Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-09-16
The Burlrsque City Council.
PROG hess OF THE FARCE.
Tho NJ. 4 NJ. =. B. and Fifth st.
Speeches, PROCEEDINGS, InciAenss, etc.

Inc CeI6DI0tcu l8ICC VI AuC DuTICSvu'
Council or the City Dads in Trouble" wa
repeated at the Council Chamber YESTERDAY
afternoon. to large and admiring audience
That part of the farce where that injunc
tion" drops down upon the crowd Of leeche
who surround the heavily loaded tax pay e
and rsscues the intended victim, was o
usual received with thunders Of applause
The curtain arose promptly at two O
clock, the Mayor in the chair and Aid
Coates acting as secretary pro tenn.
The reading of the minutes Of the las
meeting was dispensed with.
PETITIONS
being then in order, Aid. Hubbell offered 4
petition from the laborers engaged in build
ing culvert on Perry street, for an in
crease Of pay to one dollar per day. cn &C
count of the great personal danger to which
they we're exposed. he also offered q resolu
ton with the prayer.
Aid Sears opposed the resolution. and
Aid Macintosh mOvedto refer to commit
tee to report.
Carried
RESIGNATION OF CHIEF OF POLICE.
A communication from H. w. Mitchell,
Chief of Police. resigning his Office was then
read by the Mayor.
The resignation was accepted.
NEW CHIEv OF POLICE.
AID Hubbell then moved that William
Trout be appointed in his place
Carried.
A petition from J. N. D. Burrows for i'm
provement on the street past his house was
referred to q special committee, with
power to act.
AID. Ramming then offered a petition
from II. G. Davis, for leave to grade Main st.
near the Waverly House. so as to prevent
water from running in his cellar.
Granted. The work to be done at his
own expense. and under direction of the
City Engineer.
Aid. Ramming then read petition Of
Claus Steffen. who represented that he
graded and laid sidewalk to the amount of
$50, and wanted it deducted from his taxes.
ONE OF AID. SEARS OUTSIDE ARRANGEMENTS.
Aid. Sears then stated that he had made
an arrangement with the petitioner, by
which he was allowed to grade and lay
this sidewalk and to wait year for HE
pay. The work had not been done accord
ing to agreement and the year was not yet
up. Laid on the table.
THE AMOUNT or TAXES COLLECTED.
The report Of the Marshal was then read,
stating the amount of taxes collected by
him during the month of August to be Sl3.-
22Sl2.
FIFTH STREET AND THE NJ d MR.R. OPINION or
TIE CITY ATTY. AGAINST THE R. r. co.
The City Attorney then read long and
elaborate opinion, for the publication we
have not space today. upon the q uestion Of
the right of the Rail Road to use 5th Street.
He came to the conclusion, that the Ordin-
ances allowing the use of the street for the
laying of track, were utterly void, the Coun-
Gil having no power to enact them.
Aid. Hubbell moved that the report be
received, adopted and printed with the pro-
ceedings.
Aid. Sears, moved to strike out the word
adopted.
Aid. Hubbell said if there was no authori-
ty for the use Of theistreet by the Rail Road
he was in favor Of having the track taken
up at once 1t would be proper after the
manner in which the company had acted to-
wards the city. After they had got the
bonds and subscriptions of the city of Da-
venport, they at once discontinued operation
On the main line of the road and were now
building various branches about from other
places to the direct injury of the city. We
had been shamefully treated by the Rail
Road company, and he believed in frighten-
ing them to do justice.
The ayes and nays on the vote on the
striking out Of the word adopted, being call
3D.
Aid. Sears, Coates. Morely, Macintosh,
and Washburn, (5) voted in the affirmative,
and AID. Andersen. Ramming, Hubbell,
OBrien and Christie in the negative (s.)
THE MAYOR ON TIE r. R. QUESTION.
There being . tie, it devolved upou the
Mayor to throw the casting vote which he
did in the affirmative. striking out the word
adopted" and leaving the Council with
out having taken any position on the ques-
lion.
The question recurring upon the rssolu-
ton Of Aid. Hubbell as amended.
Aid. Washburn opposed the resolution o.
be did dot want the matter agitated at pres
snt He did not think that the printing Ct
he City Attorney report would do any
good and would only produce agitation.
AID. nuBBE1L ON THE RAIIRoAp.
Aid. Hubbell wanted to know Why this
vas not the time. He thought it was Just
The time and no better could be selected
What had the Mississippi 4 Missouri rail
road, done to arouse the philanthropy OF
The gentleman. They we're doing nothing
Tor the city Of Davenport, but much for
other place. The petition referred to the
City Attorney and upon which this report
was made had been signed by 500 citizens
Of Davenport, and they had . right to know
what the opinion Of the City Attorney WA
If there was an illegal contract. he believed
In taking advantages Of 1t. since the COM
pany had turnsd the cold shoulder to the
city. (Ths Mayor smilsa) Your Honor
may laugh bat this 10 the policy. He was
In favor Of repsaling al the ordinances.
granting them the right to lay their track
on Filth street. He did not believe in smo-
thering the opinion Of The City Attorney,