The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-04-05
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
Regular Meeting.
Tuesday Evening, Apr

White, IIollecker, Grl'htH, LoSah-li' A'S'"'
Kelley, iossack, Phelps s. ,,,.,.,. ,,ore
The minutes oi the two last meetings "'''
read and approved. . ,,,,.
The following message from '"o '""'''
read -, p.s,,, ,,,,rinU
upon any i'm roveuIcnts in Inc AFFAIRS Oh 'hc wy,
or cxpending any considerable sum oi noe. ~,
things not absolutely necessary IN carrying on
the municipal government, | ask your 'arelul
consideration of the present cohdilioh VI 'nc
finances of the city. You are, doubi'eSS an aW"'v
that the collector Of the city taxes mas nh'sneu
his work; and that all taxes coilccteu ny mn
have been turned over to pay the debts OF the
,ity created during the past year. ana we are met
AT the very commencement Of The municipal year
WIN the embarrassment of having AN empty
treasury. !, u,,a
money required to meet the ordinary current cN
r','.ns az In, city must of necessity Dc borrowed
rom time TO time as necessity may require, NJ Il
high rate of interest. 1t is true There are uhtol,
prtrd taxes to the amount Of $i62lOO, but out
of that sum We can scarcely nope TO rc"llHc mort
than about the sum of 5000. From TINS sum
must be deducted outstanding Indebtedness not
vol Maid TO the amount of 81, 500, leaving Tor the
current expenses of the year about the sum OF
81 700. This is less than onciourth OF the u'ual
city expenses for one year. ms sum canho'|
be collected sooner than about the Isl ol July
next Having so small an allowance for the cur
rent expenses during the year we ought To begin
asystem of rctrcnchment OF expenses IN every de'|
partmcnt Of the city governments carry as posi-
Bile You will, | think, agree with me that Sood
nolicy requires that the expenses OF the city should
fall within the appropriations made therefor,
Thscould have been accomplished but Tor the iactI
that -fourths of the appropriations made loT
The present municipal year have been expended
during the last year. leaving the city treasury with
out any money to meet the current expenses
when required | see no other alternative than t0I
cut of all improvements, and, if possible, run
the city with the uncOlcctcd balance OF the ap-I
propriatons made for us last year. III Will bel
our duty to make appropriations Tor lhc ensuing
municipal year, but we have no right IN my
Judgment To break in upon the appropriations
thst shall De made for that year aud leave AM
empty treasury at the beginning OF the next mu-
nicpal year.
twill he no excuse to say that wc found thcl
treasury empty and will leave il in the same con
dition The law and good policy require that
We should in the expenditures of the city not 20,
beyond what has been set apart for Us. The APP
nominations that we shall make for the next year,
do not belong To us and wc should not, if posi-
bic take It dollar out Of that fund 10 pay this,
Years expenses, but should leave the fund tOl
meet the necessary current expenses Of the next
municipal year. In observing TN, rule the city II
can avoid borrowing money aud save hundreds OF
dollars of interest yearly. We are left in con.
dtiOn now-having no money ia the treasury
that coinprIS II, IT, borrow money 10 meet the /
current expenses until the balance Of our appro
priation shall be collected. II, however We can u
80 retrunCh the city expenses ~ to 90 through
the year with the small uncolleCtcd balance left
Us and leave the fund that We shall appropriate
'ur the next municipal year unmOlc,trd the diff
Guilty will be Tcmcdicd Then the next munCi !
pal year will begin with full treasury and with
assurances OF prosperity; thea as long rs that
pJncy j. adhered to by the city council the city
can avoid the embarrassment and loss of being a
constant debtor paving the highest legal rate of
interest for borrowed money.
would respectfully suggest that much can bel
accomplished by way of saving money il the diff |
fcrcnt standing committees OF the city council
would respectively meet from time to time and
consider the best means of running the depart. |
mcnt assigned to each and devise ways and
means of improvement and economy for their re- !
5pectivG departments
II the different committees will take the trou-
Die to make digcnt inquiry into the expenses oil
the respective departments ana 10 suggest to the
council such improvements in the financial man
agement thereof as shall enable Us To- save some.
thing in each department: We shall surely find il
profitable. Great care should bC taken, however, |
in rctrcnChing expenses, that We do not uuwi,c.
~ cut oil any Of the means which We have pro-
ylded for the protection Of the life and property
" our fellow citizens
The police department and the fire department.
NJ 'hc .u should not be 50 crippled ~ to cudan.
z, The peace and GOOD order Of The city or the
.fo Of The people. We must have good order in
The city and life ANA property must be protected
Respectfully submitted.
SAMUEL RCHOIsON, NGyor
The following communication wa, then read
10 Nc Hoaorobh Mayor oAd CHy toa,.cd # The
CHyGt Wto1oo:-Wc do most respectfully request
some action on your part which shan pla,, one /,
Of the city teams at all times under the control
Of the tire department. H. WOLF Fire Marshal, |,
l.. PERkIN-, Assistant
On motion o! AID Hull, 1t wa, received and /,
referred to the Fire Committee
The petition Of NJ. Formha'Ia ct al asking
thc council 10 assign one Of the policeman ON /,
the force for duty on the fifth aud sixth wards,
was on motion of AID. Hull, referred 10 the,
Police Committee. .
The petition OF Charlie, " Monroe. asking
the council to grant him yearly license for the
selling It CONNECTIONS and fruit, on the west side
81 the Court House square, he being willing 10
pay reasonable fee therefor, was, on motion of
AID. Leonard, referred 10 the License Committee
The monthly report Of the City Marshal was
read, and on motion Of Aid. Hun received and ,
ordered placed ON file.
The annual report Of the City Treasurer was {
then read |,
cry TREASURES REPORT
Ils f-,ol N..p A,,,rf :