The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-04-29
Tho Mayors 1fsssaoe.


length we are unable to give the address In
full
To the Gentlemen of the Board Of Aldermen
and Council:
l have delayed the sending in Of an annual
message in consequence Of the failure to re-
ceive the reports OF number OF the important
departments connected with the city admins
tration. Even now, several OF them nave not
been publishedand laid before ME, ana am,
therefore, deprived OF the aid and suggestions
which they would contain In regard to the
practical operations of the city government
do not know where the fault OF such an Omis-
sion lies, but 1t ought to be corrected. The
year just passed, lam pleased to say, has not
been attended with any event that called for
any extraordinary display OF the force Of the
executive. In its commencement, there was q
strong popular agitation from which many
feared that the public peace would be seriously
but good sense, the regard Of our
citizens for law and order, and their chivalrous
respect for female character prevailed, SO 1t
was comparatively easy 10 preserve the peace,
and at the same time maintain the great prin-
ssiples Of individual liberty and social freedom;
Within the past year part of the important
additions to the Water works that were conl-
menced several years ago have, after much
vexatious delay, been completed and put into
operation. The remainder Of the work, 1t 1s
believed, Will be done during the present sea-
son; we soon will have on hand q three days
supply Of water, instead Of as formerly, four
nours'. The General Assembly Of Ohio, at its
session OF 1874, enacted a statute which author
lied the Trustees Of the Water works to lay
pipes wherever necessary, and assess the cost,
or SO much Of the came as would, in their opin-
ion be just, on abutting property. The Water
works Board has not yet acted under this hw,
for this reason: There are 1T miles Of water
pipe already laid down at the expense OF the
city, and without any special tax upon the
owners OF abutting property. The Board nave
felt that the people Of the newly annexed ter
ritory came into the city with the implied un-
derstanding that they were to have equal rights
IN all respects with those OF the older wards.
II the corporation is to permanently continue
to own these works, is not a change in their
system OF management desirable2 Here is
property worth fully six millions Of dollars,
supplying prime necessity Of life to a quar-
ter OF a million Of people, under the absolute
control OF three gentlemen. who do not receive
any compensation for their assumption of such
an immense responsibility and labor.
1t would undoubtedly be for the interest Of the
people to have the works under the control Of
paid administrators, who could afford to devote
their whole time and attention to the work.
But, as | suggested in previous
message eo0t saoSd the the city
Financially, it costs us at least $450 600 per an
mum to own these works. all Of which could be
saved by disposing Of them to responsible par
ties for their full value. II they sold, as they
the liquidation Of the city debt TO that amount,
and upon portion Of that debt we are paying
an interest Of 7 BIO per cent OF course, if the
works should at any time be disposed Of. it
must be upon such terms and conditions as
would result in giving the city the full amount
Of money they are worth, and such limits and
restrictions should be imposed upon the pur-
chasers, and such margin Of action left to the
Council, rs would be certain to give US sup
ply OF water rs cheaply as it will eyer be done
untQr tv nj ha cit
In December, 1874, the General Assembly Of
Ohio repealed the law creating our Police
Board: A great and sudden responsibility
was thus thrown upon me, which have not
no doubt that there is an opportunity for re-
forms in the police service which will increase
its efficiency. The nature OF these reforms and
the best method Of carrying them out require
considerable time for an examination Of the
present system compared with that which pre-.
walls in other cities In America and Europe.
n Is it not probable that we could
benefit ourselves by modelling our force more
after the customs of the European capitalist
In this connection, desire to cal your at
tention to the fact that we have a Police Judge
and Prosecuting Attorney, positions which
were correspondingly filled, although perhaps
under different names, thirty or forty years
ago.. The business Of that Court has multi
doubt. ffty-fold, and yet we nave not the
slightest increase Of the administrative or
ganlzatipn. l would therefore suggest that
the Influence of-your body be used with the
General Assembly for an increase in the num-
Der Of police aud Police Courts in Cincinnati.
1t Is the result Of my experience and obser-
vation that OUR City Government is seriously
In fault IN CARRYING to the extent 1t does the
Thus for an illustration: the Board of I'm
provements may tear up o street for the pur-
pose of paving it; when that Is done, it Is liable
to be again disturbed for gas, water, or sewer
age purposes. Here are four Boards having
equal jurisdiction over the same territory, and
not the slightest concert OF action between
them. The number Of Boards should be cut
down and graduated according to the subjects
upon which they may be called to act The
General Assembly Of oS6io to make, But their
action in the premises would be largely in
fuenced by the request and opinions OF the
CQmmop COUNCIL Of this city.
There Is nothing more important to the ip-
terests Notwithstanding which SO greatly
affects Its financial future-as that Of the con-
struction Of the Southern Railroad between
this city AMI Chattanooga, Tennessee. l re-
gret that the Trustees have found 1t necessary
to put up another obstruction. to our river
commerce from near the mouth of MilIcreek
to Covington, Ky. That this necessity, by the
injury which it will ln1ict upon our CONNER
cial interest, will, 10 considerable degree,
detract from the benefits we expect to derive
from the Southern Road, l have not doub5.
round numbers, about seven u.illlons of dollars
When the ten millions now authorized for tine
Of the Southern railroad are ex-
pcnded, the figure will be raised to seventeen
millions. On most OF this debt the interest will
be 310 per cent, which amounts 20 about one
and o quarter millions of dollars per annum
This sum will be equal to onc-third of the eX-
Southern railroad bill was adopted, It was vas
upon the theory that as soon as the
road was built and put in sue
cessful operation that it should be sold to pri-
vate parties, who would give us at least its
cost value, and Furthermore consent 10 such
restrictions as might be deemed necessary to
protect the interest Of Cincinnati in it's man
agement Therefore, much Of this debt, which
at first sight looks so alarming to taxpayers,
is really but temporary loan which ere long
will be refunded to the city. The sale Of the
road and the sale Of the Water-works would
nearly liquidate this Indebtedness. Our policy
should be directed to that end, in order that we
may save rs much interest as possible.
The funds placed at the disposal of the Park
Commission during the last year were Of such
u limited amount that no improvements OF
character in the parks was possible.
All that could be done was to keep them in
possible to the people. am pleased to say
months are yearly becoming more appreciated.
regret to state that the public expectations
Of the eastern section OF the city, in regard to
the completion Of Columbia avenue, still re-
main unfulflled, although, by special act Of
the Legislature, ample authority has been
given to assess taxes for this object: vet owing