The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-11-16
seAts Ala Ssrnaap.oans.

II
An extra osssien Of ~ Legislature Of lows
eurssg the coming winter u desnsnded IN yarieul
parts OF the STATE. The purpose q those who
eovosats Il u at last apparent. Elsewhere u
eur paper sill be found . eerrsspoAdsncs be-
tween prominent ei,ilsnsof DunuQue and Dav-
export developing the scheme Of these sxtsa
sessionis's. These genssy propose the holding
81 convention at Iowa City next meath .'to
agitate the question Of State aid fer our Rail-
roads, and canvass the policy aud legality Of it,
70 NJ. Plat Smith Of Dubuque ws suppose be-
longs The credit Of originating shis movement
Tor State aid, judging from article In ts faver
which he sends - tine Davenport Gazette. The
Dubuque Pacific road With which 10 10 cen.
neetsd, notwithstanding the aseisssncs already
given ie IN lands, 10 a. . stand still, and II re-
port speaks true, in even worse condition. That
ans other foads have already bankruptsd the
city and county Of Dubuque and are yet barely
semmenssd. 10 despair a. shsir condition Mr.
smith now turns - the State and seeks to in :
vo've u - these railroads have already Involved
nis own city. presuning that the combined in
nusnes Of lev river eities and reads leading
snefsirom will be able 70 carry through the
scheme. We have No fears thas this will be
done, and do not believe that ten eountiss will
% represented in the convention II indeed il in
ever held.
The new constitution limits the State indsbt-
sdnsss to two hundred and 6fty thousand dol,
lars. and does not permit any extension Of State
efed' beyond that amount, except in case Of
war Or invasion. We do not believe il sontsm-
plates losnlng the credit Of the State for inter,
nal improvements Of any kind. Warned By the
history OF Psnnsylvsnia and other Seates,t the
people Of lswa have taken especial care in their
organic law to prevent the State gevsrnmsn.
from sAddling them with she burden Of debt for
any such purpSss. But it, a. Mr.. Smith says
the people can do this themselves bv sanction.
Ing at the ballet box Law Of that kind. 10 il
sxpsdient that is should be denss Il NAV ben.
sat particular localities to continue the eenstrue.
lien Of their roads, (fer the assistance asked
will complete none Of thsm,) but 10 i. good pol.
cy for the whole State. We think not Let
he condition Of those States in which this poll.
y has been pursued answer. Where repudia.
ion has not followed, oppressive taxation weigh.
ne down the enerses Of the people, and in
most cases compelling emigration from instead
Il TO them, 10 the result Minnesota and Ma.
ouri are Cited as examples Of the bsns6cisnt in.
uenoes ofthis policy, and We are gfavely told |
y these Railroad Solens that Iowa il being dc. |
opulatsd, and these States built up at her sx- |
enss ON that account. Such 10 not the fact |
although not rushing ahead ~ she did Q year
i've ago, Iowa has steadily kept pace with
9th OF them, aud her population 10 a. great to.
~ a. it ever was il the vote Of the State at the
~ election be any evidence.
But how 10 this thing to be carried out The
ID 10 to be extended to "sueh roads % the
legislature aud the people may deem Of State,
ID not mere local Importance" There are
Ut less than fifteen aud probably more roads
procsss Of construction. All of these can
at receive assistance, Or the benefits Of lean
III be frittssed away. Zach will claim to be
! State Importance" aud no combination of
rec or four roads can be made 10 carry out
% scheme, that will not be attended by frauds,
ar legislative halls must DO resking with cor
psion before this thing can be accem plishsd.
. must rs-snact At Des Moines the La Crosse
Rislation Of Wisconsin. The truth 10, too
any people are railroad mad. There 10 q per-
Ct mania for railroad building, BY whatever
cams. The advantages of railroads it 10 not
birth while to discuss Everybody admits
EN-. But in grasping for those advantages
10 we'll to take care that they are not nsu-
allied by the Disadvantages Of public debt.
This whole system Of municipal corporated
dsbtedness for such purposes 10 unwss and
expedient. The constitutional convention in.
ndsd 70 prevent it altogether, As far 80 the
ate was concerned, and limited cities and
un,ies to i've per cent Of the assessed va
alton Of their property. Even this enough to
TX the people Of Iewa hopelsssly in debt. if
cry city and county adopted this plan Of
Hiding rail roads, and would never have been
rmitted if many Of them had not already
tied large loans before the Constitution was
rmsd.
Men Of beth Political parties appear 70 be
gagged in this project, but it ought to and
II eventually sink any man o. party that ss-
res its accomplishment If, BY any chance,
10 ever carried through the General Assembly,
} hope to see ths people take the matter in
nd aud cOnsgn these men and their railroad
hsmes to eternal oblivisn.-Vinton Eagle.