The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-09-13
Republicans looking after the Inter.
ests of the Workingmen.

standard and acknowledge its :
leaders possessed of all wisdom, goodness
and intelligence, so to say, all that is Of
any account.
This is the Ordinance
Be it ordained by the City Council of the
city of Rock Island: That the funding |
bonds to be issuedin pursuance OF the ordi-
nance passed Sept. 3, 1877. shall be ex-
empt from taxation by the city OF Rock
Island for the period of five years; and
that the coupons of said funding bonds be
received tor city taxes or licenses tor six
months prior to their maturity.
The great Republican example of ex-
empting Bonds from taxation is so eqUl-
table, so Just, and so much IN the interest
of the people, that even our City Council,
animated and encouraged by the previous
great republican example, and enlightened
and guided by the wise and philosophic
teachings of the Union, adopts the same
easy way of protecting the poor and snub-
bing the rich.
Citizens of Rock Islandl don't be fooled |
Don't imagine that it is democratic move,
and that democrats are chargeable with
the generous and liberal design of exempt |
ing bonds from taxation for fUe years.
Let us have little of the true inwardness
of this sagacious and beneficial exemption
from taxation. and let it be understood
and acknowledged that to the Republicans
belongs the glory, and the authority, and
the wisdom, now and ever more, world
without end. Amen.
The vote on the adoption OF the ordl-
nance was as follows;
Yeas-AIderman Lundy, Simmons,
Davis, and Warnock-4.
Nays-Alderman O'Neil, Schlemmer
and Woods.
The ordinance offered to the City Coun-
Gil is in the handwriting of Mayor Butler,
and originated with him and his advisers.
As it was originally written it provided the
exemption from taxation, not for five
years, but for the whole lifetime of the
bonds. Upon a strict party vote the
Council would be equally divided ard the
Mayor would have the casting vote.
If he could have held his party friends
in the council to strict party action he
could have carried the measure of total
|, exemption from taxation by his own casting
vote The limiting of the time of exemp.
ton to FIVE years was a concession to the
unfeeling stubbornness of the democratic
=, members of the council, who were so I'M
pardonably ignorant Of the great blessings
: which would result to the poor taxpayers il
the rich bOndhodcrs could only get hold
of the bonds Of the city totally exempt
from any taxation now, heuceforth. and fol
. all time to come. How could it be of any
g consequence to the poor Iaboring men anc
: small taxpayers, who never have any
mouey to speak of, whose little propert!
pays but small taxes, and who don't com
prehend and understand great measures o
u finance and administration. that thes
!, bonds should be exempted from taxation
h Their share of taxes is so i0differentll
It small that one bondholder or capitalist j
equivalent to eleven poor men. Of course
in money matters numbers are of no &C
count, the great omnipotent bondholder
worth a dozen of them, and his wishe
re must be consulted and his views prepou
u derate in equal proportion. Let the gov
- eminent consult with and take care of tn
rich. and the rich will take care of tn
poor. "A republican administration of tn
general government exempts bonds fror
% ity and Justice" For the same reason
" the noble republican administration of TIL
city follows suit,and the workingmen are e1
w pected to approve their action, because tn
- Union says to expect that they will dare
" question the acts and the integrity and tt
heavenly wisdom of republican leaders an
of qualification, or to use an expressly
- vulgarism, of going back on themselves.
- Don't forget it, workingmen, when tt
~ tax collector is gathering in your take
u that although the burden is grieVous an
labor scarcely commands daily bread, yC
have the immense consolation of KNOWN
on the republican party is the party of equa
he ity and justice. because the Union says
la, and you know how it is yourselves. fl
rk have you not been living under republica
ge rule these many long and exuberant
no prosperous years. Oh, yes! by q
a means exempt bonds from taxation
he the laboriBg men hold so many of tho'
precious documents.
En From the statements of parties wi
or are believed to know. there are fiji
IS, or sixty thousand dollars of water worl
go bonds held By certain bondbolders, either
ar. of this city, upon which not a cent of tax
er- paid Does the aged and energetic repul
at lican assessor of this city know of ar
IRE capitalist holding water works bonds
And will he be so kind as to inform thol
n who have to pay their small and insignil
IRE cant taxes why no one feels the necessit
no of listing bonds as part of their assess
ate BILE property. 1t may be ''the party
ng equality and justice" considers all bont
all are Tor ought to bel exempt from taxatio
IN and in case they are not specifically mac
he so by law that they can be made so in ia
lys by the intentional acts of republican off,
he ials, for they certainly are part and pare
We nf tha adminisfra tion cf fhis grant euuali