Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-02-14
Foe The Qaasqaetoa Guardian.


uLoN Cd" in relation to the proceedings
of our town in regard to the district tax
Being an earnest enquirer after truth, and
believing Zebulons4p have been in error,
wish 70 discuss h him some of the
arguments and facts laid before us.
In the first place, although he does not
openly say SO, he indirectly accuses us
Of being pervaded with a feeling of jeal-
ousy and aninordinate love of notoriety |;
that these have been our leading motives
for calling for an investigation and reduce
ton of this tax; and although this mag
be applicable to a few, he should and
could know that it is not characteristic of
the great body Of our legal voters.
p We only ask our legal rights as citi-
gems. We ask no more /; and we do ask
that when the rights of citizens are in
yaded, that prompt and decisive steps
should be taken for their correction.
Now, Mr.. Editor, / do not claimto be-
long to either of the to,d parties of the
day, and if take sides upon this matter,
l do not wish it understood that am the
organ of any clique My opinions you
are welcome to, but they have been form
ed without regard to any party.
In the first place, ii is contended that
plan was brought in before the district
meeting, and accepted, and $3.50 dollars
voted to finish the house according to
that plan and furthermore, that no one
was found willing TO perform the labor al
that price.
Now is it not a fact that the plan, and
also the estimated cost of such plan, was
made out by a master carpenter, and the
price, in his estimation, was sufficient to
finish the work +? Also, that the COM
mit;ee appointed to furnish a plan and
estimate, concurred in the same, and it
was submitted to the meeting and voted
for accordingly I? ..Why was it that the
Directors eyes were not opened until af-
ter the appropriation?
l have heard that the person who pre-
pared the estimate offered to finish the
house according to the plan, for the sum
mentioned, but for some cause, he was re-
fused, and it was given to a member of
the board at increased rates. cannot
vouch for the truth of this assertion, but
certain it is, that no public bids were
asked for or taken upon it. l have not
learned yet, the precise sum our worthy
board thought fit to give for the. job, and
regret exceedingly that more lucid and
candid explanation was not given when
called for. l do not question any ones
honesty, but it would be far more satsfac-
tory to all, if the sums really needed for
such and such purposes had been fully
and clearly unfolded to us. As far as
the legality of the extra assessment is
concerned, that is already settled. A
plea of precedence will never excuse a
thing that is proved to be wrong, and that
it is wrong no man of sober common
sense, legal gentlemen or otherwise, will
deny. They even confess the same them
selves by Withdrawing the obnoxious as
sessment list and posting another correct
one in its stead. | do not wish to argue
upon its illegally; itcarries its proof up
on its face and although the gentleman
sneers at us for not allowing the extra tax,
as being of but litlle moment, would
refer him to the fact that the excess of
this years extra assessment over the last
has risen from oae-t~e!,M to one.ttM of
the entire sum assessed. Quite an in
crease, and Rather more than the occasion
would warrant, to mythinking.
One thing moreand l have done. The
gentleman tells us that cents more on
the 100 dollars would have finished the
school-room and paid the interest on bor
rowed money. If so, as there WAS no
other object to which the extra tax was
to be applied, will he tell us where the
remaining 10 cents on the 100 dollars
baKe gone, or rather where they were GO
Mg to, if it had been collected. That it
was near 12 cents on the 100 dollars ex-
ira assessment, Dir. TURNER'S statements
prove, cad if cents extra tax would
have been sufficient, what did the direc-
tors calculate to do with the rest, and bv
far the greater part of the illegal assess
ment Let us have the whole of it /; and
as we did not open the wordy combat,
but submitted to sneers that we were un-
willing to pay the extra 2 cents to save
our children from running the streets
this cold winter, we wish to know now
where the greater part of the illegal tax
was to have been applied. ARGUS.
M IA