q mark
Of gentility to avoid. In that he
would be much deceived. The citi-
gems Of Davenport are happy in the
consciousness Of possessing q council, rs
efficient and honest As any in the
Union. We have known Councils,
whose most striking popularity was
decent debility, to pass through a term
Of two years without doing anything
to excite opposition or w censure,
but such bodies do no good in their
day and generation and leave no name
behind them. We venture to say that
the present Council will DO recognized
for years to come as tho ablest and most
useful body which ever convened in
this city. When our Aldermen en-
tered upon the discharge Of their
duties, they began to labor for the city,
and at once inauguratcd the era Of i'm
provement. Since April last Daven-
port has undergone almost a metamor-
phosis, and combining the embelIish-
ments Of cultivation with natural beau
ty is now the handsomest city in the
Mississippi Valley. For all that has
been done, we arc indebted to the
present Council. Until the late Fire
Ordinance was passed and the bill of
Alderman Ramming rejected, the only
opposition to tho Council came from
those old fogies who were afraid VIC
were progressing too fast, but, Of late,
certain interested parties, with 4 view
to the spring election, have endeavor-
ed to excite the bitterest hostility
against certain members of the board.
To be sure they have miserably and in
gloriously failed, but no less deserve
the unsparing condemnation Of all
good citizens. That the Council were
right in their course in both of the
above transactions few sensible men
now doubt.
One of the most deservedly popular
gentlemen in the Council is Alderman
Scars Of the 9Th Ward. Active, we'll
informed and indcfatigable as a COM
mitteman, clear, pointed and concise as
. speaker, he has done IS much good
service to the city IS any Of his COM
peers. MI. Sears deserves we'll of the
city and his party. Mr.. Cannon, as a
bold, manly and industrious member
Of the Council, who dares do what he
thinks right, and to speak his mind in
forcible Saxon English, has been ex-
tremely useful and efficient. Al
though in ameasurc q political opponcnt
We feel bouudte commend his course a.
IN alderman. Alderman Jennings Of
the Let Ward, has acquired during
his term . we'll deserved popularity
which speaks well for the future. Mr..
Jeuings has some years Of public ser
vice before him after he leaves the
Council. Of Mr.. O'Brien, steady, sure,
solid and substantial, those who know
him entertain but one opinion. There
i not . more honest man in theC oun-
Gil than James O'Brien and We would
rely on his judgment with the utn oct
confidence. Aid. Bowling, once May
o., and ever . faithful public officer,
does the service Of younger man.
A day in the Council will satisfy any
man that NJ. Bowling has the will
and knows the way to be . model
councilman. The age, experience and
judgement Of John Forest have given
him . poaition in the board which he
deserves. Al Mayor pro tenn. he dis
charged his duties to the satisfaction Of
everybody. Mr.. Forest, as one Of the
Oldest inhabitantA knows the wants of
Davenport - we'll y any gentlemen in
the city.i Mr. Hubbell, during his brief
term in the Council, has made his
mark = IN eaergetic and able man.
The Fire Ordinance was drafted by
him, and tho prejudice and ignorance
ny miaconstrus his motives, We bid
Nh bias ~ time. ard u thirty day.,
- thansslvsl vii admit hs i
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