Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-22
r,se an COUNCIL

called to order by the mayor.
Roll called; all members present
Minutes Of last meeting read and approx
cd. The mayor then read the following
message:
Gentlemen at the Coxnci1:-Upon .assum-
ing the Office Of mayor, IL becomes my duty
to communicate to the council such sug-
g~estions % may appear to be demanded BY
the wants and necessities of the city. The
responsibilities imposed upon yeu and each
member of the city government BY the city
charter are very great. and I trust We shall
meet and discharge them IL such . manner
O. to contribute to the prosperity of the
city, and to secure the appreciation OF those
whom we are to represent. 1t will be my
endeavor to cooperate with you In every
we'll considered aud commendable effort
that will tend to the advancement Of. the
public good. But whatever steps arc taken
in this direction should be carefully ma
tured and proper reference had to the bur
dens which may be imposed upon the tax
payers. The severity of the times requires.
the s~trictest economy In the expenditure Of
money. The city which imposes light
investment of capital. and the consequent
increase of manufactures and other public
improvements. A policy which will lead
to such results, is the policy which l trust
We will be able to maintain in the sdmin.
istration of our city government. While
~endeavoring to accomplish these desired
ends-in adopting and adhering to . policy
of strict economy-we should not overlook
the importance of making such improve
ments In the condition Of our city as its
growth and necessities may require.
The city charter and the ordinances en-.
acted BY virtue Of the authority therein
conferred on the council, must be the guide
for our action. Their provisions cannot be
too closely followed and complied with.
either as a matter of duty and safety to our
selves, or for the protection Of all citizens.
The city council. acting under the power
granted in the charter, Is the law making
power of the city; and 1t is the plain and
imperative duty Of the officers of the city
to strictly and impartially enforce them.
The officers have no discretionary power.
1t is not for them to decide whether the
ordinances are good or bad ones; it is their
business, without question, to execute your
mandates.
In order to conform to the amendments
made in the city charter at the late session
of the legislature, some of the ordinances
Of the city must be amended. To Ascertain
what changes are to be made will become
the duty Of the committee on ordinances,
and l trust that in the discharge Of this
duty they will act with promptness and
t~horoughness. In the discharge Of this
duty they will necessarily acqusint them
selves with the provisions and requirements
of the several ordinances of the city, and
the exercise Of good judgment and a desire
to subserve the general welfare of the city,
and all it's varied interests, will govern them
in presenting new ordinances and in sug-
costing amendments to old ones.
The financial standing Of the city is shown
BY the annexed figures:
RECEIPTS.
Cash on hand at the commencement Of
the last f1cai sl,4s7 Q:
ending April IL, 1872. ............ 5.09s i
81, 5s5 "a
DISBURSEMENTS.
During the same period the disburse-
alents were. S6,2I1 6s
Leaving in the treasury ..............s 313 4;
Of this balance in the treasury on tn,
18th inst, $142.79 belong to the genera
fund and $17O.66 to the road fund.
The amount of warrants outstanding OF
that date against the general fund (includ
ing $50 issued by this council at its frs
meeting to pay the judges and clerks o
the late election, is $18O.7l, which leaves
deficiency in the general fund of 1892.
The unpaid taxes for 1877 amount t
$558.35 and for 1873 they are 81, O55.I II
For the years prior to 1877 the treasurer in
forms me that he can furnish no correct fig
ures of the amounts delinquent, but it is SAT
to assume that whatever they may be, yer,
little of it will over be collected.
This brief statement is sufficient to inform
you of the financial condition of the city
You will perceive that in order to maintail
city warrants at par it will be necessary tina
you exercise good judgment and strict econ
omy.
One Of the heaviest items Of expens
which you will be called upon to meet i
for the improvement of streets and the con
struction and keeping in repair of cross
walks. An act passed at the legislative ses
sion of 1877 provides that the county treas
urer shall quarterly pay into the city treas
ury to the credit Of The city road fun,
fifty per cent of the road: tax paid into tn,
county treasury by the citizens of the cit,
of Yankton. Under this law the count
sAS0ouASA pau INV ~ SSy ASooAAy AukAAl
the year 1877, $271.67, and during the yea
1878, $535.19 making a total from thi
source for the two years since the passag,
of the act of $SO6.s6. I am not in posses
sion Of the proper data to inform you o
the amount Of road tax assessed agains
and payable by the citizens of Yankton
and l would here suggest that the matter
receive proper attention from the standing
committee Of the council charged with tn,
consideration Of the financial affairs of tn,
city. The charter of the city requires eacf
male citizen between the ages Of 81 and 5;
years to annually perform one days labor
upon lthe.. streets ::under the direction
Of the street commissioner, or in lieu there
Of pay into the city treasury the sum Of two
dollars. From these two sources suficien
labor and money should be secured to NEE
all the expenditures required for labor anc
material upon the streets and cross walks
The city road tax is not an onerous one
and every citizen, whether aproperty owner
or not, who is liable to the tax, should feel
\ sufficient interest and pride in having til.
streets and crossings of our city in . gooc