Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-04-22
MAYOR COOKS MESSAGE

| GentIemen OF tho City Council:
Having been called by q vote Of the peo.
| pie 20 preside over your honorable body ,anC
TO execute the duties of Mayor Of this city
! can only promise that will endeavor hon
estly and impartially to perform them
My legislative experience has been bat lit
tie, and it Is to be expected that shall a.
times be in error in decisions Of question,
which may arise in the course of your de
liberations. In such eases, gentlemen, beg
you to believe it an "error of the head. and
not Of the heart"
Under our charter the whole duty and re
sponsibilitv oflegislation for the cityis vest
ed in the Board of Alderman, and to them,
and not to the Mayor, must the citizens
look for such wise and judicious legislation
as shall best subserve the great end of the
greatest good to the greatest number"
1t is only in case Of tie vote that the
Mayor can interfere in the matter of legisla.
tion further than by mere recommendation
The laws once passed, it becomes the duty
of the Mayor to see that they are executed
This duty shall endeavor to perform.
refer to this matter because an opinion,
find, ia quite to prevalent among our citi.
zens that the Mayor is responsible to the
public in great measure, for the acts of the
City Council, over which he presides, than
which TO greater delusion exists in regard
to legislative matters.
The Mayor is required by the city chart
er to communicate to the City Council such
information, and recommend such measures
as in his opinion may tend to the improve
ment of tie finances tho police, the health,
security, comfort, and ornament of the city.
By reference to the Treasurer's report,
made near the close of the last administra-
ton, it will be found that the expenditures
for the last year have been very large; and
that, unfortunately t hey have exceeded the
receipts, entirely absorbing the balance in
the Treasury ON the lst Of April, 1857, and
leaving floating debt against the city of
twenty five thousand dollars or upwards,
the greater part of which is now due, and
much Of it owing to persons who are lily
able to get along without it.
The receipts for the past year from all
sources, as stated by the Treasurer. is S275,-
1856. The expenditures for the same time
Leaving a balance due, and to become due
during the present year. of s24,65l ,33.
The amount of outstanding city orders for
current expenc g and street work is estima
ted at S5,4OO, and for macadamizing about
$4,000 am inclined to think this amount
rather under estimated than otherwise
The amount of orders drawn on time is
stated at S6.e3O23. knew Of one order
at least, and think there are more, either
issued or ordered by the Council to be is
sued, that is not included in the report, and
that there are some judgments against the
city also, not included.
| think that it is safe to estimate the
floating debt Of the city now at least at
$27 900.
There are also other sums to become due
on outstanding contracts when completed,
the amount of which am not able to state
of this time During the year the city will
have to provide for the interest upon the
per cent, $2O,s5O.
The finance committee estimate the cur
rent expenses Of the past year at S2l ,2O7. 81,
and if they connot be considerable reduced,
they must be stated for the present year at
least at $4,000.
Then gentlemen, you have TO provide for
at least $4,000 during the present year,
aside from any outstanding contracts to be
performed and paid for, and aside from any
work upon the streets not contracte for.
Let us see what will probably be the or
dinary revenue for the current year. l es-
innate the taxable property. if fairly assess
ed, will amount to six millions cf dollars
upon which you are authorized to lew q
tax of five mills, which will produce $40
900.
From other sources, such as licences, fines
DC, about $4,000.
One dividend of five per cent on Chica.
60 and Rock Island Railroad stock, s2,4S5
From the amounts due the city for mac
adamizing, balance Of the tax list of 1857,
for making sidewalks, DC, Sc, 900. do not
think the city will collect during the pres.
ent year an amount exceeding
This leaves upon the most favorable esti
mate that have been able to make, at least
$4,000 to be provided for in some ether
way.
have not taken into this account. the
tar that may be levied for road purposes,
as the law evidently contemplates that that
fund shall be applied exclusively to the
streets. 1t may, however, be we'll question
ed, whether the Council could not proper
ly apply 20 much of that fund - NAV be
necessary to pay up the arresrages Of the
past year, due for street work but if done,
very little, if any, work could be author
lied and paid for upon the streets during
the present year.
l have thus. gentlemen, placed before
you, in brief, the financial state of the city,
the probable amount required during the
year, and the probable receipts from the or.
dinary sources of revenue; and it will be
incumbent upon you to provide the ways
and means for the deficiency; for l assume
ct once that our constituents expect % te
pay the debts Of the city and the current
expsases Of the ysAs.
1e xs.s: l:lisy 60 pssa!hly = saspseI