The Cairo evening bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1868-1870, 1869-11-15
PROCEEDINGS 0FVHE SELECT CouN-
Gil.
Regular Meeting

Barclay, Martin, keaTdSH anu Nili'au'
som.
PETITIONS.
Petition of Eliza Collins, representing
that her lot No. 3, III block 40, in the city
was over assessed, and praying that tn
council instruct the assessor to reduce
the assessment. Read at length, and or
motion OF Councilman Rearden the
petition was referred hack to the petition
srs with the explanation that, in a.
much as the appeal ' . not taken WITHIN
the legally specified time, the City Coun'
oil has no power in the matter, and the
assessment must stand.
The action Of the Board of Aldermen,
granting the prayer certain property
owners for q crossing on the north side
OF Twelfth street, across Commercial
avenue, was concurred in, andthe cross
ing ordered built. ..
A motion to concur in the action OF the
Board OF Aldermen In granting the pray
or Of petitioner Jos Jehmas WAS unani.
mously voted down.
Communication from the Mayor. @
r, the city Council
The charter imposes upon the Mayor
the duty OF from time to tine giving to
the City Council Information relative to
the state OF the city, and rocomme nding
such measures as he shall believe will
contribute to It's welfare.
do not, at this time, propose to enter
Into either detailed or general state
ment Of the city's condition. My inten.
l. 4 a N 10
is.ing for a careful husbandry 81 the rev.
enues VI the corporation, aud to remind
you that our constituents have a right to
demand of ~ the practice Of economy
in the administration of their public
affairs.
A review of the action of the Council
will, | am sure, convince you that this
fact has not had a due impression on
our minds, or else has been either
thOughtlessly or wanlOuly disregarded.
While desire no controversy with the
legislative department Of the city gov.
erument, aud esteem IL more than use.
less To veto measures which have receiv.
ed an almost unanimous vote In both
branches Of the Council, nevertheless
believe II To be my duty TO ask you to act
with deliberation ana only expend the
money ~ the people when expenditure
IL absolutely necessary.
lam not foryetful Of the fact, that the
great bulk Of the expenditure made by
you, since the commencement OF the
present year, has been made to llquidate
debts OF the city contracted 10 tie courts
OF the state, aud for other purposes, un.
der other administrations OF the city az
fairs; bui, the action Of this body In in
creasing the salaries Of officers 10, In my
opinion, a step In the wrong direction, !
along path which leads TO cx,rava.
gsnce aud inericicncy in the offices Of
the city.
IL is To be presumed. that all persons
who seek, or accept Office, are Informed
o. to the amount OF the salary; and IL Is
. fair conclusion, thar theyshould be sat.
Dtied Ia receive what they were auxiou,
to obtain. Therefore, tlIat the salary Of I
no puul!C Ofllctr should be Increased dur. /
Ing the term Tor which he was elected, Is |
asouud general rule; aud no exception |
should DC made 10 II, unless new duties
are Imposed upon the officer, In which
event the additional mpenssiiOn should
be paid only nom The time al Which the
additional labor Was imposed. But, when
40 additional dudes have been Imposed,
and 40 extraordinary events have hap.
hened oJusIiy tue application for addi-
uonsl pay, o. increase the salary OF any
0nicer during his term IL bad policy. II
Is injurious tu The public welfare, because
II isa precedent which viii -O0n multiply
Itself and In short time become custom.
IL Il destructive If the efficiency III Off.
GERS, because IL makes them huunt the |
lobby aud labor FAR more iudustriously
10 obtain All increase OF salary than 10 |
earn the wages we've they snxlous TO
obtain when they accepted public posi-
ton.
The question, then, which you should
first decide, wheua application Tor Increase
OF wages Hgs been made TO you, is:"Does
the petitioner come under the exception
10 this rule-has new duties been impos.
Cd upon him since his assumption ofthe
duties Of his Office" No new dutiea
have been imposed upon either the police
force or the CITY Marshal, but their
Hages have been Increased wages which
they consented 90 receive when they &C.
copied place uncer the city government
The increase al the duties Of the Market
Master wa not remarkable, While the in.
crease ~ his salary wac considerable. 1
know that the Comptroller is now re-
CURED To !-IiorIh l4lDi from which GUS
ym had relieved liyn duties which, II
diligently performed, VIII consume much
% his time. justice llsTcf ,rc required
mat he should receive additional CONS .
pensaiioui but anl ~ opinion that you
acre wrong lo allow him the among fix
81 ny the ordinance which W..s acted
lpou during NY tate absence from the
city, opc "hirh became law without nv
p .8nHturer and question the wisdom OF
allowing h'm 90 be paid az the rate of in
crease back 10 the beginning O.: lie pre-
sent fiscal year.
/ have salt that the precedent o. in,.
cIeasne the wages n public officers du-. {
ing the term OF their service, is impoli-
tlc and luy Pa. tLa 81 The .uh,io ", al. The
Council need not look Der Tor rr3ufo of thi.