Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-07-10
COUNCIL DEMANDS
BOND ISSUES FOR
NEW IMPROVEMENT
REVENUE MATTERS TO RELIEVE
ClTY'S FINANCIAL STRAITS DIS.
CUSSED ATLAST NIGHTS MEET.
lNG--WIlL CALL ELECTION.

The necessity OF immediate action
to relieve the city's financial strin-
gency was emphatically brought out
last night by Mayor Weeks and Com.
missioner of Finance William Bradley
at the regular meeting of the city
council. That some step to meet the
eXigency Of the situation must be
taken without further delay was
agreed upon by every member of the
commission.
After it had been pointed out by
the mayor and Commissioner BRADLEY
the city was worse than broke bv
going into debt it was unanimously
agreed to call an election to vote upon
the proposition of increasing the tax
rate to the new legal limits -$2-anl
vote bonds for improvements which
must be made al the peoples expense.
The mayor recounted some Of the i'm
provements, naming Goose Creek-the
every administration for ages the
same sort OF trouble. without anv
definite results toward conquering it
the retaining wall along the South
Side hill, fire and police alarm serv
ice, East Side bridge and other i'm
portant matters for which prepara-
tions must be made to spend large
quantities OF money.
The mayor announced the city nov
has bonding limit of $11l,00O, and
he believed the taxpayers should be
given a chance to register their ap-
prOval or dsapproyal at a referendum
election. It was pointed out that a
couple Of months will have to elapsa
before the ordinances are drafted and
a date for the election fixed.
The proposition that the city attor-
ney draw up ordinances covering the
bond issue was made by Commission
er Bradley and was unanimously car
ried by his colleagues
Entrance of the city's financial
straits into the council discussions
was made when Commissioner Palmer
was disbanded ana could not be relied |
upon in the future to help the regular |
department in cases of need He sug. |
pested that the city hire ten volunteer |
iiremen and employ them when their |
reryices were needed About the time !
he talked about hiring someone else |
he question of who would pay the /
bills and with what arose. The ten .
,oluntecrs would be used only when .
an emergency confronted the depart .
mont and their pay limited TO the .
hours of work ana the amount of scry-
co pertomod.
Needs New City Jail.
Commissioner Palmer also an
nounrcl that Ottawa was scheduled
'0r a new city jail. but so far he was
unable to see his way clear to getting
pne. He suggested turning the room
he Undine Hose Company used to oc.
'upy into a prison. but as the improve.
nent would cost some $500 or 5000
le wasn't able to see where the mOnoy
vas coming from His general FUND
or police expenses was shrunk 10
b ,1002S, he said, and he didn't want
D strip his department Of extra cash
ly making such a wide and death
lealing swath in what little there was
eft in the fund for general purposes,
To Tax Soft Drink Parlors.
One of the important measures dis
'ussed under the proposed revenue
ill was the proposition of placing a
AK on all soft drink parIorS, not eX-
,mdng ice cream soda fountains, as
,ne means of helping TO replenish cot
ers depleted by the loss Of some
20. 600 in saloon licenses, This reve
me feature will be discussed more
ully and and finally decided upon n,
future meeting Of the council.
Wants Street Improved.
II V. Petit petitioned the council
o see that Center street IS improved,
Is at present the extreme east end l.
low almost impossible, The council
avored making a special Improvement
,f the undertaking and paving to the
limits of the city, but final disposition
o be decided at future meeting Of
he commissioners.
After Fire Protection.
Commissioner DouEherty reported
hat residents Of the territory bounded
" Madison Illinois, Elm and Bridge
treets were badly in need Of fire pro-
ection and water for their homes.
Ie recommended that water mains be
e ~ e -
Continued on page :, col. l.)