The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-01-26
ROCK ISLAND FREE FROM DEBT.
The Result of Democratic Tinan-
Gial Management.
The Pact Admitted by Murdoch and His
Organ.

When Murdoch, Condor, HAverstick, Nc.
LsuRhlin, & Co., wanted Office they we're
continually asserting that the finances ofthe
city had been badly managed by the demo.
Gratis and if the people would only give
them chance they would prelorm wonders
for the public good they would give every
body plenty Of work, reduce taxes, and
bring plenty OF business to town. What
have they done They have got the Offices
Increased the taxes 80 per cent lived off
the public treasury furnished little or no
work for laborers made daily raids on colts
and pigs and confscated them; laid in
wait for farmers aud harvest hands to make
fees ont Of; and succeeded in driving hun.
dreds Of people to Andslusia, Goa! Valley,
Edgington, Camden, Hampton, and
other points, to do their business, instead of
drawing them here to trade.
And they have publicly admitted that
sheir representations about the city debt, a
year ago, we're false.
On the 18th inst, at . meeting of the
Board Of Trade
Mayor Murdoch made abatement in reference
70 the city debt. He said the real indebtedness
Of the city does not exceed SIS, 900, which 10 full
y covered by property; the receipts Of the Rock
River bridges amounted to sufficient to pay the
interest, and there is sufficient money in the
treasury to meet obligations as they become
due.
Mr.. Eggleston said that Rock Island didn't
virtually owe a cent, while Moline owed about
too,OOO. lie was therefore opposed to consoli
dating with Moline and assuming its indebted
ness.
The above appeared recently, in Muir
docks organ and on Friday of last week
the same paper said, "Rock Island iI practi.
caily free. from debt!'
That is true. Rock Island is and has
been for some few years past, practically
free from debt. Why is Rock Island prsc.
ticslly free from debt2 Simply because OF
the prudent, economical, and honest admins.
trAtion Of her financial affairs by a series
OF democratic city administrations. For
six years Bailey Davenport stood resolutely
in front Of the door to the peoples treasury
and resisted and beat back oil efforts to
squAnder the peoples money or run the city
in debt,--and the people owe it to him, TO.
day, that Rock Island is not, like nearly all
thu other towns on the Mississippi, head and
ears in debt, and like our neighbors over
the river, begging our creditors to let US of
by paying only half what we owe. Through
that SIX years of extravaganza all over the
country, when money was plenty and the
temptation TO run into all sorts Of wild
schemes ofimprovement was almost irresisti.
bic, Bailey Davenport, and the democratic
party, stood before the door of the peoples
treasury and protected it. Mr.. Davenport
has retired, wholly, from public life, and
neither asks or will accept any public posi-.
tion--but the people will not forget that to
his careful and economical management
they owe the fact that they were not, during
the six years Of inflated prices and extrava.
giant schemes, under the guise of public
improvement, loaded down with debt so
oppressive as to compel them to repudate
and compromise with their creditors.
After him, and during the year when
William Eggleston and B. H. Kimball were
chief executive officers of the city, several
annoying controversies were satisfactorily
settled, and what little we did owe latter
receiving a present of over $4,000 Of our
Indebtedness from p l.. Gable ESQ., WAS
arranged and funded into bonds, payable
with 10 per cent of the principal each year,
so that when Murdoch 4 Co., came into
oihce they had nothing in the world TO do
but collect the usual taxes and pay such
Indebtedness As it fell due. And this
they might have done without increasing
the taxes at ali. But they have not only
increased the burdens OF the people 30 per
cent, but they have furnished aborers with
little or no employment; driven hundreds
Of people and thousands Of dollars worth of
trade away from town. and let loose a horde
OF blood suckers to live BY fees and other.
wise OIL the hard earnings of the people.
In few short weeks more the people will
have a chance to rid themselves of the
whole set Of cormorants, and recall the
prudent and careful management of the
democratic party.