The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-05-09

One Of the greatest hindrances to
many of the hard laborers of our
beautiful city is the temptation of
our many saloons. am sorry to say,
some of them pay very little atten-
ton to the law, but they seem willing
to run their business at almost all
hours, Sundays not excepted; minors
or habitual drunkards, not rejected.
If you license liquor dealers to do
business protect them in their bust
ness as far as the law requires, and,
in return ask them to comply with
the law TO the letter. This is just
for the welfare of our city.
Principles of justice and the con
tentment of humanity demand that
the traffic in intoxicating liquors be
subject to proper restriction; and
that the citizens engaged in the traf-
fic should bear their just share of the
expenses of government no one can
! deny.
A large share of our people be-.
lieve that those citizens do not con-
tribute their just share of such ex.
penses now. | ask your earnest and
careful attention to these facts and a
speedy change, to ask them to CON-
ply, at least, with the law and at no
price of license to increase their
numbers.
Our streets, bridges, and walks, as
a whole, are in excellent condition.
would Recommend your careful
investigation into some cheap cement
or concrete walk that can be adopted
on our most common walks, that can
take the place of the uneven plank
and last century. 1t is most exclusive.
ly used now in some cities have
| visited.
Recommend you allow every dol
lar spent for the work you have in
charge spread upon the roll and al
low the tax to be collected in the
regular way. One collector, l think,
is sufficient.
If anyone desires to pay for repair
ing or building sidewalks; other than
with the regular taxes, let them do it
and pay for it without any aid from
the city whatever.
This will save large amount of
labor for our committee and Council.
l belive the city should have value
received for every dollar they part
with for whatever purpose, as though
it was your own individual money
you were to invest, and that any man
or men should work just as hard for
dollar of the city's funds as though
you were employing the labor for
your own personal work. l can
see no difference. And l am
anxious to have the city's business
done under this administration on
this principle to dot. Let us have
our order books with stubs plainly
filled that any voter can see at
any future time what was done with
every penny of the money.
/ would also recommend you to
take plenty of time to audit all &C.
counts that others, as we'll as your
self, can fully understand each and
every bill that receives your sanction;
also that every bill should be thor
oughly itemized, and state where the
money was expended.
1 would ask the public to thorough.
ly understand that every bill would
be in the hands of committee of
claims and accounts for one week, as
the rules of the Council require, so
that if any tax payer has any reason
to complain of bill in your hands
they can lay the matter before you.
I have not been able to get the
treasurer's report for last year. I
learn the committee has not yet com.
pleted their settlement with him.
regret I am not able to make some
comments on our finances. For the
above reason it must be deferred un.
til some time in the future.
In conclusion, want to see our
city of Owosso the model city of its
size in the State or, might say, in
the United States, for the coming
year and the future. l hope we can
set an example that every citizen in
our limits will be proud of,with pleas
ure to US and profit to them. To
accomplish this we must have union
in all our labors. Nothing is truer
than the old adage. In union there
is strength. And I hope we can call
this the council chamber in our
thought and acts in its true sense,
with pleasure to us all.
shall need to ask your forbearance
literally as my shortcomings are
numerous. l feel the need of much
of your kind advice. I thank you
for your kind attention.
l will now name my committees.
This has been difficult task for me,
although l have desired to get every
one in the right place for the best
interest of our administration as well
as yourselves.
If 1 have erred 1 hope you will par
don and consider 7 have used NV