The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-15
MAYOR JACOBS MESSAGE
TO The Common Council
This Afternoon.

- AA4S 44&VS& S&SSAss
The following is the annual message OF
His Honor Mayor Jacob to the Common
Council of Cincinnati this afternoon:
To the Honorable the Common Council:
GENTLEMEN-Pursuant to custom, and In ac-
cordance with law, 1t becomes my duty and
this my first annual message, In which l have
made such suggestions for your consideration as
thought proper for the general welfare of our
aK; ,u.t,o. - Won, no0o,.n,. ,oa, am com.
pelled to and say cheerfully that the public ap-
prove of your action during the last year, and IT.
on some occasions, have differed from you and
used that power granted to the Mayor, to veto
wiinsly viii a' after r. receiving Ell additional Light upon
the subject complied with my views
For your devotion to duty you deserve the COM
1hendation OF the public, 1t being the only com.
pensation you can obtain. but for that reason OF
Under the circumstances can only recommend
that you continue in your course OF preserving
strict economy and thus strengthen the credit OF
the city that has shown more enterprise within
the last decade than any other in the world
THE FINANCES.
Although taxation in our city may be high and
Increased very largely recently, we must bear in
mind the fact that we have acquired large inter.
ests In the same proportions which will, II not at at
and who will be thankful to this generation for
IS work.
In addition would urge-although our funded
Indebtedness is large. 1t is still in tine hands OF
Eastern capitalists-that some means be devised
pf relieving bonds from taxation to the end that
we may preserve our credit that our capitalists
may invest in the same, and that we may fund
pur Indebtedness at much lower rate OF interest
THE HEALTH.
The most important matter in any community
has, thanks to the vigilance OF our Health Officer,
DR.. T. G. Minor, been exceedingly good, We
have been preserved from that dreadful scOurge,
the yellow fever, with which all Southern cities
are infected to greater or less extent. and have
eided materially our sister cities who were affiic-
ted.
The Health Department has again been placed
n the HANDS of a separate Board, and trust will
Prove as efficient as formerly.
MORALS.
Next to health no subject is more important to
The community than Its morals.
1t can not be denied that we are infected with
many evils that should be exterminated.
Although your action in regard to variety shows
was declared unconstitutional by the Courts, 1t
has been rectifed by the work Of our Legislature.
Gambling mas been substantially suppressed,
hnd those who have so long preyed upon the peo-
pie of this city have lett for parts unknown:
1would not do my whole duty II l should fail
known as fortune tellers No rational being now
believes that they can foretell events, and in my
opinion some measures should be taken to de.
prive these vultures from preylng upon our female
cases, deprive them of their virtue.
AUDITORS OFFICE.
To this Office call especial attention II is evil
dent that some change should be made either In
the corps of officers or In the method Of carrying
on the business therein.
Tha Ar,dir 10 ho obf md ne
financial agent of the city, therefore chief officer
upon whom, more than any other person, de-
Dends the welfare of Cincinnati.
Although Ihave, and will not make any charges
against the present incumbent, l am satisfied thai
Irregularities have occurred in that Office, and
thorough examination should be made thereof
especialy in regard to the funded indebtedness Of
the city.
TREAsURER's OFFICE.
Concerning this department not much can be
gaid. The Treasurer being only the custodian o.
the moneys and obliged to pay the same upon tht
vouchers OF the Auditor, so long as he Is homes
and faithful, the city can not suffer, and cheer
fully bear witness to the integrity of Henry Knorr
| the present incumbent, and his assistants.
- SINKING FUND COMMISSIONER
This Board was great desideratum in the gov
ernment OF our city, and its powers are large, bu
in the hands of the men comprising our presen
Board the tax payers can rest easy.
The Board has large surplus funds, which 1
wisely used In purchasing our own bonds, thu
decreasing our annual interest to a considerable
extent, because the City # Cincinnati need no
pay any taxes.
CITY SOLICITORS OFFICE.
This is q very important Office, and although a
q rule only good and efficient men have beer
elected for the position, it is nevertheless tru
that, considering the litigation the interests of
CITY like Cincinnati II, necessarily & iny1iye M SOM
ports Of the City Solicitor, attention has beer
called to this fact.
In my opinion the term Of office should b,
changed. AZ well ss the salary OF the chief 90 tha
position and that the interests Of the city nigh
bs better guarded.
POLICE DEPARTMENT..
BY an act of the General Assembly, passed Feb
fuary 9th, have assumed control Of this depart
ment.
For four years the management has been vestet
In Board OF Five Commissioners, under what
known as the Metropolitan System. The Legisls
ture in their WISDOM however, have seen fit t
again place the Executive in command Of thi
branch of the public service. The short time tina
has elapsed since assuming this trust affords m
little data to report at any length Its workings, bu
enough has been observed to see that the depart
ment is hampered by financial en- mbarIassment AM
that the law Is In some respects defective.
/ have q realizing sense OF the great respons
bility this new duty will impose. but my mos
conscientious efforts shall be made in renderin
he force as efficient as its numerical strength viii
permit
Although police jurisdiction has bsen largel
attended within the last decade and many mile
II territory added, yet there has been no increas
q the number Of policemen employed; a fac
yhich should be remembered by those dispose
complain. The law limits the number SC EN-
sloyed, but 1t rests with your Honorable Body t
make such provision for the departments supper
hat full quota may be kept on duty at all time
his has not alw ays been done in the past, OWN
o the limited tax levy, which did not produc
enough to maintain even the insufficient numbe
llowed by law, and 1t became necessary to eithe
sduce the TO CO or run the dep irtment into deb
Nothing more strongly coniuc to the prosper
ty Of city than peace and good order and tn
prevention Of crime, which can only be obtaine
BY an efficient police.
The alternative is before you ss the represents
ives of our taxpayers whether the support of th
important branch OF our city government shall
Is liberal as 1t deserves, or not
The amo mt produced by taxation for the Sill
bort of the department In 1879 was S26l 667 70 upO
fevy Of L55 mills. This year the product Wi
DO stnl less, as the amount levied was but Ii
mills. The disbursement for the past year wa
5279, $50 80. anticipate deficit at the end of tn
current year of not less than $4,000, which r,
pectful1y suggest should be covered by you
Allowance for 1881.
The sanitary work of the city continues to b
performed by detail of police under direction {
the Health Officer, and has been well DONE Wit