Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-02-26
Qua STANDARD BEARER.
why He Is to be Injected.


oeratic party proposes to go before the pee
pie on the simple issue of high or low. tax
alton, and public extravaganza or public
economy. Daring the past year our taxes
have been increased enormously. Year
after year our city debt has been gradually
growing heavier. During the past year it
has been added TO in such manner, that if |
our tendency to assume such debts and in.
cumbrances is not Immediately checked, !
Rock Island will be in the same situation
as Davenport and other bankrupt cities.
Every property holder knows we are stating
facts. And while our city taxes are crush |
ing in weight, we feel them still more from
the tact that our township, county, and
state taxes are also being heaPed up in
corresponding style. We are getting our
hands full. The amount OF taxes levied in
Rock Island county during the past year
amounted to the hitherto unheArd Of sum of
over quarter of a million dollarG. The
exact figures are $3.50, S4O.9Sl The amount
levied 10 the township for the year 1870
WAS S54, 90l.52. The amount levied in the
Township during the past year WAS swelled
to 81, l54 20, making an increase of town
ship taxes for the past year Of over SIXTEEN
THOUSAND, Two HUNDRED AND FIFTY Dol
LARS. The city taxes levied in 1870 under
Democratic rDle) amounted to $4,000.
IL II g..
can misrule) amounted TO $50 600. Here
then we have direct increase in one year
Of SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS and this, too, in
the face Of the fact that the Democrats eS-
pended NEARLY TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND
DOLLARS more in public improvements than
the Republicans did.
These are not estimates but actual official
| figures. To what extent the debt has been
added to, A!l are familiar. And We wish to
impress upon every property holder the vital
necessity of having mao for Msyor who is
in no wise interested in banking specnls-
tons; aud who cannot be made the tool Of
banking interests. The water works bonds
planned which involves the profit of From
TWENTY To Forty THOUSAND DOLLARS out
Of hem. II we do not exercise great caution,
THE CITY WILL BE RoUSDIY FLEECED, 1t is
therefore imperative that We elect a man for
Mayor who cannot be bribed or hum bugged
and who is ia no manner interested in
private Jobs. We need a man who is finsu-
ciAliv iHd-pendent-oue who Cannot be
tempted to acquire wealth by selling out the
people who shall elect him, aud ~ho is not
GOV interested in so dong We need =
man, Who, as leading taxpayer, is inter
esied in dollars aud cents 10 the economical
1 handling Of these bonds. We need man
who is interested in dollars and cents IL
I preventing any shaving operations, and who
/ will keep the debt down to the very lowest
/ possible figure. We need msn VINO is
/ interested in dollars and cents in keeping
our taxes reduced TO their former level, and
[ who will ensure US less wssteful city ad-
miuisJrag,Ou then We have had during tie
/ past year Mr.. Davenport /, the man 20 do
al this He is one Of the largest property
/ holders of Rock Island, and is in no way
connected with cur banking rings. Ever 20
body admits Iha, be inside the best Mayor
We ever bad, and that be is capable Of Goa
ductiGE orr city al mjsistrstion on a chsaT or
basis than any other man who could be
named He WAS elected Mayor Eve years
a succession. he entered upon his ties
in March 81 aud conducted our public
affairs with eroineni ability aud success until
/ March '66. This was during tho war wtcn
sil other cities were sinking deeper and
deeper into financial embarrassment with
every step. We cannot to-day, pat Ger
hands upon the exact hgur9s in regard 10
the expenses Of bis preceding sduinistra-
tons, but the city taxes levied during bis
last Official year we're only trifs over
TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS $I2.2 % J
Compare that sum with the taxes levied
during the past year which have amounted 20
/ THtRTY.Two THOUSAND DOLLARS. II may
/ be asserted that IL costs more to rur the
city uow than it did then. This may b. the
case to . certain extent. We do not be-
lieve it should really cost above a few thous
aud dollars more. All will agree that il
should not cost nearly THREE TINES As MUcH
Mr.. Davenport was always Jealous in cut
ting down expenses. Indeed, he frequent
ly made enemies for himself By subscribing
the interests OF the city. He would allow
the payment of no unjust or eHhorbitant
bill if he could possibly prevent it, On one
occasion, by his own personal influence, on
one bill alone be saved to the city the sun
Of THEEE THOUSAND DOLLARS. During the
whole FIVE years be was IN office. he refused
10 accept a single cent Of has salary During
the last Council meeting OF bis last term,
be was TOO i'll to attend, and the council
voted him his salary, while voting the sals
ries of the aldermen. On learning of this,
however, be promptly donated the money
back TO the city treasury.
When Taxpayers go to the polls to vote
for Mayor, what kind OF a man do they
desire for that POSITION Do they not want
a man of exactly Mr., Davenport's charsc-
ter, who is uDconnected with banking
rings; who is seeking only an economical
administration, because he is personally iu-
terested in securing It; who il not seeking
the salary or the honor of the position, bu,
merely the public good and who wall pre-
side with justice, dignity, and ability ?
Mos, assuredly they do.
In fact, we contend that he is the very
man the Kangaroo faction are hunting for
We will prove it by their call. II is need
ded for Mayor
in view Of the increased indebtedness
Of this city by reason Of the public In
provements now being carried on and con,
templAted, and the necessity that exist.
: that our public affairs should be mRDag ed