The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-04-12
aoyarss An1.oai sIessag3.

VI TUE SOMAOH COO~'SA0
Tou have met this evening to assume the
trust delegated to you by the people of the
City of Evansville, and as you are about to
enter upon the discharge of your duties,
have thought it fit and proper to make a
| brief statement of the policy which l de-
sign to pursue in discharging the duties of
nv Office, and to suggest for your consider
alton, Whist, in my opinion, under the cir
cumstances in which we are placed, would
be the best course of policy to be pursued in
the general direction and management of
the affairs of the Corporation for the ensu-
ing year.
l entertain the opinion that the necessity,
for prudence, caution and careful delibera-
ton, on the part of the Common Council,
never existed in so great degree at any
previous time in the history of the City, as
at present,
The unusual depression of business, in al
most all of it's departments and the excess
sive scarcity of money, render the strictest
economy, not merely advisable, but impera-
tive. Burdens, which in ordinary times
would be regarded as tolerable, become in
times like these oppressive.
I, therefore, recommend to the Council,
the propriety of fixing and agreeing upon
| plan. of operations, having in view a reduc-
ton of the expenses of every department of
| the city government to its lowest attainable
/ point. The taxpayers of the City, from
whom you and derive our authority, will
| expect from US, and have right to demand,
| in times like these, such an administration
of their affairs as will reduce the burden of
taxes to the lowest practicable amount.
l, therefore, promise in advance, that
| will concur and cooperate with you in all
! suitable and practicable measures having
this object in view and I will oppose, BY
! all proper mears ut my command, every
plan or proposition, calculated to add to the
| expense of the City, when such expense
may be by any possibility avoided.
During the last year q heavy expense
was incurred in the construction of sewers
and in grading streets, so as to make the
sewers available. Two Of these sewers were
projected and commenced several years ago,
and all of them were projected and contract
ed for, and nearly completed, previous to
the occurrences which have produced the
present disturbed condition of the business of
the country. If this had not been so, pre-
sumo considerable part of such work, how
ever desirable, would have been deferred.
The sewers, however, are now finished or
have progressed so far toward completion,
as to Justify an entire suspension of work
upon them for years to come and as to
anything else in the way of improvements
chargeable upon the general tax levy, it is
believed that none is required which will
| involve any considerable expense.
AS to the improvement of streets and
alleys, which is paid for by special assess
ments upon the property adjoining the
streets and alleys improved, l recommend
to the Council to order such only as may be
desired by at least a majority of the owners
Of r. no aScac-ad With ,a oTparea
The construction of side walks, also paid
for by special assessment, should only be
ordered where really necessary.
Notwithstanding the practice of the most
rigid economy, the taxes for the present
year will be high, and without such econo-
my, they must be greatly increased, and IN
less the times improve, it may be found
very difficult to collect them.
/ submit herewith, the report of Soren
Sorenson, ESQ., City Treasurer, showing the
year ending April /, 1861. And l append
thereto a statement of the amount derived
from several of the ordinary sources of rev.
enue, for each year from April l, 1854, to
April l, 1861, inclusive, from which il
will be seen that the revenue from the sew
eral sources enumerated, has increased ma
terially during the last few years.
A statement of the present Indebtedness
and estimated resources of the City for the
ensuing year will be prepared as soon as
the accounts are properly adjusted, and will
be submitted to the Council previous to the
time of fixing the rate of the tax levy for
the present year.
Believing that have in this brief COM
munieation sufficiently indicated the policy
which in my opinion ought to be pursued,
! will add no more, except to express the
hope that our intercourse may be pleasant,
and that our respective duties may be so
discharged rs to promote the welfare and
prosperity the City.
w. BAKER, Mayor.
MAYORS OEFIC, Evansville, April s, 1861.