The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-02-10
THE OLD AND NEW CHARTER
The following communication is 81

SuTIenueTing our Oiu anu Ndlueu OudT- |
ter. The writer has held high judi
cial ofice-is an honored member of the |
bar-a large tax payer, and deeply in
terested in the business of the city
These varied relations to all classes of
citizens, with his competency to give
correct legal opinion, ought to add weight
If any considerations can-to the force
ofthe arguments and motives he presents
to hold on to our present city organize
ton.
Mr.. EDIroR.-I learn that our City Codn-.
ell at its last meeting passed a resolution
submitting the question to vote Of the peo-
pie, to be taken in a few days, whether they
viii adopt the general City Charter passed
at the last session Of the Legislature, or
whether we shall continue to act under our
excellent special Charter, under which our
city government was organized more than
ten years ago.
Ii is unnecessary now to inquire whether it
would not have been better to wait till the
April election and take the vote then, for the
City Fathers, have taken the step, and it on
" remains for the people to make the choice.
Let us enqahe sor q moment what Is TO be
gained and lost, by the adoption or rejection
of this new charter.
LIST. 1t is contended that the new Charter
confers the power to restrain the liquor traf-
fc, and raise revenue by licensing liquor
shops. This is by no means certain; it is
true the Legislature very obscurely hints at
something which might be construed into
such u power, but the chances of the courts
giving it sucha construction are not worth
making any sacrifices for.
Cd. 1t is urged that by the new Charter we
can acquire territory with more facility
True, but we have all the powers on thi:
subject now we need; we have power to an
mex territory with the consent OF a majority
Of the property holders, and if we had thu
power, it would be manifestly unjust to ex
ercise it againss the will ofthe inhabitants o
the territory.
Sd. We are told the new Charter grants n
power to levy higher rate of taxation
This too is doubtful, depending upon ques
ton of construction, but admitting it for tn
sake of the argument, il is paIpable we ar
as highly taxed a. Is consistent with eitbe
the means of the tax payers or our prosperit,
as city.
And now what are we to give in exchang
for these doubtful beneftsa
We are to surrender Special Charte
which has remained unchanged, except at on
request, since our organization as a city, ant
which although not beyond the reach Of Leg
islative interference, is not in danger of il
and is beyond the reach of judicial interior
ence, made so by express provision Of on
State Constitution. A Charter which con
fers power on the Council to levy tax 70
the support of public schools, and unde
which we now have organized one of the bes
systems of public schools in the West.
And in lieu of this we are to have Char
ter under which the Supreme Court have al
ready decided we cannot sustain publ
schools by taxation. A Charter, in whic
nearly all the cities in the State are inter
ested, and which will through their inAuenc
and to suit their caprice, be subject to
thousand amendments without our knowl
edge or consent. And for aught we know
at the very next session Of the Legislator
the provisions of the Charter which W.
propose to adopt will be repealed. TIL
Legislature of 1852 passed general Charter
and many of the cities in the State adoPte'
it. In 1857 another general Charter wa
passed taking effect from its publication an
repeating the general Charter of1s52. TIL
consequence was the cities that adopted tn
Charter of 1852 are probably without an
legal city government. Had we acte
then as some of US desire to do now, W
should have been in like condition, and
we shall adopt the general Charter of ls5
the Legislature of 1859 by some blunder ma
place us in as bad or a worse condition.
But the worst of all the evils to result frol
the adoption Of this new Charter is the di'
organization and fetal abandonment OF OF
cherished system of public schools, whic
ought to be the pride Of every lover of h
country or his race in the city.
Is it really a question to be discusse'
whether we shall educate our children, or 10
we shall educate them. If we are to educa
them, our statistics show that we are educa
ing them cheaper than We can doit in priva
schools, and every intelligent man who visi
our examinations knows that we are educa
ing them better.
But many persons who are paying hil
taxes are not aware of the very small amour
paid for school purposes; the levy is only
cents per 800, so that the man WHO'S wor
$4,000 pays SIS; less than the tuition v
used to pay for one cholar at very poor pr
vate school; and much the largest numb'
of tax payers pay taxes on much less sui
Nay might say majority of the parsn
and guardians pay little or no school tax, al
yet if The new Charter is adopted it will
by these nen who with little or no expen
have the means ofgiving their children
good education--an education sufficient
thorough tomeet all the ordinary deman
oflife, but who are willing to be infuenc
by few stingy, misanthropic property hol
ers, to abandon our schools, and let the CHI
dren of the poor be turnedloose in our stree
to be schooled inthe haunts of vice. al
made fit subjects for houses Of correction. TAI
and penitentiaries.
It's needless Mr.. Editor to reproduce 70
arguments in favor Of public schools il