Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-01-01

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10 ~ HeM ~ Asvos - AI1sss a.
Gsyef Dsssnpsss:
appointed BY your hsssssb,s BODY. - *
anime the sssssst ~ Lying sroaaao4 pre-
ssntsd ct the last ssssi6a u The Cosn61 be-
lssvs to rspsst-
That they fad The following ihstss = b
true:
On the -day of-1e Qty
Council appointed . COMMITTEES q three.
consisting of Al. sesrs, Bowling ss4 Ram
ming. 70 lay ash crossings in thA s6 q
might BE- deemsd necessary. I'll
That in pursuance Of that resolul ths
committee mst and agreed that cd m-
bsr thereof shoald soastsust tksss e1 ~
srosalsgs 4 sash psista asnisats 20.
per.
Ala esais ssas1Gitsd Ssss = = y
efaAsus ose0a Ala Bowling three. e sn
expense Of a.. 80 and Aid Ramming forty-siz
at an expense Of SEVEN HuxDaxD AND nvrY
TIVE DOLLARS AND voRTY-TWo CENTA
The resolution authorizing the COMMITTEES
to lay down crossings, was general in its
terms. but the City Council. eon6ding in the
conservative action of the committee, - Z
whole, did not restrict that committee in the
number Of crossings to be laid. supposine
that such work would be done with refer.
ence TO tie season cfshs. .yssr and the conG.
sion the Treasury.
Your committee do not believe that II the
Council, at the passage Of that resolution
had contemplated that an expenditure o.
eight hundred dollars would have been
made on the single item of crossings at
this season of the year, and with an exhaus-
ted treasury. the same would have been en-.
tertained for moment.
In the action of all committees appointed
by legislative bodies. with power to act, it
is the rule, unless otherwise expressed. that
the committee shall act by majority. and
that the minority possesses no power to
make an expenditure. in opposition to the
will of the majority.
Your committee feel. bound to condemn
the action of Alo. Ramming, in making an
expenditure unauthorized by q aamajority
of the committee, and contrary to the ex-
press understanding of all, and your com
mittee further find. that the price, allowed
by Aid. Ramming, for the labor of putting
down his crossings, exceeds reasonable
charge, but there being no restriction in re.
gard to price, fyour committee find that
there is . just claim against the city for four
crossings laid by Aid. DIsamming, and they
do not find any authority. even the slight
est, for the construction of the remainder.
Nor do the committee believe that there
can he any legal claim or moral obligation
on the part Of the City to pay any portion
of Aid. Ramming's bill, other than that al
ready mentioned. TheyI therefore recon.
mend the allowance. as the cost of laying
four crossings of the sum Of sixty Eve doIssr1
and .ixty-seven cents ($65, ,67) and the disal.
lowance Of the balance of AID Ramming's
bill, viz:-Six hundred and eighty.n dol
lara and seventy-6ve cents ($6s0,75.)
In this connection, your committee beg
leave to cay, that while there are many i'm
provements commenced, and others that are
required, for public convenience, not yet
ordered, which it would be desirable to finish
and make, at the same time we are confident
that our constituents, the Taxpayers. will
disapprove any expenditure of money in
these times, not imperatively demanded to
preserve the health ofcitizens, protect pub
lie works already commenced, or by the
other immediate and urgent necessities of
he people.
In view of the foregoing we have come to
the above conclusion without any hesitation.
and hope it will be concurred in by the
Council.
AUSTIN AVS 4 f2IIssEI,, GoRBdN, lcom
Minority report Of committee report as
follows:
Honorable Mayor and Aldermen City Of
Davenport:
The minority Of your committee, to whom
was referred the bill of Aid. Ramming for
crossings. agrees with the majority in the
opinion that the powers of q committee can
be exercised bys majority thereof only
The minority, however, from the facts in
the case as laid before this Council at their
last meeting, is satisfied that there must
have been some Misunderstanding amongst
the members of the Committee in regard tc
this matter and the authority delegated te
each Of them by the committee, and further
that the bill was certainly made in good
faith, and the prices therein cha rged ar.
Just and moderate
The minority would therefore offer th.
following resolution: t
Resolved, That the bill of Aid Rsmming
for crossings, be, and the same IL hereby or
dsrsd paid.
I. Guelich, Chairman Of Com.
Yeas and nays called for on the adoption
ofthe Majority Report
Cannon. Jennings. Bowling. Corbin
O'Brien, Hubbell, Sears,
Nays-Ramming, Guelieh, Forrest Wash
burn. Guy,
Adopted.
The Finance Committee on Final Esti
mates of VIM MCammon Of e262,40 Clau'
Steffen, Of $7l0.45; II. Lafrans, mscadami
dng Perry st.. ]7ss.7s; Maeadsmizng Har
rison st. >l02O.l2; Chaa Dittel, $1s2s, 90
g. H. Green. $S5l.sa; D. Stuhr, >eo7 80
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