Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-01-22
PRESENT.
HIS HON, THE MAYOR.

Committee to whom was referred the ar
/ dinance relating to the fire department. re-
/ port an ordinance therefor. A
AID. Bowling moved to lay on the tab--
ill the next regular meeting. and have IT,
,ame printed with the proc ceedings
! Carried.
! Committee on petition of Davenport &c ~
Artillery for an Arrnory. report and offer
the following resolution:
Resolued, That committee of three AL
derrnen be appointed, by the Mayor. with
! power to procure a suitable arrnorv for the
use Of he military companies Of Dave nport,
proviued the annual expenditure for the use
Of such armory shall not exceed the sum OF
/ four hundred dollars
JAMES N; BowLrsc, Com
JoBs c. WAsHpuRs, oo'n
On motion the report was received and
ordered filed.
Resolution laid on the table till next
meeting.
Aid. Washburn, committee to whom was
! referred the remamblo and resolutions Of
publc meeting in the I'd ward, reports as
follows:
Report was received and ordered printed,
and to lay on the table till next meeting
TO the Honorable. the Mayor and City Coan-
eli Of tie C,tyof Davenport:
The undersigned to whom was referred
the preamble and resolutions, passed at a
public meeting of the citizens Of Davenport,
held at Lurchin's shall, on the Sth inst, aud
by AID Guellch submitted to this Council,
beg leave to report.
The undersignel finds that the above pre-.
amble aid resolutions were passed by a
large and Intelligent meeting of the citizens
of this city, convened pursuant to notice, aid
is Of opinion that the greviences set forth
in the resolutions there passed and submit
ted to this body, demands our candid con-
sideration.
The resolutions refer, first, to the action
had in regard to thebill presented by Aid
Ramming for street crossings,a and the refusal
of the Council to.pay aalF bill, and secondly
the refusal by tho Council to order q special
election in the second ward, made vacant
10y the resignation Of Aid. lsamIning
1t is charged that the Council in the frat
instance, violated every principal Of fair
dealing, and second, the refusal to order Il.
special election in the second ward, was an
open violation of the principles self gov
ern,nent, and spirit of the City Charter, and
an infringement of the tights not only Of
the citizens of the second ward, but Of all
the citizens of Davenport.
The undersigned has had recourse to
i. rJa ~ fs,1 no.
ges if not entirely grourdless, at least mis-
apprehendea, but after an attentive perusal
Is bound to admit that the records, 20 far as
they relate TO matters set forth in the reso
lutions referred to, will not admit of any
other construction.
In relation to the unpaid bill of Mr.. Ram
ming, the undersigned would say that rs
early as .luy the subject of crossings was
introduced in the Council. and the des itute
condition Of the lower part of the city, be-
ing repeatedly passed upon the attention Of
this body, the Council ordered crossings put
down in various portions of the city. but
the depleted state of the City Treasury
soon after rendered it necessary to discon-
time the street work, by which the above
order was rendered nugatory.
Early in October the subject Of crossings
was again taken up, but for various reasons
the work was deferred until the I'd Dec,
the Council learning that the Necessary
lumber could be obtained on u credit of SIX
months. a committee OF three was empower
ed to put down the necessary crossings in
the city. Mr. Ramming acting on said
committee
The committee met at the office of Mr.
Ramrning, and as the undersigned has been
|
informed. not only by Alr. Ramining, but by
| other gentlemen present, that the commit
| tee came to the conclusion that II lumber
could be obtained on credit Of six months,
then he, Ramming, should proceed to lay
down the necessary crossings in accordance
with the above resolutions
The undersigned is aware that the forego-
| ing statements stand contradicted by ma
| jorty of the committee, and as question
| Of fact desires not to inteipose between
| tie parties, but is Of the opinion that Aid
Ramming acted in good faith towards the
| city. and most, if not all. the members of
this BODY knew at the time that such cross
ings were being laid. The undersigned be-
lev ethat the expenditure was well and truly
made, and was eminently demanded by tn /,
public good, and the undersigned unheslt-
atingly declares that in his opinion the vote
| in this Council by which the bill Of Aid.
Ramming was dishonored, and the imputa-
tions sought to be cast upon his official
character, would, if applied as rule to
| most. if not oil the members. would deprive
them of seats in this body, and the under
signed would adopt the resolution passed by
the meeting Of the citizens of this city, and
recommend that the Council reconsider their
action in the premises. and without further
delay, allow the bill of Nj. Ramming.
In relation to the action Of this Council.
had the 9th of January, by which the cleo
| tion to fill the vacancy occasiuned by resig-
nation Of Aid Ramming, was postponed
until after the 5th of April next. The un-
dersigned finds that it has been the invari-
able rule of this Council in all cases of va
cancies. TO imme lately order special elec-
ton. 1t is believed that such is the gener-
al custom. In the charters Of ! rinceton and
Des Moines cities, it is made the impressive
duty of the Mayor to order special elections
in such cases, rs soon as may be. The un
dersigned has no doubt that under the city
charter it is made the duty of this Council
without DELAY, to order an election in the
second ward, made vacant by the resigna-
ton Of Aid. Ramming, believing that equal
representation is right to be demanded by
the people, and not a favor granted by the
legislature, and that in all cases where such
rights are struck down by the represents
tiS,, they must be retrieved by the people
peacably if they can, torclbly # they must
and the undersigned feels CON- elled to de
nounce the late action OF this Council, which
by political division, denies the second
ward of this city, an equal representation il
the Council, an act repulsive to every Gem
ocratic mind, as despotic in its character
as it is destructive to free institutions. and
would respectfully recommend, in the Ian
guage Of the resolutions passed at public
meeting, referred that the Council recOnsid
er their action, and order . special election
in the second ward Of this city, made vacan
by the resignation of AID. Banning.
J. C. WAsHBuRN, Com.
| Committee to whom was referred the rol