The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-02-11


OFFICIAL CITY PAPER.
J. ". NORRIS, Editor.
The question Of the repeal of our city charter
has aEitated the community to a considerable
extent, the past week. Petitions, praying the
repeal Of the act Of Incorporation, and remon
stranees against 1t have both been in circula-
ton and we presume have been forwarded
We are not advised a. to the number Of sigma
lures secured to either instrument, but we be-
lieve that both were unanimously signed.
The man reason assigned in the copy OF the
petition which we saw, for asking She Legisla-
ture to divest US Of our municipal functions was
that experience has demonstrated that the ex-
pence Of city government, Is greater than we
can sustain with our present resources, aud in
these hard times.
It cannot be denied that there is now good
deal Of ground for complaint on the part of our
citizens in view Of the burdens in the shape of
taxes, under which they are now literally
groaning. As we have before had occasion to
cay, the assessments for the past year were
made at time when we were enjoying very
great degree Of prosperity, when the prices Of
property were inflated by the specializing mania
Of the period, and when everybody thought
that individual and corporate resources were
unlimited and unbelievable, 50 much so tn at
we could not only sustain bare city uganiza-
ton, but were fully competent to build city,
pavei, and light il with gas, or at least make
considerable demonstration in that direction
with our present population and resources.
What the result Of this peculiar state of con-
6dence in our ability to sustain the various ex.
penses Of city government might have been
had the times continued good we cannot say
1t Is possible that we might mol have heard any
complaint. But the times didn't continue good
There came frost a killing frost, nipping our
growing hopes in the bud, and depriving Is Of
the ability to pay at the very time when we
stood most in need Of it. Hence good mary
Of our citizens in looking around for the cause
Of our difficulties, have come to the conclusion
that it is the city charter that it is too expensive
luxury, and that the Legislature would DO us
quite favor by un-city-fying us, and resolving
US back into our original condition as plain
unprstending country village.
The result OF such attention a. we have been
able to give to this important subject is that
the best Interests Of the place, everything con.
sidered will not be promoted by the abandon
ment OF the city organization at this time. even
ifthere was ananlmity in asking for il, and the
Legislature had the power to grant the request,
and our reasons are in part the following The
charter was adopted almost unanimously there
bsine we believe but twelve votes all told
against it. The organization is in very many
particulars convenient and beneficial. It need
NOT be more expensive than simple town or
ganization. A considerable portion Of the ex-
penses Of setting the machinery Of city gov
eminent in motion have already been incurred,
and would be lost by changing back to our for
mer state. Besides, admitting that the present
system has been extravagant, and buriensome,
It By no meads follows that plain town or
esnization would not, under the same condi-
ton Of things, and the same temptations, have
been equally so. We think it quite possible
that 1t would have been. Indeed we think
tina. fair comparison Of the two systems un-
der which we have lived, will show that tn .
difference between them in the particulars
complained Of, is very triaing.
For the above reasons and others that will
occur to our readers, we are constrained to
think that we had better grin and bear it a
while longer. Nine months is very short pc
Rod in which to test the practical workings Of
any system, and we should hesitate before 60
ing before the Legislature and admitting to
them and the world that our confidence in the
prospects and resources OF Ottumwa have been
90 diminished in that short period, that we are
constrained to call for their interference to re-
lieve us from our self-imposed burdens. We
had better try il . while longer it seems to us,
and endeavor to find relief in the election OF
good and prudent men under pledges 10 admin
lister the affairs Of the city with greater pru-
dence and economy.
We might say in addition that the applca-
ton 70 the Legislature to act in the premises,
will probably be unavailins, special Legislation,
we believe, being prohibited in the new con.titu-
tion. There is, however, q bill pending, ma
king general provision for such cases. which
will probably become law.
The legislature.
Our advices from the Capital Of our own
State are very tarcy and in shape not favora-
bic to . satisfactory report within practicable
limits.
III the case OF Claggett, we see that the
committee were ready to report against i'm
peaching, on the ground, mainly, that it would
cost the State $4,000. Not the Sest reason,
we apprehend.
Our report last week Of the passage Of a
stay law based upon verbal intelligence, was
premature. II could not have become law