Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-06-04
COUNCIL PROCEEDlNGs
sEouLAa MssrlNo.

Council CHAMBER, June Sd, 1868.
Present His Honor, the Mayor, n. Dona-
hue, Aldermen Bryant. Clsusssn, Cunning
ham, Dsrmody, frizzell. Harding. Kruss,
Littig, Natthss, Mcneil, Runge.
Minutes Of last meeting read and ap-
proved.
The following Communication WAS re-
csivsd from John T. Dillon, ESQ, and on
motion Of Aid. Clausssn the same WAS read, ,
proceedings, and referred to special Com
mite, consisting Of Aid. Clausssn, Der
msdy and Bryant 10 report at next meet
ing.
The communication 10 - follsws:
To His Honor, the Mayor and City Council
ofths City Of Darenport.
On the Goth day Of November last, was
appointed BY your honorable body, the
special agent Of tho city to procure such
legislation ~ might Be necessary - enable
the city to make an adjustment Of its bond
Cd debt, and Afterwards to procure 4 list
Of its creditors, (and) under the direction
Of the Finance Committee, to take such
ether steps might bs deemed best to ef
feet acompromiss Or settlement Of such in
debtednsss. This action on your part was
taken pursuant to resolve ofa meeting Of
citizens previously held, in which, after
full discussion, the ooncl usion WAS reached,
that without additional legislation, the city
would bs unable, from want Of adequate
power, 10 make any propositions which lts
creditors would accept, or which il accept
Cd, il weuld have the power to ful6l on its
part.
The necessity for such legislation and the
objects expected to bs accomplished By il
are Get forth 10 the report Of Nsssrs Dona.
hue. Andrssssn, Dssmsdy. Ssynour and
Clausssn, Of the City Couneil, made to the
citizens and taxpayers Of the city Of Da-
venpsrt, hsrstofors published and to which
beg leave T. refer.
After my appointment BY ysur body,
drew up with great care, altar special *.
animation Of ell Of the dscisisns Of the
State and United States Courts bearing up
On the subject, and after conference with
D. 8. True, Esq, very careful and able
lawyer, who WAS designated BY the citizsna
meeting - enc Of the committee appointed
By IL, . bill for an ct, which II wss thought
would, IL Dasssd. enable the city TO taks u.
fsotivs asd safe steps 70 put ito debt in the
way Of 6nal extinction.
Every possible guard against giving the
bondheldss any advantage over the city and
against an abuss By the city Of the powers
proposed to be conferred, was adopted.
How anxiously and thoroughly the bill has
been guarded In these respects will bs ap-
parent from the most cursory reading Of It.
The draft Of the aot WAS submitted to q
jsint committee Of the City Council and cit
liens, and after some amendments provid-
ing additional safeguards, il was unan-
imously approved by this committee, ~
will appear frsm the following record:
"CouNcM CHAMBER, Jan. II, 1868.
Tho draft Of the foregoing bill was this
day presented to the committee Of The City
Council and the citizens committee, and,
on motion Of B. b. Woodward, ESQ. the
same was approved BY the votes Of the
members Of both committees present.
(Signsd)
n. DoxAHuE, Mayor.
H. H. AsDarssrs. | COMMITTEES
N. KuHNEN, Of
P,B. HA.s,so, City
J. N. FnrzzsLL, Council
J. P. SrrBoLr, Ch'mn,l Citizens
b. b. WooDwAnD. Cemmittsa
When the draft Of the bill WAS thus per.
fsctsd, it WAS presented BY me, in the city
sf Dss Aoinss, to meeting Of the mem
bsrs Of the Legislature, representing indsbt-
ID districts, and further safeguards against
abuse, and some few additional provisions
to adapt the law TO other lsca lies, were.
upon their suggestion incorporated inte the
bill.
With these notifications The bill passed
into law, which WAS approved April 2, 1868
being chap. 81 Of the laws Of 1868, an au-
thsnticatsd copy Of which accompanies this
report.
l may observe that 81 first the proposed
legislation met With considerable eppesi
ton, but this gradually yielded when the
necessity for it was explained, and when il
was seen that the bill drawn WAS wholly in
the interest Of the indebted corporations
and not Of bondholders.
The law as il stands is substantially the
same as the draft Of the bill which met your
sanction, and it 10 not too much to say, that
it 10 wholly owing to your action and that
Of our citizens, that any such legislation was
procured.
In giving brief history Of the measure,
it would be unjust not to state that il hai
the untiring and warm support Of the Scott
county members Of the General Assembly,
both in the Senate and the House.
1t will be seen BY reference to the Law, -
passed, (sce sections and 10Y that No com.
promise can bs made under it, until it shall
have been authorized BY majority vote Of
tho people Of the city.
When this vote is had, II Il be in The
Affirmative, it simply decides that the
"Oouneil may-nos must-sxsseiss The
powers given by tho act in the manner
therein prescribed but no creditor can in
any event compel the Council 70 exercise
those powers"
Whether, after such . vote 10 had, the
Council will exercise the powers given BY
the act will depend upon whether they can
make satisfactory and advantageous Cd.
justment or compromiss with the bend
holders. Ifthsy can, they will act under
the law. Ifthsy cannot, they will not aot
andsr it.
The 6rst step 70 b taken BY ycur honor.
able tedy 10 to provide for the election
specified in section 10 Of the oct. II the
question 10 dssided is the negative. yesr
pswsr under the act 10 ct % end. But such
: result, in view Of the financial snbarrsss.
msnt Of the city. and the recsat decisions
Of the Federal Ceurt u Dss Noises, would
bea pubaic calamity, asd is nst to - an.
tieipated.
II the vets is IL The affirmative, then yeu
afe, - abevs rsnasksd, simply endowed
With ~ pewsf to settle il yea nnd that,
you can make satisfsetery ssttlemsnt.-
You are required (sss section p to spDelnt
10 Board Of Csmmissienees 70 sxscuts the
powers and duties Of Tie oct, Of which the
Mayor 10 chairman, and whose msstings
are public, aud whose acts are to be enter
I'd Of record. but who are disabled from
binding the city BY any cot Of ssttlsmsst
unlsss such cot 10 reported y The City
Oe1ncil and approved BY il.
need scarcely observe that it 10 highly
necessary that yen should appeint men u
unquestionabls character aad integrity,
and in whom the citizens generally have
unboundsd ooa6dsnes. Whether yeu sill
sppoint these Oommissionsrs befets he
election, is fse yeu tsdstsfmins. OF cesfss
they eoall nst scs until sftssWerds. Bnl
il might b satisfactssy = Ne votsre .
knew In advaacs that sslid and substantial
men would (subjsct to tAe ceAsrel Of the
Council) hare THE important matter 10