Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-06-21


large printer bills, but thought as you
were clear Of all blame in the matter would
venture. But must own I was not on second
thought, sstonished TO find you had only
given life to DESTROY" in your own way
lfyou or any man will refute my reasoning
for economy OF my conclusions, or that the
strength ofthe reasons require its exercise.
| should like to see how it is done. II not,
then the only question is, can it be done
think it can. know it can, if there is
general will to do il.
We cannot perhaps pay oil our
debt in one or ten years, but we may so
manage our city finances that we can pay on
our floating debt the present yesr, and start
fair. We can say to our creditors, circum'
stances unlocked for. il not beyond control,
have made il impossible for us to move un-
der our present in, ebtedness. We are will
ling and determined TO do all we can for
ourselves and you. Dor't you think that
il you reduce our Indebtedness 80 per cent
making the interest five or six per cent and
by that means insure that amount in rea-
sonable time by our increased property
when relieved Of our unbearable load,
when capital and enterprise no longer
fear to settle among US, it will be better
for all concerned, They will acceds to what
will then seem 4 reasonable request. Some
thing must be done. The cking out of
miserable existence from hand to mouth
however full we may stuff our mouths
bankrupt, is but a sorry life, unfit for high
minded men. Is it not better to accept cir
cumstanccs as they are. act with noble de-
termination-rigids self denial if needs De,
until we again win control OF our corporate
|
dare open our door without fear that the
Sheriff will step in with writ is it less
q duty because We have not done 1t for seven
or eight years past?
| You talk of men to carry on our city gov
ernment and "board themselves" ! tell
you there is not high minded, honorable
man in our midst, Of capacity for city ofi-
Ger, that would not gladly sacrifice his time
to aid our city's regeneration. 1t no sat
isfaction to sit as a powerless minority, but
] will find you the men that will try to as
sist our extrica.ion in any position that
gives power to exercise economy. There
are few city officers who should, un
paid too much, such as the City Assessor
self supporting A very small sum should
myself to find capable incumbents for them,
all without pay, in fact I will perform the
duties Of any half dozen Of them myself
without paw or without grinding any axes
for myself or friends and get all necessary
road work done for one third the present
cost, and city printing done for $500 if
have to buy press and do it myself, If let
| ting it to the lowest bidder should not suf-
flee. Talking is of but little use, it may be,
but if talking may induce action in the right
direction let us pow WOW till broad daylight
The Gasette may not like to loose its extra
thousand dollars, more than the
alderman their hundred and odd JOBS, and
others their picking up, but shall we letour
whole city rest under an incubus for them?
| Something must be done, and s'if well done
it were we'll that it were done quickly"
"1ss p.
REMARxs-Yes we see it all as far as as
sertion goes-but that is idle breath
amounts to nothing. It is one Of the easiest
tasks to which mortal was ever subjected,
to find fault and tell how he would do this
thing and that thing; but We have often no.
ticed that the finest theorists were the most
bungling and incompetent practitioners liv
ing. 1t may be that there are great many
men in town more capable than our alder
men, but why did not the people select
them The people form the only party in
interest in this qncstion-why don't they
trot out better men for aldermen if they
have got them? We believe the present
council to be doing what it considers to be
for the best interests Of the city. If the
people don't think SO, their remedy lies in
making such changes At the next election as
will the nearer subserve their purposes
Perhaps our correspondent may be elected
then. II he can make the people believe
that he is better calculated to conduct the
city affairs than the men now in office, he
will probably be elected. We wait to see.
CoSsrsrsScY.-King Hiram, and some
lesser fry, assume the right to abuse the
Aldermen Of this city because the munich
pal affairs are not administered with more
rigid economy. One point Of attack was
the salaries Of the City Fathers. We
couldn't help thinking Of thing or two
while the King WAS trouncing the council
men on Friday night. One thing-if be-
cause Of the debt Of the city the representa-
tives Of the city should work for nothing and
find their own board, why should not Mr..
Price take a dose of his own medicine, and
volunteer to forcgo his three or four thous-
and dollars per annum that he draws as .
congressional representative Of the country
I-seeing that the country's Indebtedness is
proportonately greater than that Of the city
Has he ever made that proposition! Guess
not Then what sort Of man il he to
talk self sacrifice to the Aldermen of the
city Of Davenport, who labor all the year
for the city's interests for the bare pittance
Of one hundred dollars eachi Confusion |!
it's enough to put one entirely out Of ps-
tience to think that some one Of the Coun-
Gil did bring him up with round turn
They might not have had the gift Of speech
that Mr.. Price possesses-but they had
what was better-three trumps to his
onsl
\ ACADEMY PIc-x1c.-The scholars Of the
Sisters Academy and those ofthe Ste. Mar
guerite Parish School, held delightful pic
mic today in the grove on the Ste. Narguer-
ite Church grounds. This pleasant party
was made up Of nearly two hundred and fif
ty younk ladies and children. The grounds
are delightful for such : party, and the ar
rangements made by the sisters and ssrsnts
Of the children, pssfSct. 44sfr &ss
The coronation ceremonies formed the
leading feature. The Nay Queen On the
part Of the Academy was Mrs. Christiana
Sturdevant; on the part Of Ste. Marguerite
Parish School, Miss Ella Foster and:Queen
Of Flowers, Miss Kitty LounsburR. The
cerelneniss took place in the forenoon on !
neat little stand fitted up for the occasion.
LIMO fahIoa vworn = A. :