The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-12-18

ton, for the purpose Of considering thopro-
priety of looming tho credit of the State, to
tho t,ne OF from ten to fifteen millions Of
dollars, to aid in the construction Of certain
RAILROADS. Fourteen Counties, all told,
wore represented, rs follows: Scott, john
son, Bremen, Hamilton, Hardin, Muscatinc,
Clinton, jackson, Lee, Webster, Buchanan,
Marshal, Dubuque and Blackhawk.
A committee of two from each county,
was appointed to report business for tho con-
vention. A majority of this committee re-
ported the following resolutions
Resolved, That this convention is in ia
vor of n judicious system of State aid to
such Railroads as.a are of:State importance, by
loaling the credit Of the State to nm amount
not exceeding eight millions of dollars.
Resolved, That this Convention believe
that the Tennessee system of State aid is a
iudcious and safe one, and ought to be
adopted by our Legislature, with such mod
iiications rs may be necessary to adopt it to
our constitution and that our Legislature
should submit such system to the people
at As early day us possible Tor their adop-
tiOr.
Resolved, That this Convention should
menorializc the Governor of tho State to
cal special session of the Legislature for
the purpose of carrying out the principles
embodied in the foregoing resolutions at as
ea'ly day as practicable.
Mr.. Edmonds, of johnson County, on be-
half of the minority Of tho committees SUBJ
mited the following
MINORITY REPORT.
The undersigned members of the Com
mttee instructed to report as to the action
proper to be taken by this Convention, be-
! Ing unable to conicide with tho views of the
ma ority Of the committee Us expressed in
the reported resolutions, respectfully beg
leave to submit minority report, and in so
doing desire to state that on arriving at the
conclusion herein expressed they have not
been unmindful of the grave and weighty
importance OF the subject under considera-
ton in this convention.
The question whether it be expedicnt for
the State to abandon its former policy and
to incur an Indebtedness to aid in the con-
structions of railroads, and if so to what
extent, and in favor Of what Companies, is
ono which so much concerns the people of
| the entire State and their future welfare,
that it is to be regretted We cannot have
something like a full expression Of their SEN
| timents.
But waving all considerations OF poll
cy or expedlency, the undersigned find such
insuperable objections in the Constitution,
to giving or granting the credit Of the State
to aid any association or corporation to car
~ on any work of internal improv ement,
that in their judgment all attempts to OBJ
tain the same without changing the const-
tuition would be futile, and that to call an
extra session Of the Legislature to pass laws
for such purposes without u change in our
fundamental law would be an useless ex-
pcnse. We therefore submit the following
resolution:
Resoired, That in the judgement Of this
Convention, State credit can only be given
to Companies or corporations to aid in the
construction Of Railroads. by first obtaining
the requisite change in our State Constitu-
| ton.
Signcd-J. C. Tracr, Benton Co., Jacob
| Butler, Muscatinc Co., J. Is. Edmonds,
johnson Co., T. NJ. Isets, Muscatinc Co.,
p. W. Hepburn, Marshall Co., S. }. Kirk.
wood, johnson Co.
Mr.. Reed, of Lee, moved to amend the ma
jorty report by striking out of the LIST re-
solution the words cleaning the credit Of
the State" Tho amendment was carried
by a vote of l03 for to Al against.
Mr.. Byington of Johnson offered the fol-
lowing provso to the first resolution Of tho
majority report:
Proridcd, That in no event shall tn c
| l. - -, ~
directly or indirectly to any Railroad Com
pany.
Mr.. Reed, of Lee, spoke nearly an hour
in favor of the majority report.
Mr.. Kirkwood, Of Johnson, offered the
following amendment to the majority re-
port:
Rrsolrcd, That should it become the pol
icy Of the State, that in the future, the cred
it of the State, shall be used to aid in the
construction Of railroads, justice will require
that the debts already contracted by cities
and counties for the construction Of Rail
roads shall be assumed by tho State.
The amendment and report were discus
scd at length, Messrs. kirkwood of John
son, Butler Of Muscatinc' Scott Of Clinton
and Patterson Of Muscatne opposing the
report, and Mcssrs. Reed of Lee, Jerome Of
Clinton, and Smeed Of Bremen county favor
it. Adorned till O'Clock p. IN.
AFTERNOON.
Speakers were limited to ten minutes.
Mr.. Byington withdrew his amendment
offered before noon, and offered the follow
ing as substitute for the majority report :
Resolved, That loan Of the credit
Of the State after the manner of the Ten
ncssce law, referred to in this convention,
or in any other manner or form to any
railroad company, would be violation of
Article of the Constitution Of the State.
Resolred, That the Constitution of Iowa
does not require, and that it would be n
palpable abuse Of the executive discretion,
for the Governor to convene the General
Assembly Of this State in extraordinary
session for the purpose Of extending State
MD to the Railroad companies of the State.
Resoired, That upon general principles
of public and governmental policy, there is
need of a revision of our State Constitu-
ton; and that in tho opinion of this con-
vent'on the General Assembly at its next
regular session should adopt the necessary
measures to inaugurate such revision.
These resolutions were discussed at length.
The amendment offered by Mr.. kirkwood
before noon was voted on and lost. The
substitute of Mr.. Byington was also voted
on and lost--the first resolution by 100 to
40, the second by % to "A, and the third by
l27 to II.
The majority report was then adopted by
a vote of 90 ayes to 43 nays.
The committee appointed to memmorializc
to call an extra session Of the Legislature is
composed Of the following gentlemen: Mes
srs. II. I. Reed of Lee, Eb. Cook of Scott,
W. W. jerome of Clinton, Charles Cookery
of Dubuque, C. I. Smecd of Bremen, and
G. c. X. Mitchell Of Scott.
Woodbury. County for State Aid.
Alta convention held in Sioux City, on the
Sth INST, to appoint delegates to attend tho