Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1869-02-16
CITY DEBT MEETING.
Resolutions and Remarks.

Pursuant to the call Of the ssmnlttss,
appointed for that purpose q the last meet
isg held at the city hsll On the losh inst,
. meeting wss hsld last sight as the Cssst
Hssss,te take further sstisn relative 70 the
bonded city debt aad = consider further
on the reports Of The city dsbt csnnissisn :
ers, recently prsssatsd toiths City Council.
Though not large, the meeting vas made
up Of good number Of our largest ts1pay-
srs and many moro would have been pres.
ent but for the mistake being made by both
city paper, in calling the meeting st the
City Hall. A large number Of citizens
went there and after standing around on
the steps for . while went home, while
others kept going until they found the
place Of meeting.
Mr. Dsssaint called the meeting 10 order.
and on melton, Hon. A. II. Bennett Was
selected % chairman and J. P. Dosch -
Secretary.
The chairman presumed the object Of
Of the meeting Vas we'll known to oil
present and that any preliminary vsmasks
from him wss unnecessafy.
Col. Berryhill rose and stated that at the
last meeting Of citizens on the 10th inst,
that meeting had recommended the adep-
tien Of the majority report Of The commits
sisusrs BY the City Couaeil. tbut that be
now offered a. . substitute the following
seolution
Ressiesd, That the thanks 81 the citizens Of
Davenport bs cordially rendered to the city debt
commissioners for their energetic and disinter
esssd efforts 70 ascertain and. SETTLE the said m
dsbtsdnsss.
E.soirsd, That having full confidence in said
commissioners this meeting hereby rsconmsnds
the City Council to reconsider the several re-
ports prssested BY said commissioners, invest
Tag them with full authority to settle with the
city creditors if terms eas be obtained for the
city not exceeding those specified in the afors-
said reports.
The COL. before making any remarks,
desired to make the declaration that be had
no interest whatever in any Of the bonds
Of the city-sithsr directly 81 indirectly.
personally or through any cooperation
with which be was eonnseted. He made
this declaration because there had been
too much suspicion in regard to the par
ties Who are acting in the matter. He did
nst think that suspicion in this respect
reaches any Of the Csmmissisners-shsy
have taken an oath in their official capacity
and are beyond any suspicion. 1t is right
that va should invest them With our full
confidence in this matter. They have in-
CURED great labor in arriving at the present
showing Of the debt They have found
that the debt is . fair and honest enc, and
they have concluded wisely on the means
Of settlement. He took it for granted that
the adoption Of the first resolution should
be taken ~ . matter Of course. 1t seems
that tho Council desire to act in accordance
with the wishes Of the people. and We
should give them full power 10 make q
settlement Of our jndsbtedaess en- their
own terms, within the limits Of their
reports. The creditors. he was persuaded.
would gladly accept the terms given them
10 their reports. They know that until
some amcable adjustment 10 made with the
city they can't make dollar on their
bsnds-that the city is restricted BY its
charter from making . greater levy than
8 mills, &c., and that from intimatisns be
had received from different sources be was
Of the opinion that the creditors would
accept the conditions proposed in the
report. He moved the passage Of the res
olution.
G. Z. Hubbell was opposed TO the latter
clause Of the second resolution, te.wit: "ii
terms can bs obtained for the city not ex-
essding those specified in the sfsrssaid
reports
Col Bsrryhill asked, would it meet ysuf
views to drop this latter clause Of the sec
end resolution
Mr.. Hubbsll said. that an in favor Of
Col. Berryhill accepted the amendments
saying, l am willing to trust the Commis
sionsrs With the most enlarged pcwers-l
think they are honest.
AID. Ulausss6 moved, to amend By id
ding, provided, that what ever terms ofsst'
| Element said committee does make must b
made BY the unanimous vote Of the whole
! committee.
| Ala. Claussen thought the subject VA
one Of considerable importance. and that
the whole committee should be unsnimsus
that In small cases here in our District
Csurt ~ require the unanimous consent ol
twelve Jurors in the matter Of settling cor
trovsrsies, and We sheuld at least have ths
unanimity Of these commissioners on this
point.
Col. Berry bill accepted the amendment,
and il was adopted.
Nr. Tiffany moved an amendment, tha
the result OF the commissioners plan b,
subjected to . vote Of the people BY an
election for their approval or rejection. xh'
motion Of course received no support, snt
for want ofa second was dropped.
NJ. Hubbsll spoke At length On the ssis
iual motion and amendments hs was il
faver Of limiting the instruction to the Citl
Council. He excited some hsmor BY aliu
Aing 70 the benefits Of The city dsbt it ~
. good thing it husg ever the city like s'
iscabus, and prevented extravsganes. A
fes hiaself he vas in favor Of the inherit.
report flst-fcstsa. He went into IN sxtsn
sivs mathsmatis computation o. The bond
and coupons that the market values wss
50 cents On the dollar that 10 what th
present holders paid Cor them, ssd it veal
not bs any sacrifice to them 70 take g
cents, and he believed that The bends, viii
coupons attached, could % bought for tha
M. Dsssaint tsok the wind eus Of hi
ssils . little By stating that be would lib
V boy ssms st that igurs.
II transpirsd that Mr. Hubbsll vent iat
the meeting in favor Of the restriction. An
then backsd down ''1st-isotsd." - hs sai'
but il vac matter Of minor importance.
Judge Dillon followed iu very ab
speech in favor Of the resolution ~ dr'
read, bat Vas not tsnseisus % the point.
n h>oaA v;xh Ne uukhali Nhak fha ali