The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-09

the streets lanes and alleys laid out on the city plan
to be npened 10 cause the Same be paved 0arpeu,
sno, nere necessary, culverted; ana to issue city
boTts 10 the holders of lots fronting thereon for
dsi sees; to cause the Board Of Revision TO revise
ai' 'eview assessments all these powers are to be
Ir ca In teventeep I'D citizens appointed by the
L. rs ature to hold ONCE for Eve years at salary
o $4,000 each per Rnnun irresponsible to the people
or to the municipal authorities, with the right to
,appoint all the necessary oncers agents, etc. etc
These commissioners are to draw warrants upon
msndea to conntersiQn. and the Treasurer is COM
manded to pay. They are TO have the power TO
issue city bonds, executed by the president Of the
respective commissioners They to furnish esti-
mates to Councils annually Of such sums OF money
anpi opriate the same The ReceIyer of Taxes is
commanded to add to the tax rate required by
commissioner a sum sufficient to pay the interest
on the getty PAVING BONDS" and the i'CITY WATER
Bonds" and one-thirteenth OF the principal an
nualy.
1t seems to me that If these measures should re.
ceive the sanction of the Legislature, there will be
but little left for Councils TO do, and they might
aswell adjourn sine die, except that the Law would
compel them to meet once year to comply with
the requsitions OF the commissioners to approprl-
ate whatever sums of money they in their wisdom
might see ut to demand from the City Treasury.
IL is hardly necessary for me to say anything
further than to add that should these bills become
law, cannot be mistaken In asserting that city's
credit must be seriously affected, and the x-payer
he made to suffer to degree exceedingly dis
astrous.
respectfully submit the whole subject to your
consideration for such action as in your judgment
the emergencies of the case would seem TO require
Very respectfully, DANIEL M. Fox, Mayor.
THE MAYOR AND THE CENTENNIAL.
This communication, with accompan ying
documents, was also sent In to Councils:-
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF PHILADEL-
PHIA, March 9, 1sIl.-To the President and Men,
bers of Select Council-Gentlemen:-I 1T is with the
highest sense Of qualification that / am enabled
herewith to transmit to your honorable body GER
titled copy Of the act of Congress entitled IAN act
to provide for celebrating the one-hundredth ami
versary OF American Independence, by holding an
International Exhibition of Arts Manu-
factures, and Products of the soil and
mine in the city Of Philadelphia and State of Penn
the Presidential sanction on March 8, 1871. Ac-
compaDying the same will be found official letter
having relation thereto, under date OF March 4,
1871 from Hon. Hamilton Fish, Secretary OF State
tives in Congress from this city, to the latter of
whom am indebted for his courtesy and kindness
in procuring the copy Of the act and forwarding the
came to me. need hardly add that the city of Phi
ladelphia having been favored SO signaly, has now
work OF no ordinary magnitude on its hands, SO
and am sure there Will be none more agreeably en-
tered upon. Very respectfully,
DANIEL M. Fox, Mayor.
LETTER FROM SECRETARY FISH.
Accompanying the message was the certified
copy of the act (already published in this paper)
| and the following letter from Secretary Fish,
| DEPARTMENT OF SrATB, WASHINGTON, March 4
1s7l.-Hon, VIM. d. Kelley, House of Representa-
tives-Sr:-In accordance with your request IL
your letter OF the 1st inst, herewith transmit
certified copy of the act providing for the holding
an International Exhibition at Philadelphia on the
Centennial Anniversary OF the Declaration OF Inde
| pendence.
have the honor to be, your obedent servant,
| HAMILTON FISH,